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> “Like driving a car as a learner your whole life, I remember the first driving lesson I had, I couldn't even focus with the radio on.” This reminded me of st
by xtiansimon 3y ago
> “Like driving a car as a learner your whole life, I remember the first driving lesson I had, I couldn't even focus with the radio on.”
This reminded me of starting to ride a motorcycle (again) in 2021. Lots of anxiety and stress.
Two years later I’m not as stressed. But, each near-accident I’ve had was following not paying attention.
Thinking about this on a ride over the weekend, I mused about solo-jet fighter pilots and Olympians. I recalled breathing exercises are supposed to help.
Reading the abstract, I’m reminded of awkward social situations and inexperience in primary school. I’m thinking the biggest lesson was trying, and realizing failure is not life threatening. But it didn’t stop me from developing some bad habits for cheating on tests, and waiting until the last 48 hours to write my papers.
I think getting a job at 16 helped a lot. It was at a comic book shop. I held that job for seven years.
- elwell 3y ago> realizing failure is not life threatening That doesn't hold true when it comes to riding a motorcycle though. Maybe the fear is warranted.
- xtiansimon 3y agoLife is complex. It’s not a platitude to say PPE #1 is your mind. Are you fit to ride? And not in a relative-manner (“I’m the least drunk here!”), but in your own objective sense. If you’re not, then don’t start. If you started, then you should stop—sort of thing.
- OkayPhysicist 3y ago"Fear is the mind killer". Focus spent worrying about the potential consequences of failure is focus not spent on avoiding failure altogether.
- huimang 3y agoFailure in this case ranges from life-altering disabilities or death outright. The emotional toll on your friends and family. The waste of medical resources on you. Yeah, people should have a healthy amount of fear for needlessly dangerous things.
- xtiansimon 3y ago> “The waste of medical resources on you.” ?? There’s nothing unethical about riding a motorcycle. I ride within 80% of my abilities. I wear full PPE all year round. My moto is maintained to a high standard. I drive defensively. I have taken safety courses, and continued my motorcycle safety training both in and out of the classroom. I am not careless about my life or the lives of others. I drive like everyone is out to kill me, and I’m a gentleman. Want to pass, go ahead. Morally— I’m not needlessly risking my life or the lives of others. If it becomes necessary, god forbid, that I need life saving medical care, I trust I’m worthy of it, if, for no other reason than I take great care when I’m driving any motorized vehicle. Shame on you.
- OkayPhysicist 3y agoThe time for thinking about that is before you get on a bike. Once you're going down the highway, fretting about what-ifs does not help you.
- chaostheory 3y agoHence, the warranted fear. It’s not a “failed response” in that case
- jancsika 3y ago> "Fear is the mind killer". I wonder if anyone has ever done a cross-check of the "fearlessness" lit authors for signs of toxoplasmosis.
- OkayPhysicist 3y agoIt's a Dune quote.