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Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2000 07:39:51 -0500
To: cavers@aquanaut.com
From: Doug Chapman <dougch@at*.ne*>
Subject: Re:Bent Jill
First, "hard work and conditioning" doesn't guarantee that someone will not
get bent. It significantly reduces the likelihood and therefore is
something all divers should take seriously. I know of several big name cave
divers who have been bent and have worked diligently not to let anyone find
out; I'm sure there are a hell of a lot more (especially the ones who go
home to suck on a little oxygen to get rid of joint pains). Second I don't
believe anyone "deserves" to get bent. They may be stupid, naive, or
unfortunate, but they don't deserve pain, suffering, and possible long-term
damage. One thing that distinguishes most human beings is their capacity
for compassion. Regardless of the reasons, we generally don't wish people
to suffer, and it causes us anguish (although unadmitted sometimes) even
when we see people we don't like experience it (I don't know Jill so please
don't draw conclusions here). 'Then it all goes back to the mega-egos of
cave diving I suppose (e.g. people sometimes getting bent because they do
something stupid to be the big dog, and people stigmatizing people who get
bent to make them feel superior." 'But every dog may have his day. 

So does anyone on this list know factually what happened? I would be more
interested in the particulars of the incident in lieu of opportunistic
finger pointing.

Take care,
Doug


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