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On Sat, 7 Oct 1995, Richard Pyle wrote:
SNIP
> I imagine that the reason it is illegal to drive drunk, but not illegal 
> to dive "deep" on air, is that a drunk driver is much more likely to kill 
> *other* people than a deep air diver is.  But then again, if a deep air 
> diver's successful efforts prompt a less qualified individual to 
> dupliccate such dives with fatal consequences, then the only difference 
> is that a drunk driver can be directly responsible for another's demise, 
> while a deep air diver would be indirectly responsible.

I see another parallel. That is that a while back drunk drivers were viewed 
more as an anomoly than as a hazard. As the results of their actions 
became more of a target of the media, hastened no doubt by MADD and other 
such organizations, society slowly but surely no longer accepts, tacitly 
or otherwise, this behaviour. New legislation has lowered Blood Alcohol 
Content count to be considered legally drunk. In Virginia for example it 
used to be .1 %. It is now .8% as I was told by the three officers giving 
me the test a fortnight (I was .3 fyi and the officer had run a red light 
and was perturbed that I had the audacity to flash my lights at him) ago.

I will not use the term "Deep Air", I will use high PO2 instead. It 
covers more and it truley more accurate especially with our recent losses 
of some of our friends in the cave community.

High PO2 used to be ignored. Now as more and more people are getting 
killed by it and it is becoming the focus of more of our conversations we 
seem to be lowering what is "socially" (yea bad term I know) acceptable. 
Not only has the USN lowered their limits, they have done it at least twice.

so here it is, join today, be the first on your block

Sane
Men
Are
Really
Temperant (with respect to high PO2)

So, it's a slow  Saturday here. But my points are valid, yes?

This is not a flame to High PO2 divers it's your life after all.
I just saw the parallel and thought I'd share it.

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