Risk Taking?

Hey guys, I don't know if this is the right section, but I was listening to music and thinking. I like cars, I like to go fast, taking risks sometimes like alot of people. Some days I'll be listening to my music (the kind that makes you wanna speed/take risks, you know) and flying down the highway. Other days I'll be laid back, listening to music, the kind that makes you think and realizing how dumb that stuff is. You could lose you privledge to drive (which is important to me), your car, a girlfriend/boyfriend, or most importantly your life (or someone else's). That's a huge risk, and considering I'm young (16) my whole future is gone, kids, wife, house on the lake, everything. Plus the chance of hurting someone else. (Everytime I pass a mini-van I think about all those innoocent children in there..) It's really not worth it. But some days I just feel the need to take risks, and I just tell myself "you gotta live once in a while". Plus I'd consider myself pretty responsible with it. I evaluate the traffic/road conditions and slow down when neccesary bla bla.. Same with underage drinking and all that other stuff(not that I do, but same thing). I was just thinking about it, and wanted to talk about it, what are your thoughts?

The 'duh' answer would ofcourse be that as long as you don't put other people in danger, than it's up to you. But we hear that all to often.. I don't know, im holding on to my equation philosophy. Everything you do has a 'enjoyment value', say taking risks has a short but intense joy, and things like long times relationships or moving to another continent as an exchange student is a long, more relaxing sort of joy. You just have to find a balance between the two. But, you don't necessarily need both, that's just bullshit, you do what you enjoy, and if you think taking risks are just.. you now.. a too big risk, then start doing other things instead and keep yourself in a leash. A girlfriend is the best way imo.

i think that a lot of people get in a rut or something and that is why they take the risks they do. Unfortunately sometimes the risks don't bring the enjoyment you wish it would. i think that is also relies greatly on your environment. I'm not talkin about the Earth and all that stuff, but like what is goin on in your life. There are times when you are on the freeway and you just feel like cuttin in between the cars and there are other times where you just feel like cruisin' nice and slow.

i agree with the enjoyment value mentioned above. taking risks is a quick way to bring some enjoyment into your life, where as the long term enjoyments sometimes take a while for you to figure out.

Ya, I argree with you both. I think I'm just going to try and control myself to a point (the girlfriend does do that for me haha good point) because I'm sure I'll do stupid stuff in my life, just not too crazy. I do wanna wait for the long term things, and in the end I believe it will be worth it. (I def hear ya with the girlfriend thing, and the one day chillin', cruising down the highway, the next flying down it.)

Think about it this way, whether you die at 16 or 90, you are 1 out of 6 billion people alive today, part of a planet that has been around for 4 billion years, in a universe that is an incomprehensible amount older and larger. If taking risks while driving is what you enjoy at that very moment, I say seize it and hit the accelerator. But just remind yourself that you most likely have a lot of ground to cover in your brief existance, and you had better get most of it done before you gamble with your life.

You're 16 years old and you're convinced you are a superior driver to someone with 50 years experience? You are absolutely kidding yourself, you barely know how to drive at all.

Your attitude makes you an obvious hazard on the road and I suggest handing in your license until you have a few more years maturity.

The fact that you list the worst things that could happen as a result of your actions in order from most important: "lose you privledge to drive" to least important "your life (or someone else's)" makes it abundantly clear that your priorities are totally fucked up. And don't try to BS your way out of it - your brain put them in that order for a reason, even if you're not concious of it.

There's no such thing as being "pretty responsible" when taking risks with high speeds. One dog on the road, one pothole on the road, one fallen tyre on the road and YOU ARE FUCKING DEAD. And some innocent family could ALSO BE DEAD because of your inability to control your impulses.

Get it through your head - the speed's on the road have been set by people who know what they are talking about, backed up by research and
experience far, far beyond your years. You do not know better.

Best of luck for your future - I hope you don't write off any cars, maim, kill or disable any members of your community.

If you have to do stupid shit do it out in the middle of nowhere where nobody is. Then if you screw up it's your ass and not someone else having to suffer for your mistakes.

I think you are using your brain, and that is good.

Interesting phrase to consider:
There are old pilots and there are bold pilots,
but there are no old, bold pilots.

I would also state, that if you have never been out of control in a car, that you are a dangerous driver. Learn your limits off the road, and you will be a survivor on the road.

The most stupedist thing you can do is cary a high speed differential with surrounding traffic.

Now, to get back to your question, the issue you might consider is this. Are you just enjoying the wind in your hair, or do you have a desire to challenge your destiny. If the former, your just an average human. If the later, then you need to do some more thinking.

Yes high risk driving is dangerous, thats obvious. Regardless of that there is something to be said for being able to not worry and do what you want to do whether its in a car or not. Being afraid of death often ends as being afraid to live.



Oz get off you pedistal. I wouldn't doubt that he is a better driver than a lot of 60+ year old grandpas but, he didnt say he was some great driver and he wasn't gloating about driving fast. Did you even read a third of his post? Most of it is talking about how he was concerned about his saftey and that of others when he does speed, and how he only does that when the conditions are not overly dangerous. Also dont be feeding him crap about how wise these people far beyond his years are, there is a differnce between so called wisdom and lack of initiative + desire.

Don't bring back old threads...this one was dead for 3 months.

Closed.