The Reality of Risk - Caught on Tape

Risk is such a fascinating concept. There is an inner complexity to the idea that makes for some very interesting philosophical thinking, especially when you begin to integrate the element of fear. It does begin to sound like psycho-babble, dreamed up by some risk management student trying to eek out a theses topic while hoping to go climbing for a year. But the reality is something that most of us encounter more then you might at first think.

When defining risk, you really have to draw a line through the middle of the concept and divide it into either real or perceived risk. Real risk is walking a tightrope across the Grand Canyon with no safety net. The consequences for a mistake are enormous. Perceived risk is an activity where it “feel” like you are risking your life, but in fact you are safe the whole time (now I’m not going to venture into the concept of safety here – yes in the Buddhist sense we are all dying and you could just as easily cark-it falling off a chair in the kitchen. That is all a given and will be treated as so. Give up, move on) Perceived risk is riding a roller-coaster, going top-rope climbing or going bungy jumping.

Often times these two concepts get blurred by either the participants or more likely the proprietors of the business selling the experience. Deep in our primeval brain is the inane desire to risk our lives. Maybe it is a throwback to chasing sabre-tooth tigers for a meal or going “over-the-top” in battle. This is a concept that I’ll leave to the neuroscientists, evolutionary biologists and anthropologists amongst us. What I’m more interested in is the social side of this concept. There is a certain social status that is gained from participating in risk activities. Odd as it sounds, if you have the courage to go tandem skydiving (a very safe activity in reality) you are seen to be brave, cool and showered with envy. But if you do something that has a high degree of real risk, like perhaps jumping the fountains in front of Cesar’s Palace on a motor bike – people look at you like you’re crazy. Interesting isn’t it. By pretending to do risky things you are praised, but by actually doing risky things you are looked down upon (or at least misunderstood.)

What adds an interesting dimension to this is by observing people who don’t understand the difference between real and perceived risk. These are the people who really think that they might die when they go bungy jumping – and do it anyway! If you really thought that there was a good chance you might die while going for a day of skiing at a resort and you go anyway, what does that say about you? People who are willing to really risk their lives (at least in their own mind) all for fun – that’s really scary!

Then there are the other folks out there who have no concept of real risk – they’ve seen too many Indiana Jones movies and actually think that they are indestructible. These are the guys who jump off bridges into 3 feet of water and can’t believe it when they break their necks. Again kind of scary that they have no concept that their actions might have serious consequences. Which is worse; someone who has no regard for their own life, or someone who really thinks they are putting their life on the line when they go down that steep waterslide?

What brings all this together is the concept of fear. We are all afraid of heights – I’ve been a climber and a mountaineer for most of m life and I can safely say that EVERYONE is afraid of heights. Some people can suppress that fear, some can manage it and some choose to ignore it. Most people simply avoid it – we don’t look over the edge of the railing, climb the ladder to the top or enjoy hanging up the Christmas lights. In reality, fear is what keeps us safe. Without fear we would be cavalier when faced with the chance of falling from a great height. Here is an interesting thing to try – go for a walk on the sidewalk, walk down the street, walk all day, all month and count up how many times you spontaneously fall off the sidewalk. I’m guessing most people would total up a big fat zero on that one. Now what if you had to walk at the top of a cliff? I guarantee that almost everyone would be afraid that they would somehow spontaneously fall off the cliff. Interesting isn’t it.

What spurred on this train of thought is a fun little experience that I had over the weekend. I was lucky enough to go for a ride on the Shotover Canyon Swing here in Queenstown. Imagine a kid’s swing-set – on steroids! You are harnessed in, tied to a rope that is 110meters long and standing on a platform that is at the same height as the top of the swing. So when you jump off (or fall off) you swing in an arc that is 200m plus long and reach speeds of 150kph – it’s absolutely brilliant fun. And bloody scary to be honest – it’s classic perceived risk sort of stuff. When you jump off the platform it looks like you are jumping off a bridge in the act of offing yourself. Even though it is perfectly safe, it does get the heart going. Especially when they have fun with you like my friends at the swing did with me. Check out this video and judge for yourself if you’d be keen for the ride!



Have fun out there!
Scott