# Nascar death a tragedy? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 21, 2001, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nascar-death-a-tragedy/55338 "2001-02-21T13:23:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![justinh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@justinh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justinh)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2001, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nascar-death-a-tragedy/55338/21 "2001-02-23T19:17:14Z")
jarbabyj, If a drunk driver kills someone, is that a case of someone performing a dangerous activity in an unsafe manner? I say yes. And on the downhill skiing accident… skiing a safe slope is different than Extreme skiing off a glacier. In colorado, I have seen people climb up cliffs for the thrill of it. when they fall off the mountain is it different than a backpacker falling in a crevace? I used to ride a motorcycle, but when I had my first kid, my priorities changed. I sold the bike. I placed my child above the thrill of riding along the road on a bike. Still miss it. Lastly, I am not arquing that Nascar only exist in the southeast, only that it originated there. something about the rumrunners I believe. And I would argue that there are a higher percentage of “idiots” at a Nascar event than a ballet. Not everyone at the race is an idiot. Someone has to be smart enough to make money off of it. ---
**Author:** ![OrcaChow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e47c2d/32.png) [@OrcaChow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OrcaChow)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2001, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nascar-death-a-tragedy/55338/22 "2001-02-23T19:24:29Z")
> [@](#): > > since a President hadn’t died–much less been murdered–in office in anyone’s lifetime at that time My mistake. FDR’s died in office to a stroke. It was definitely within the lifetime of plenty of people alive in '63. Though a great shock to the nation, it didn’t lessen our national innocence about the vulnerability of the President to assassination. Kennedy’s death was a shock that was, for most everyone, unforseeable. Anyone who doesn’t see a NASCAR driver as being vulnerable to a violent death is simply not paying attention. ---
**Author:** ![TwoOnes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eb8c5e/32.png) [@TwoOnes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwoOnes)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2001, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nascar-death-a-tragedy/55338/23 "2001-02-24T02:36:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by OrcaChow \* > > > [@](#): > > > > I now understand the horror and pain of the world when JFK died because he was to politics what Earnhardt was to racing. > > OH, PLEEEEEEEZE! Sorry, but this bit just killed the whole damned post for me. > > To equate the death of a stock-car driver (for whom a violent death is always a possibility) to the assasination of a President (in a much more innocent time than the present) is hyperbolic bullshit. One death affected world history in ways we can only begin to fathom; the other is barely a blip. In the grand scheme of things, it’s not even that. OrcaChow - I agree, it was hyperbolic. After reading your comments I realize that I could have come up with something a bit less drastic. Appreciate you waving the “bullshit flag” in front of my face. :o > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Goose \* > I don’t think he was trying to say that JFK’s death was equal to Earnhardt’s. I read it as, to the racing community, Earnhardt’s death is the big thing JFK’s was to the world. He wasn’t saying they were equal, but I agree that in the racing community that Earnhardt carries the weight of a US President. Yep, that was what I was trying to say. Thanks Goose! > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by justinh \* > I know you can’t call anybody names here, but any who equates the daredevil’s death to JFK or MLK is an idiot (or less than 15 years old). > Sorry it takes a lot to offend me but that bunched my panties. Justin, Nope, not an idiot (actually consider fairly intelligent for someone in “southeast redneck country”) or less than 15 years old (just celebrated another anniversary of my 29th birthday). Didn’t say a word about MLK. Grasp panties firmly and remove wrinkles. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Oncle\_Biere\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Oncle\_Biere\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oncle_Biere_1)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2001, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nascar-death-a-tragedy/55338/24 "2001-02-24T04:26:46Z")
I take car accidents personally because I can spin out on the next wet patch with an oil slick on it. And in his case, it was a broken seatbelt. I’ve live with them for months at a time, worrying all the while. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nascar-death-a-tragedy/55338.md?page=1)