# What would you do/not do if there wasn't risk involved? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 18, 2008, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-not-do-if-there-wasnt-risk-involved/473265 "2008-11-18T09:24:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2008, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-not-do-if-there-wasnt-risk-involved/473265/41 "2008-11-20T04:42:02Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > I’m just a bit surprised at the number of times skydiving is mentioned, implying there are many who shy away from it due to perceived risk. > > The actual risk is really quite moderate. I believe something like one jump in 40,000 is fatal, and a strong majority of fatalities are due to clear violations of good procedure (IOW, most risks are understood and rather easy to avoid). The odds are actually even better than that. According to the [U.S. Parachute Association](http://uspa.org/AboutSkydiving/RiskOverview/tabid/63/Default.aspx), there are less than 30 fatalities per year on average. In an average year, over 2,000,000 jumps are made- which comes out to about one fatality for every 70,000 jumps. ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2008, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-not-do-if-there-wasnt-risk-involved/473265/42 "2008-11-20T04:43:01Z")
Mine are pretty tame. I’d wander around at night by myself, I’d go to bars alone (for music) and I’d ask guys out. If I couldn’t get fat, I’d eat a lot more sweets. ---
**Author:** ![Trepa\_Mayfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Trepa\_Mayfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trepa_Mayfield)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2008, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-not-do-if-there-wasnt-risk-involved/473265/43 "2008-11-20T05:15:46Z")
“The website wants my SSN? I can’t see how that could possibly be a problem!” “The nice Nigerian man wants to send me money? Who am I to stand in his way?” “5000$ worth of goods on ebay for 10 cents? My god, what a deal!” ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2008, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-not-do-if-there-wasnt-risk-involved/473265/44 "2008-11-20T17:41:28Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > I’m impressed that only the risk is holding you back from this. For many, the cost would be a serious issue. A lot of the cost is due to our inability to safely strap a rocket to our back and blast off like Wyle E Coyote. ---
**Author:** ![Belrix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed655f/32.png) [@Belrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belrix)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2008, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-not-do-if-there-wasnt-risk-involved/473265/45 "2008-11-20T20:13:10Z")
I’d probably lean harder through the turns and go faster on my motorcycle. I’m a bit of an old-lady-driver on it for fear of dropping it (and me!). Eat more rich & fattening foods. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2008, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-not-do-if-there-wasnt-risk-involved/473265/46 "2008-11-20T21:00:40Z")
I’d spend money. And spend and spend and spend and spend. And spend. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2008, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-not-do-if-there-wasnt-risk-involved/473265/47 "2008-11-20T21:21:58Z")
Grab the breasts. All of them. Everywhere I go. I would of course be extremely polite about it. Excuse me young lady, If I might just give those a little squeeze. Why thank you very much. You’re so kind. that was wonderful. You must be so proud. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2008, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-not-do-if-there-wasnt-risk-involved/473265/48 "2008-11-20T21:55:32Z")
Hence the username. :rolleyes: 😃 ---
**Author:** ![xanthous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/53a042/32.png) [@xanthous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xanthous)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2008, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-not-do-if-there-wasnt-risk-involved/473265/49 "2008-11-20T22:08:18Z")
**Horseback riding.** I tried to learn english saddle at age 32, and had so many close calls (rearing, bolting, tripping) that I just could never get over the fear of getting hurt to be able to truly enjoy it. So I gave it up. They say horses react negatively to fear, so I probably brought it all on myself. **River kayaking.** Same thing. Fear, fear, fear. Gave that up too. And I was really good at it. Had my eskimo roll down pat, I’m an excellent swimmer if I had to bail, but rapids can be a destructive thing. Too many stories about advanced kayakers getting killed by strainers. Couldn’t shake the fear. Pretty much anything with risk of injury, I stay away from. I’m a textbook pussy. ---
**Author:** ![Creaky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e68b1a/32.png) [@Creaky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Creaky)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2008, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-not-do-if-there-wasnt-risk-involved/473265/50 "2008-11-20T22:33:17Z")
If there were no risk involved, I’d fly a World War I biplane and be a barnstormer! 🆒 (Then I’d shoot down Snoopy. I never liked Snoopy.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-not-do-if-there-wasnt-risk-involved/473265.md?page=2)