[thechat] warning: may not be suitable for the squeamish

[matthew garrett]

> From: Scott Dexter <sgd at ti3.com>
> well, yeah <gulp> I guess it does.
> 
> How?
> 

Well let's just say that mine is a cautionary tale about not diving in
shallow water. Even if it's a shallow dive. Just not a good idea. I did get
to ride in a private plane though (the helicopter was grounded by weather),
just me, two RNs, and the pilot from Nebraska to Denver.

The other thing is that this event relates to the "democracy can be bad for
you" thread we were working on here last week. I was face down in the water
and my arms & legs were numb. I managed to roll myself over so that i could
breathe, but the use of my arms and legs was preserved by the handy-work of
a total stranger who happened to be the second one to reach me when it
happened. For all i know, this guy and might have been one of the "general
public" that was catching such a bad rap in that thread. But he did
everything right, and i am walking and talking because, in part, of him.

In general, I try to remind people (myself included) not to throw great
numbers of people into the "stupid" pile just because they don't agree with
your politics (or anything else). Just hope that there is something that
they are smart about.

<confession>
My hypothetical situation in the "democracy" thread was only partly
hypothetical.
</confession>
Matt