So today I had the privilege of seeing a guy on rollerblades fall down. It was pretty awesome. Not a spectacular wipeout or anything, just the type of awkward collapse that rollerbladers deserve. Reflecting on this later, I decided I didn’t feel bad for chuckling to myself upon seeing this toolbag fall over. Now, normally I think that feeling satisfied watching another human being suffer is morally wrong. On the other hand, I’m comfortable with this particular flavor of schadenfreude.
By undertaking any type of extreme activity you open yourself up to the possibility of other people enjoying the resulting outcome. If, for example, I say, “Hey, I think I can do a double back flip off of this dock.” I fully expect that landing on my face will be met with a roar of laughter. Please, make sure I’m not dead while you laugh, but any injury short of broken bones or concussion is no excuse for cutting your enjoyment short.
Just the other day I found myself making outrageous claims about what wakeboarding tricks I would or would not attempt this summer. I have verbally committed myself to trying (at least once) a tantrum (essentially a back flip). I think this is an appropriate moment to clarify that fact that I am not an excellent wakeboarder. I haven’t been near one for about 6 years, and by that I do not mean to imply that 6 years ago I was capable of more than standing up and going in a straight line. From this, I think we can safely expect that I will concuss myself quite violently when I make this attempt. I fully expect my friends to crack-up at my hilarious, self-inflicted destruction. Hell, it’s only fair.
1 comment:
I'm right there with you. I'm definitely gonna hurt myself on a wakeboard the next time I hit the water.
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