On Wed, 22 Oct 2003 15:14:55 -0700, Pierce Nichols
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Something like that. Basically, there are two kinds of adventure
>tourists. One kind really wants danger -- these are the guys who climb
>Mt Everest, sail in single-handed around the world races, and go BASE
>jumping. There aren't a whole lot of them, and they make poor repeat
>customers. Short life spans and all.
I would challenge that assessment. You'd know the sailing crowd
better than I would, but the alpine climbers aren't looking for
danger. They're looking for a challenge - and they're willing to
accept a lot of risk to get that challenge - but they're not looking
for actual danger.
BASE jumpers, gad, no comment.
> The far more common type wants pretty much exactly what you are talking
>about -- the simulacrum of danger without the reality. There are
>enormous numbers of these ppl, since they are the ones who ride roller
>coasters and the like. These are the ppl who will make the bread and
>butter of any space tourism operation.
There's a class between those two: people like me. I like to ride
roller coasters, but I have no interest in danger. I just like going
fast and getting bounced around. There are people who are dumb enough
to think roller coasters are dangerous, but I think - I hope! -
they're in the minority. (I know I don't want them aboard my
spaceship. Space tourism will be a Darwinian operation at first: let
us do the weeding out in the doctor's office and the simulator, not
aboard the vehicle. As much as I value the customer, I'll have lots
more just like him, but rocket pilots are hard to come by.)
-R
--
Tip Of The Day:
Never Pet A Burning Dog.
--Lance M. Bryant, Capt USMC
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