Morality discussion
- Thread starter Chraddam
- Start date
- Location
- Greenpoint Brooklyn, NY
Here is something I knew about for a while now about Mt. Everest. Interesting article that made me look at it differently and really think about the whole thing. Its about the "dead zone" on Everest.
The images are graphic btw.
http://godheadv.blogspot.com/2010/04/abandoned-on-everest.html
Anyways, as amazing the trip to the top could possibly be and the goals reached, when does it come back to you the amount of death you had to climb over to get there. When is it that you start seeing all the dead bodies when thinking about the huge acheivement you made climbing to the top? what about those that passed people up that were "pretty much dead" on the way up without helping them at all or doing all they could.
I dunno, huge morality issues. I don't see any goal thats more important than a human life no matter the circumstances.
The images are graphic btw.
http://godheadv.blogspot.com/2010/04/abandoned-on-everest.html
Anyways, as amazing the trip to the top could possibly be and the goals reached, when does it come back to you the amount of death you had to climb over to get there. When is it that you start seeing all the dead bodies when thinking about the huge acheivement you made climbing to the top? what about those that passed people up that were "pretty much dead" on the way up without helping them at all or doing all they could.
I dunno, huge morality issues. I don't see any goal thats more important than a human life no matter the circumstances.
- Location
- Garden city
Wow that is fing wild I can't imagine walking past someone who needs help
- Location
- NY
I've always been amazed at the Everest summits. When I was younger I always wanted to climb Everest. Having those goals still doesn't prepare you for 'summit fever'.
Unless any of us have done any climbing in the stratosphere with 1/3 the oxygen we normally breathe how can we pass judgement on those that do it? I AM NOT SAYING IT IS RIGHT. What I am saying is that everyone who climbs that mountain does it while taking a 'silent vow'. That vow being they won't be a burden to anyone else by thinking their goal of climbing that mountain should put someone else's life in peril. It must be a difficult emotional place to be, knowing that you are attempting to do something that other human beings cannot rescue you from. This has to be a common bond that Everest summiteers must possess.
Sad article. It made me think about the mental state that climbers resolved to be in prior to making the attempt to summit Everest. If they didn't consider these thoughts then they shouldn't have attempted one of the most physically challenging feats known to man. As a climber (which every single one of those poor souls had to be), in my mind, died doing something they wanted to do. If they didn't, they would not have been there. It's not like they took a Sunday morning stroll and wound up on the wrong street corner.
Under no circumstance do I want this to come across as cold hearted. Conversely, I want it to be understood that my goals don't translate into someone else's potential tragedy. My decision, my fate. The climbers I've known (and I've known quite a few) all had this same mentality.
R
Unless any of us have done any climbing in the stratosphere with 1/3 the oxygen we normally breathe how can we pass judgement on those that do it? I AM NOT SAYING IT IS RIGHT. What I am saying is that everyone who climbs that mountain does it while taking a 'silent vow'. That vow being they won't be a burden to anyone else by thinking their goal of climbing that mountain should put someone else's life in peril. It must be a difficult emotional place to be, knowing that you are attempting to do something that other human beings cannot rescue you from. This has to be a common bond that Everest summiteers must possess.
Sad article. It made me think about the mental state that climbers resolved to be in prior to making the attempt to summit Everest. If they didn't consider these thoughts then they shouldn't have attempted one of the most physically challenging feats known to man. As a climber (which every single one of those poor souls had to be), in my mind, died doing something they wanted to do. If they didn't, they would not have been there. It's not like they took a Sunday morning stroll and wound up on the wrong street corner.
Under no circumstance do I want this to come across as cold hearted. Conversely, I want it to be understood that my goals don't translate into someone else's potential tragedy. My decision, my fate. The climbers I've known (and I've known quite a few) all had this same mentality.
R
- Location
- Bay Ridge, BK
I havn't checked the link yet but Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer (sp) is a great read if you havn't gotten around to it. Anyone on MR climb? I am getting back into it once I lose this gut. Going to start working out in March. Too cold for me now.
- Location
- Long Island, New York
Yes you could if you knew that in order to even try to save this person would be hopeless and will result in your death as well.
- Location
- Franklin Lakes, NJ
Everyone that attempts to make that climb knows the risks, and knows that past a point, you can't and won't be saved if something goes wrong.
There are other considerations when doing something of that magnitude as well. If you attempt to save someone who is most likely already a goner, what might happen to the rest of the people that you're climbing with?
In technical diving, you learn that even though you dive with a buddy, you're always diving solo. I'm sure a climb like this is no different. If I'm on a dive and have a chance of helping someone, I will. However, if I know that helping will take two lives, I have to get myself to safety. This is why I won't dive with family or close friends. If you want the perfect example of this, read "Shadow Divers". A father and son team of divers trying to identify the U-869 died when one tried to save the other.
I'm not saying it's easy. I'm not saying it's right or wrong. I'm saying that by putting yourself in a situation like that, you have to understand the risks and know that you may die. You also have to understand that you may be put in a situation where you have to watch someone else die.
There are other considerations when doing something of that magnitude as well. If you attempt to save someone who is most likely already a goner, what might happen to the rest of the people that you're climbing with?
In technical diving, you learn that even though you dive with a buddy, you're always diving solo. I'm sure a climb like this is no different. If I'm on a dive and have a chance of helping someone, I will. However, if I know that helping will take two lives, I have to get myself to safety. This is why I won't dive with family or close friends. If you want the perfect example of this, read "Shadow Divers". A father and son team of divers trying to identify the U-869 died when one tried to save the other.
I'm not saying it's easy. I'm not saying it's right or wrong. I'm saying that by putting yourself in a situation like that, you have to understand the risks and know that you may die. You also have to understand that you may be put in a situation where you have to watch someone else die.
- Location
- Huntington
While interesting, I don't think it is about morality. It takes a special kind of person to go that far and actually climb that mountain and I think it boils down to self preservation. The same way the soccer team that crashed in the Andes ended up eating some of their dead team members. When faced with your own mortality in a situation where one small error is enough to end your life and possibly someone elses, ones survival instincts override their moral tendencies. It's just survivalism.
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