Here's my rant and few cents worth. First, stupid things like this are done everyday. In the off road world they are probably more common than smart things. I've seen rednecks do unbelievable things to get a laugh or to show off, I've seen the "intelligent" high class guys and gals in their Rovers do the most asinine things that defy common sense as well as physics, and many other people do just plain foolish things.
Not that I am innocent by any means. I freely admit my worst, which was getting in my buddies TJ after a few beers on the trail and promptly busting the front axle housing on a rock. I knew better, I shouldn't have done it, it cost me $1k and I definitely learned my lesson. I got off easy. Only my wallet was injured and while that $1k set me back quite a bit (that is about a months pay to me) the young lady who was riding with me was not hurt in any way and neither was anyone or anything else. I was dumb, plain and simple.
We can all say what should or shouldn't have happened in this case but what matters most is not what we say, but what we do. I personally feel that those of us with intelligence, common sense, or maybe just the gift for a particular task have the obligation to help out those without these advantages. Now I know we can all think of at least a dozen people who "know it all" and frequently try to press their "knowledge" on everyone, but I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about helping others with your experience and knowledge and trying to keep as many people as safe as possible in whatever you do. Some people you just can't talk to or get through to but most will listen especially if you carry yourself in a friendly, helpful manner. Suggest a better line off road or a better way to hook up some rigging for a recovery or whatever it takes. For those that refuse your help or get irate about it, let them go. They have chosen their path in life and you tried your best. That may sound callous, but what are you going to do? Getting in a fist fight with a drunk over an accident that may not actually happen isn't a smart way to keep your teeth straight.
We see this stuff everyday, especially on an off road outing. Too many people doing too many crazy things. Sure it's fun sometimes, but when it goes wrong someone pays the price. I honestly got tired of seeing it and have semi-retired from the off road hobby. Around here safety is a little thought about issue and Tread Lightly might as well be something from a high school history book. Accidents like this aren't really accidents. They happen for a reason and are very preventable. Think about how many people that could have been killed if the circumstances had been just right. Looking in the pic in the link it looks like the cargo bows may have been all that saved the people in the back. Think about this the next time you or someone around you gets the notion to do something really dumb. If an individual wants to take a risk for fun, that's up to him but taking others along for a last ride is a completely different situation. Be safe, and do what you can to keep others safe as well.
Ok, end of rant...
