"What allowance is there for high risk seekers in our society?"

IMO, it goes back to one of the two basic Natural Laws: Do not encroach on other persons or their property. You want to do something dangerous? Fine! Just make sure it doesn't negatively affect anyone else -- limit the danger to yourself. Don't go 4-wheeling at high speeds with your kids or dog in the car. If you're a free climber, make sure your life insurance is paid up. Don't do tricks in front of moving trains -- you're just not able to understand how much it eats at the crews to have to run back and apply pressure to the heart side of your cut-off legs, or look for multiple body parts.

CanoeDogs: "...outside of the rail guys did something else bring that on or does it just seem like there is a lot more "stupid" going around lately..."

The rail guys are a constant source of stupidity stories. So is what's going on in the rest of the world, which I find even more frustrating.

Last night there was someone driving a car all over the freeway at a high rate of speed. A few minutes later, it looked like the same car upside down off the side of the freeway, two cars had stopped -- I didn't. On the way home, there was another rollover crash at the center divider. Further south another car passed me (but not so fast), on the almost-empty freeway. He kept activating his turn signals and changing lanes, despite there being no one near him. He sped up and then slowed down, changed lanes back and forth, the suddenly sped off I-5 onto an interchange, from the inside lane.

I don't give a rat's patootie if people maim or kill themselves, but I am tired of them killing, injuring or maiming other people in the process.

Sue