On another thread it was pointed out how stupid the following thought is:

Quote:
.(But how many of us men would have wanted to admit defeat & turn around - especially in front of the wife)


I definitely agree that it is stupid.

Even if you remove the guy's wife & kids and have him driving in the car by himself it is still a major problem. I believe this male instinct (call it competitiveness, ego, drive, determination, etc.) to not want to throw in the towel is got to be one of the top contenders for what puts men in survival situations in the first place. This doesn't look right, but I hate to turn around now & waste all the time I've invested so far.

This built in competitiveness is a TWO EDGED SWORD. It can cause us to accomplish great things, but it can also kill us.

Look at how many men die trying to climb to the top of mountains. Or in the past to be the first to get to the poles. Or the first to cross an ocean in a plane. Or be the first to stand on the moon. When they make it we hail them as heros & they get their names put in our history books. When they fail we point out their mistakes & sweep them from our memories.

If James Kim had hiked out successfully we would have hailed him as brave man who fought the elements & won.

He died so we say (or at least think) what a fool. Here is where he messed up...

Anyone who wants to survive has to recognize this trait & know when to to say no.

Any women reading this post who haven't noticed this about the men in their lives need to start paying attention. Especially if you head to the great outdoors or even if he's only running to the store during a snowstorm because you need milk & bread.

To say the James Kim tragedy was just a series of bad decisions is not digging deep enough. IMO