>>Some people think it should be about "militant" survivalism, some people think it should be about post-apocalyptic homesteading, and some think it should be about First Aid.

I think it should be about survival, but that's just me <img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

>>... When you step onto a boat, or helicopter, or a bush plane, ...you know that there's a certain amount of chance involved.

The way you put it, it sounds like you're saying the risk is the same, whether you get onto a plane that's fully IFR-equipped, flown by an ATP-rated pilot who's thoroughly checked the weather, or you get onto a plane flown by a low-time pilot who's unfamiliar with the area and is taking off for a flight through the mountains towards an area of known thunderstorm activity. I think the first of these is safe and reasonable; the second is tantamount to committing suicide. (I've probably misinterpreted you, though.)

>>Not everyone gets to pick the chances they take.

I'm not sure what this means, but I would say that the vast majority of us pick the chances we take, most of the time.

>>..."don't stick around to watch the tragedy unfold- concentrate on getting as far away from it as FAST as possible".

Unfortunately, by the time the tragedy starts unfolding, you may no longer be in a position to get away from it. IMNSHO, the ability to see the potential tragedy, long before it becomes obvious, is an important survival skill.

>>... the fairly obvious precaution of making sure the organizers of a canoe trip are competent.

It may be fairly obvious that you NEED to do that; it may not be obvious HOW you do it. And if you have any suggestions how to do that - what questions to ask, what danger signs to look for - I'd be interested in hearing them. Which is sort of the point I was trying to make, I guess. <img src="images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />