An Adventurist Editorial: The Stephen Fossett Debates

We should have all seen this one coming from a mile away–

Going into days 5 and 6 for the ongoing search of legendary adventurer Steven Fossett, people are starting to take their focus off of the search and more onto the debates surrounding these types of events when they occur–

First it began with how great of an adventurer Steven Fossett is.  Over the past few days this focus has slowly moved to the motives of a “Risk-Taker” and if Stephen Fossett’s family should be charged for the search currently taking place.

Both of these items are highly debatable and both of them generally always surround a high profile search, especially if the person involved was also a part of anything that has a certain risk-factor to it or has been the focus of media attention in the past.

Personally, I began taking notice of these debates around December of last year when three climbers became lost on Mt. Hood.  The ensuing search, that garnered massive media coverage, soon became a debate for a cause. 

It may be the cause of the general media’s focus to always provide something new to a highly viewed (and rated) story.  Running out of new leads, they hop back on the bus and get everyone involved in raging debates that once again spark interest to previous stories of the same general nature.

Two questions always emerge:  Should the families of the person being searched for have to pay for this service?  And secondly–the risk involved.  How could they do this to their families and loved ones?  What is it about risk that triggers these people to always endanger their lives?

From a comment posted on The Adventurist today:

My prayers do go out to Mr. Fossett’s family. On the other hand, I should hope his considerable wealth is not lost in all of this and the searchers get reimbursed for their efforts.

First off, I have been pretty vocal about this aspect of the ongoing debate in the past.  Should the families be charged for the Search?

I am a tax payer like the rest of you.  I am interested in where my money goes..but–there’s that word we all love–please take something into consideration:

Most people involved in the Search and Rescue of individuals are VOLUNTEERS.  They want to be there.  They want to spend their personal time trying to help out the family.  The military and sheriff’s departments involved–and in Steven Fossett’s case this includes no less than 26 aircraft combing the area–Are already paid  for by the taxpayer to do this job.  THIS IS THEIR JOB, people!  They are paid to help in just these kinds of matters–Would you like to pay twice for a Big Mac?

Steven Fossett may be a high profile adventurer.  He has broken many, many records.  Quite coincidentally, Steven Fossett also happens to be a well known multi-billionaire.  He built his own empire.  He paid his own taxes.  He has already paid for the services being rendered his way.

I am going to go back to something I said a few months ago about such incidents.  If you were driving along in your car and happen to be involved in a massive wreck that leaves you trapped in your vehicle, would you expect to have to pay the fire department, police, and emergency services that help you to survive this situation?

There are at least 1000 times the number of deaths from car accidents a year then there are from mountain climbing and similar “risk” pursuits.  I am going to go out on a limb here and say that the risk-factor itself from a vehicle is probably higher as well.  Just because there are 25 high profile search and rescue events a year does not make it more expensive than the million or so car wrecks that happen a year.  These should all be treated as one and the same–the services involved are already paid employees of the jurisdiction they work–which means that, we, the taxpayers, have already paid them to be in that position.  The Volunteers are a whole other matter.  These people do it out of the pure love of helping someone out.  If money were involved, essentially they probably wouldn’t do it–To this rare breed, it is not about the money at all.

Moving on to the second subject of Risk.  Every time an incident happens that involves a ‘risk-factor’ that many of us would not undertake, we think it is stupid or they are crazy.  Essentially, it all comes down to who we are.  It is well known that these ‘risk-takers’ know the risk involved before partaking themselves in such pursuits. 

They are also generally supported by their wives and family.  The families know what is involved, even if they aren’t fully prepared when it does happen.  They do understand.

Why would someone risk death in the first place?  Generally these people are looking to expand their own inner abilities.  Test the waters and see how far one can go.  Sure, there is a certain adreneline rush that comes along with climbing a mountain or flying a balloon around the world–especially for the first time, but generally this is second or third on the list of why someone would do such a thing.

Stephen Fossett was actually pretty vocal on why he continued to pursue risky ventures.  He felt that these built a certain character.  If you can succeed in these pursuits, you can also succeed in marriage, in business, and quite essentially in life itself. 

These pursuits involve the setting of goals..planning how to achieve these goals in the best way possible, and overcoming odds.  These are all things I think a few of us would love to have a bit more ability in doing–and Stephen strived for a certain motivation outside of these pursuits that could only be captured by the risks he had taken previously.

I am not one to bear judgement, but think about this.  Millions of us wish we had more money.  We play the lottery.  We buy the next big “Get-Rich-Quick” scam, in essence, we want that perfect life without ever doing anything to get there.  Stephen worked for what he had.  He pursued his dreams and lived life to the fullest–and he was a billionaire.  He must have been doing something right.

Rather than look at the Why’s and the What If’s, why can’t we just focus on the man and what he was able to accomplish?  Rather than looking down on his pursuits or who should be paying for what, why not look at his life and drink it down with a big cup of motivation?

America wants it’s heroes.  America wants it’s Stars.  Where are our values as a nation when Paris Hilton is the face being splashed across our screens?  I think I would much rather have a Stephen Fossett as a role-model anyday.  At least he had values and goals–something this country needs alot more of.