He's been having a lot of accidents, on and off the track. This one is major.

Story here (http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=519&ncid=755&e=1&u=/ap/20020811/ap_on_re_us/priestley_crash_19)

Admittedly this is harsh, but my response to this news is: Good. At least he didn't take anyone with him. This time.

Hubby and I heard it on the radio this morning, wrote it off as another incident of Actor with Big Ego Who Assumes He Can Do Everything.

Originally posted by mjfrombuffalo
Hubby and I heard it on the radio this morning, wrote it off as another incident of Actor with Big Ego Who Assumes He Can Do Everything.


I can't believe I'm defending a cast member of 90210, but in fact, that's not the case. Priestly has been racing for about 10 years now, and he's done very well this year in the IRL development series. I think racing is something he truly has a passion for, rather than his ego run amuck.

Thankfully, word is he's going to make a full recovery.

He's here in Indianapolis. I suppose I could put on my collar and make a pastoral visit. :)

Originally posted by eplovejoy
Admittedly this is harsh, but my response to this news is: Good. At least he didn't take anyone with him. This time.

eplovejoy, a man is seriously injured during an accident while participating in a hobby where he risks harming nobody but himself and other enthusiasts and you respond, "Good"? Have you ever made a mistake or had an accident? Yes, the media reports he has had problems in the past with alcohol and automobiles. But this was on a race track. And celebrity or not, he is a human being and your attitude appalls me.

Dear redtail,

Priestly risked needlessly diverting blood and other scarce medical resources from people who did not create the circumstances in which they needed them. My sympathies lie with those victims of fate.

Priestly made an exceptionally foolish choice and should not expect the rest of us to waste our compassion on him. I would expect equally harsh treatment if I were to try something as dangerous as race car driving or smoking or jumping off a bridge.

If my trivial callousness appalls you, then you've lead an enviably comfortable life. I hope you continue to do so. But if you injure yourself seriously on a race track, expect that my attitude will appall you again.

Best wishes,
Peter

Originally posted by eplovejoy
Priestly risked needlessly diverting blood and other scarce medical resources from people who did not create the circumstances in which they needed them. My sympathies lie with those victims of fate.


Okay. Forget auto racing for a moment, a sport I'm not even that fond of.

Taking your statement to its logical conclusion, anyone who injures themselves while playing a sport or driving a car or flying across the country deserves their fate. Because all of those activities are unnecessary and very dangerous.

Where do you draw the line when it comes to danger? I would not want to live in a world where people arrogantly decide I am not worthy of medical attention because they disapprove of my hobbies. The passengers on a small Cessna that crashes deserve to live but the pilot who flies the craft for pleasure does not because he chose an inherently risky pastime? Nonsense.

Wow. I would have never guessed this conversation over this topic...

Yeah, my apologies for starting a little flame war here. Something just rubbed me the wrong way and I had to express myself. I'll do my best to keep it civil.

So...what do people think of other race car drivers (like Dale Earnhardt?) who risk their lives and pay the ultimate price?

I'll refrain from stating my OWN opinion at this point in time.

I can see Peter's point though. Stunt drivers, bungee jumpers, parachutists, and others who participate in activities perceived to have a very high level of risk who then get injured sorta rub me the wrong way too, especially if they go on to sue someone. I remember the hubbub about JFK Jr. and I remember thinking that it's sad, but the guy was not an experienced flyer, flying in bad weather with an injured leg. Not a good risk scenario there. Same for the Kennedy who got killed playing football while skiing downhill - that's almost a Darwin Award nomination to me. By the same token, if I were to participate in an activity that is perceived to be inherently dangerous (e.g. going over the Niagara Falls in a barrel for the fun of it) and get hurt in the process, I wouldn't expect or deserve the sympathy of the masses for something that happened from my own foolish risk-taking behavior.

No apologies needed. I just thought it was interesting the reactions illicited from what I took to be a fairly straight-forward report.

Perhaps this is worthy of the Soapbox?