I'm don’t think I’m dismissing anything obvious and I understand your point. So to be clear: It is obvious to me these guys had no idea what in the heck they were doing. The point about them growing up in the mountains, ocean area, city, farm, desert, whatever to me will always be 100% irrelevant to the point of this thread. It would only explain their lack of knowledge or experience for what they were about to get into. None of which is a valid excuse for not taking the time to learn so you are prepared or say no-thanks to the adventure invite.
If the point about me dismissing the obvious is the one about people from different parts of the country react different to tragedy, well okay I can kinda get that. But still not sure what it has to do with what these 4 did wrong. So I would still be lost on that point as it relates to this thread.
If your about to venture off into something new that you have no experience in, learn before you leap, it could cost you your life (sounds familiar). How many people would take a 1st time back pack adventure into Kodiak Island, Glazier National or the interior of Alaska for example without understanding, learning and getting yourself prepared? After researching this, understanding the preparedness requirements and the associated dangers, you may elect to opt out. Nothing wrong with that. That is the point of all this. If someone’s immediate temptation, who had no experience in these areas, was yes…to this question, that would be stupid. YES….stupid. Why, because if you don’t know what you’re doing, you can die or get eaten!
If some here are interested in finding good excuses for these guys poor preparedness and stupidity, so be it. They can keep revalidating that over and over. I could care less about the over whelming need for compassion. A little bit of truth before the boat left the dock would have been the best form of compassion if that’s what so many seem to desire (Go back to previous points)…They might be alive if they cared enough about their own lives & families. But then again, that word stupid keeps poping up….
As far as the ignore option, I also have not found a reason to use it here either. There’s good control over just pure abuse here and that would be the only reason I could think to use it. Other than that, I’m open to hearing opinions even from those I disagree with. That’s just being an adult. For some, being adult may be a challenge and the ignore option may work well for them. Not sure.