Riding t-loads, and other dangerous stuff.

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "jpeakall by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <jpeakall-at-mcn-dot-org>

Howdy All,

This won't be the most popular viewpoint. However...

When I was young, I had a fascination with explosives. In the beginning of
my HE (high explosives) career, my father ( PhD in Biology and chemistry,
with an ba in physics) found me trying to make dynamite. Naturally he was
horrified, as dynamite production is very unstable and dangerous. However,
instead of tanning my hide and taking away all of my stuff, he decided that
A: I would continue to experiment behind his back and B: that he would
rather I didn't blow myself up, so he decided to help and guide instead of
forbid. With his help, I blew up many things in my childhood, and still have
all my fingers.

Same thing about drinking when I was a teenager. My dad didn't want me
hanging out in the park with my friends drinking. He *knew* he couldn't stop
be experimenting with alcohol. He thought it was much safer for us to drink
at home. No cops, no cars, and him and Mom upstairs to make sure things
didn't get out of hand. All the kids thought my Dad was the coolest, but he
was doing his best to protect his kids, not being cool.

The point is, people do what they do. By withholding knowledge, we force
them to do it stupidly, without the benefit of experience. Let's face it the
trick of "riding the topload" is out there. And if people can't find
information on it, they may well try it in ignorance. So who's to say if
withholding such information is going to save lives or discourage people
from trying it? I doubt it will. I *knew* that making dynamite was
dangerous. It's just lucky my Dad got to me before I got to the tricky part.

Trying to protect people by keeping them in ignorance just doesn't work.
Educating and informing people occasionally does. Censorship and withholding
of knowledge helps no-one. I understand peoples concern for youths and the
hobby, but shrouding dangerous acts in a cloak of secrets will only make
some more curious than ever. And those who were sensible enough will have
heeded the warnings, and it will be only the reckless left.... and now they
have no information to even have a *hope* of doing it and living.

Sorry if this seems OT, but I don't think it is.

*off soapbox*

Flame retardant systems activated.

Jonathan Peakall

PS Understand, I have no urge to touch a secondaries out put. Anybody who
does is a few bricks shy a full load, IMHO.