Is It Selfish to Pursue Risky Sports Like Extreme Mountain Climbing?

I feel mountain climbing could be selfish under certain circumstances. If you decide to have a family and all of a sudden leave then to go mountain climbing for a long time then come back for a week and leave again it could be very selfish. Competitively rock climbing is very dangerous and could cause death. If you have a family and went rock climbing and fell, how would your family find out? If your kids were young and figured out their father died it would be terrible because they would know what it would be like to grow up with a dad. If you are a competitive rock climber but decided to go to a gym and climb then you are not selfish. Even though you can still die it is less likely and way more safe.

I feel extreme sports are sometimes selfish. This is because if you are married and have kids you should not be risking your life for a sport. This is because if you were to die your children wouldn’t have a father to raise them, and your wife would be left with financial and emotional trauma. For example, if you are a rock climber you can still continue rock climbing in a safe way such as at a rock climbing gym. However, if you continue to risk your life climbing mountains where there is little to no safety procedures i feel that would be selfish.

I feel like extreme sports are unselfish. I surf very regularly, and though it can be considered dangerous, it is not selfish to enjoy yourself. I feel like the point he makes is that they are just enjoying their life, and it is perfectly fair to have a good time. No matter what you do in life there is a chance you hurt yourself. You can’t go around hoping you don't get a little hurt. People who enjoy extreme sports like free climbing are just taking things to the next level.

When I read the title of this article I was totally confused. I didn’t understand the argument so I had to click on it. It argues that someone is to die participating in an extreme sport that it is selfish for leaving your family and friends. I disagree strongly with this argument. These sports such as mountain climbing are very dangerous and some people die but there is not an extreme number or if it was too dangerous it wouldn’t be a sport. Athletes that compete in extreme sports and know the risk they are putting themselves in. If this is what they love to do and enjoy they shouldn't be labeled as “selfish”. They obviously don’t want to leave their family behind and scar them. Most likely this sport is picked up at a young age where their parents might have encouraged it so they should also know the risk and everyone in his life should know what can happen. At the end of the day it is an occupation where they are paid. I could think of jobs that are even more dangerous and don’t get paid as much so it shouldn't be selfish.

For people to argue that it is a selfish act to partake in these sports is unfair to the people who devote themselves to these activities. If people are taking the risk to compete and train for the sport they love, then it doesn’t mean that they are purposefully trying to get hurt or possibly die. These people are doing what makes them truly happy. All sports come with risks, some of those risks greater than others. Some sports are also more accepted by viewers. It’s strange to me that with American football people see no problem with large men throwing themselves at each other over a ball, but when a person wants to make a journey up a mountain, there are fits thrown. Yes, climbers, and other extreme sport members do take risks, but if outsiders want to put others down for doing what they love, then you could simply argue, “everyday that you drive to work you risk your life by getting in that car and going in the open streets”. We are all going to die, it’s inevitable. Taking these risks and doing what they love let’s people actually live while they’re here, and they should not be judged for the choice to be happy.

Have you ever heard of extreme sports that take a lot of athletes lives? People think those athletes are selfish because they knew that there is risk involved, they might die, but they still do it, and if there was an accident, their family are left behind.In my opinion, I think they have the right to make decisions, they do that because they love it, taking away the stuff will make their life pointless, hopeless and boring. When I was in ninth grade, I love skateboarding, and I spend hours on it every day. Once, I was playing in the court and without the light, and there is a bank that I missed, the board stuck on it and I flew out and fell on the ground very hard, I laid on the ground for a few minutes, and I started to few a headache, I threw up a lot of times, after that I was diagnosed that I have a brain concussion. But that didn’t stop me, I keep doing it. And that is only a slight injury to an athlete in many sports, and there are many athletes that can’t play after some serious injuries. Can you imagine an athlete that can’t do sports? That feels like a person that loves eating can’t eat, and I think that will be really painful. That is also true for the extreme sports athlete, do anybody wants to die? Do they? They try to prevent danger, but bad thing still happens, and I believe they all had prepared for that day. They are just doing the things that they love, and there is nothing wrong with that. So stop judging them.

Obviously people don’t take on extreme mountain climbing or other dangerous sports because they have a death wish or want to leave behind a broken family, they just have a strong determination to do what they love. I’m sure they know the risks as does their family, but I think the blunt realization needs to be made that if you are really attached to someone who takes on dangerous sports like mountain climbing, then either you should talk them out of it or accept that no matter what, they will pursue what they truly enjoy.

Honestly, I would say they’re all the above. They are confident, determined, and ambitious, but if they passed away because of a trend, they are definitely selfish to do something this risky. Anything dangerous is risky, it is dangerous because you’re risking something after all. It’s rather obvious when something is unsafe, you may ignore the signs but the signs are there. Personally, I’ve never found interest in extreme sports and other dangerous activities. I’ve always had a mental blockage that kept me from doing anything I felt was risky. Honestly, I've never really been one to risk anything, especially my body and my life. However, I understand that the reason people do these extreme sports is for the rush of beating death itself. The point I understand from Mr. Sanzaro’s essay is that climbing is addictive. Like any drug, you don’t mean to harm anybody when you do something, it just happens. Also, It creates a high expectation for happiness, one that can hardly ever be achieved again without what create such happiness in the first place. However, to go after such things intentionally, while knowing the consequences is still selfish. So, I agree that actions during dangerous hobbies are not intentional and that they make climbers happy, but going after such hobbies still seems selfish to me.

While watching "Free Solo," a documentary about Alex Honnold and his free solo climb of El Capitan, I had the same thought: Why would he do such a dangerous thing knowing he would leave behind those who loved him, and would be heartbroken if he passed? The documentary touched on those same topics. The members of the documentary crew spoke about needing to prepare themselves for the worst, and Alex himself talked about worrying about falling to his death in front of his friends, scarring them for the rest of their lives. After hearing him worry about such a result, it was obvious that it wasn’t that he didn’t care about his impact. He knew the kind of burden that would be left on his friends if he died in front of their eyes. It was clear: he wasn’t selfish. He was given a purpose that was solely his to fulfill. Free-soloing the El Capitan was a goal, a goal that if he didn’t accomplish, he would regret for the rest of his life. I admire that, and can understand it in a vague way. I understand that he would rather that he die doing what he loved than staying safe, but not truly living. At least, not doing something that was fulfilling to him. In the end, there's no one to blame-not the ones lost, not equipment, not inexperience. They did what they loved until their dying second, and in some way... it’s comforting.

I personally believe there is some truth to what Mr.Sanzaro says about the character traits of people like the mountaineers he describes. To a certain degree, there is some selfishness when participating in an extremely dangerous sport. Mr.Sanzaro states that they are “selfish for leaving behind sons and daughters, wives and girlfriends, husbands and boyfriends, devastated mothers and fathers to pick up the pieces.” The chance of injury or death is real and uncontrollable, and always heartbreaking when leaving a loved one behind, but these athletes who participate in dangerous sports know the risks and would not be doing it if they did not have their hearts and souls immersed in the sport. It's always important to have support when participating in any sport, let alone a dangerous one. When it comes to parents, children, wives, and husbands, communication is key. Being honest about the risks and dangers of the sport will allow others to come to their own conclusion about how they feel. It's not selfish to do what you love, but at least properly inform others about the sport. Athletes train endlessly to participate in a sport they love. It isn't selfish to pursue your passion, but it might be to hide the risks. All-in-all, I believe there is a little selfishness in pursuing risky sports, but who are we to judge?

I only think it is selfish if you have kids. If your just a guy or girl with no one to take care of then you should be aloud to do what you want. If you have kids and you're risking your life it’s a little unfair to the kids.

The title of this article confused me, honestly. Risky sports are... selfish? That didn't make much sense to me. To be selfish is to value yourself over others to a fault. Too much is narcissism, and too little is a broken self-image. And maybe intense sports will attract more people who are the "outgoing" type, the people who take chances for some prize, physical or otherwise. But both types of people will compete in these things. How you view yourself has very little impact on how well you can move up a cliff face, or scale the Himalayas. When these people die doing what they love, it's a tragedy. But a selfish one? Absolutely not. The grieving families they leave behind, the wives and children and friends? They are living proof that whoever died had an impact on their world, spent some of their own time to change the lives of others. And that's not selfish. It's selfless.

As an avid surfer, there are countless cases of people getting injured, coming close to death, or dying. This relates closely with the "extreme sports" topic as big wave surfing is extremely dangerous. Very often when big wave surfing you can black out, hit the reef or bottom, be held down for period over a minute, and break bones from the power of the waves. I do not believe that it is selfish to pursue these sports. This is the choice of the athletes, they know the risks and they train endlessly for it. They devote their life to these things, and to call them selfish for pursuing their passion isn't fair. Certain sports are trying to be as safe as possible while tackling these feats. For surfing, when you go out you usually will have a friend, or someone you are paying on a jet ski to rescue you if needed. Along with that, you are now able to purchase wet suits that have Co2 canisters in them. You can pull a tab on the suit and one of the canisters will inflate, instantly lifting you to the surface. Still people die pursuing this sport. They know the risks of what they are doing, and the people who do this have spent their whole lives in the ocean and know what it is capable of. Same with mountain climbing, they know what can happen and that every time they go out it could be their last.

Before even responding to this post, I ask the reader of this to ask him or herself how a dangerous sport is, in any way, selfish? The point of sports is to push people to their physical and/or mental limits and to improve. Extreme sports is just that but on a higher level. Extreme sports are for people who desire a risk to their specific sports to make it feel more real and to give themselves more of a rush when they do their sport. I think that calling these people selfish is ridiculous when we should really be calling them selfless heroes. People who compete in extreme sports such as ice climbing or mountain skiing/snowboarding are people who are willing to risk life and limb to show how far the human body can be pushed and to set goals for others to strive for. Extreme sports shouldn’t be seen as something that only selfish people do, but as something brave and persistent people do.

It's not selfish to pursue what you enjoy. It's also not fair to not let someone do what they love. In my opinion, that's being selfish. Not allowing someone to pursue their passion, no matter how dangerous, means that you are selfish, not them. I do however think that a couple should be in consensus about these types of dangerous activities before engaging in them. In the article, Sanzaro says that you can't fall out of love of something. The three men who died in the climb knew what they were getting int. They knew there was always a possibility of death, and they still proceeded with the activity. I've always wanted to skydive. My parents think I'm crazy for ever wanting to do it, but stuff like that is what I find fun. Bungee jumping, skydiving, climbing, it is all super dangerous, but considered fun to some people, and they shouldn't have that stripped away from them.

Let Them Live Their Life. People who participate in extreme sports like that know there is always a risk. If It's what they love doing why would you not support that person. I think calling the deceased selfish is flat out wrong. They were doing what they love and it's sad they died but they died doing what they loved. "Selfish for leaving sons and daughters," that quote from the article just gets me upset. If the families feel that they should blame the deceased for something that was unpredictable they have a problem.

I personally won’t ever participate in any extreme sport because I don’t like those kind of things and I’m a big chicken. I think the people who do it as a living are amazing and brave. They risk their lives doing something they love and that their passionate about. I can understand why others would call them selfish because every time they climb a mountain there’s a chance they won’t make it home. The climbers know the risk their taking yet they still do it. There’s anger and despair in their families if a tragic event where to happen, and you want to place the blame somewhere rather than accepting it was an accident. Rather than blaming them and calling them selfish we should honor them. They did what they loved no matter the risks.

As a climber myself, it seems I'm always hearing about a new death or tragedy, whether through Instagram or the news. It's obviously always upsetting, especially because in the climbing community, everyone is so close. Climbing with someone forms a stronger bond than most people realize, and if I heard that someone I had belayed, or projected with, or given beta to had died, I would obviously be deeply affected by the news. But the reason that the bonds we form are so strong is because we all know immediately that we feel the same thing; the love of climbing, the feeling of sending your project and pushing your limits and learning what your body can do is indescribable- better than any goal or touchdown or home run. I don't think it's something non-climbers can fully understand, which is why dangerous climbing can be seen as selfish. It's really not about chasing a thrill. If it was, I think I'd agree. But Alex Honnold didn't free solo El Cap for the adrenaline rush. And it's not about proving anything either- in fact climbers are some of the most humble people I've ever met. It's just that the love of the sport is so raw and real, sometimes you just have to climb that route. As cheesy as it sounds, it's really not just a sport, it's a way of life. And if you love a climber, I think that asking them to give that up would be far more selfish. Climbers don't die because they want to hurt anyone, they die because the mountains are unpredictable, and they are only human.

To put it simply, you are not "living" if you never put yourself outside of your comfort zone. Often we find ourselves trapped within our daily routines, doing the same thing over and over again. That is exactly why pushing the limits of what you consider comfortable is dire for those who need to break away from the clocklike manner of life. The last word I would use to describe these adventurers is "selfish." They are merely pursuing a passion that they fell in love with. Just because the risk level is higher in their activities does not make them madmen, they are just looking for an adrenaline boost, that is difficult to find in everyday life. When you think back on history, it is rarely those who lived safe and comfortable lives that are celebrated as heroes and heroines. It is those who risked their lives and pushed their limits that led lavish lives and made impeccable feats. Don't just live comfortably, live well.

When mountain climbers take on treacherous challenges, they and their relatives know that death is a possibility. But death is inevitable. And if mountain climbing is what brings joy to a person, they should be allowed to do it. The main argument stating that mountain climbing is selfish is mainly based off of what and who the mountain climbers leave behind once they are dead. But if climbing is the only thing that brings a climber happiness, why should they be restrained from being happy. And if climbers had found something else that makes them as truly happy as climbing, wouldn't they be doing that instead? Climbing is their life. One famous climber who died while climbing, David Lama, has caused a lot of controversy over the sport of mountain climbing. His parents released this statement:"David dedicated his life to the mountains and his passion for climbing... He always followed his own path and lived his dream. " This is the right mindset to be in. As parents, you should always want your child to be happy. Every time you leave your house and get in your car, there is no guarantee that you will walk back through your door. Everyone will die at some point, and there relatives will mourn their death. I would be content knowing my relative died doing what they loved rather than them being depressed as they died.

To me, living on the edge is the best way to boost your self confidence. You get to look back on the experience, and tell yourself, “I really did that,”. It's the best way to keep confidence, and a positive radiance. Living in the moment is always scary, right before you do it, but once you have jumped, you never tend to regret it.i remember my first vacation to Puerto Rico, and being scared to jump off this ten foot dock. The anticipation leading up to the jump, held me back. But when i had taken the step to leap, my adrenaline was rushing. I had felt so alive, and my self esteem had immediately boosted. That experience today, still makes me happy at the thought of it. That is why risky decisions ultimately help with your positivity. To me keeping the positivity from past experience can also push you to live on the edge more. In the NYT article, “Are Mountain Climbers Selfish?” Francis Sanzaro writes, “Yes, agreed, but the climbers who died on Howse Peak and the dozens of others I know have been anything but selfish. They were or are devoted husbands, wives, selfless friends and loving fathers and mothers. And confident, determined and overly ambitious,”. In this she is explaining how the climbers confidence had ultimately helped them to take more risks in their lives. Ultimately if we are not taking these big risks, then we are not livings. Building up our self confidence to make the huge decisions can ultimately lead us to our best lives.

Mountain climbers, disciplined and intelligent people who have hearts full of love. People who are happy for other's achievements. People who don't deserve to be called selfish for trying to achieve their own goals. The wives, the girlfriends, the husbands, the boyfriends all know that the person they love, the mountain climber is who he or she is. Although mountain climbing is dangerous they both made a decision, they both know that death is a possibility. You wouldn't want to be someone that forces the mountain climber to stop climbing. A strong passion for something is not common and you wouldn't want to take it away. If they quit because of you they will resent you because "You can’t fall out of love with something. " And some mountain climbers will no longer "feel alive."

I completely disagree with people who think extreme sports like mountain climbing are selfish. I may not mountain climb, but I do participate in what could be considered an extreme sport. Skateboarding. One thing I do know is that without my board, I wouldn't feel alive and I wouldn't be happy, and I'm sure it's the same for mountaineers. I get hurt skating almost everyday. I come to school with cuts and a ton of bruises. My mom tells me to stop for the day whenever I get hurt, but I don't because skating is what makes me happy, and that far outweighs pain. Sanzaro talks about how mountain climbing deaths will never stop because as long as someone loves to climb, they're going to keep climbing. This is true for skating as well. People die from head injuries all the time in skating, but that's not ever going to stop me. If someone wants to stop me from doing what I love, they're the ones being selfish, not me.

I don't believe that the mountain climbers are selfish. I do believe that, like almost all other people, they have found something they are passionate for, and it is just much riskier than anything else. Rather than calling those that died selfish, I'd rather call the extremely passionate. Putting your life at risk over something that you love is honorable, and I'm sure they meant no ill will towards though that loved them. They simply found what they wanted to do, something that they were very good at, and ended up being unfortunate. I've seen a few movies regarding mountain climbing, but I still wouldn't fully say I'm qualified to speak on the matter. But I would say that they are simply pursuing their goals and doing what makes them happy. There are many things you could call these rock climbers, but I do not believe selfish is one of them.

Are mountain climbers selfish? No, climbers are like any other human being but, are interested in a hobby that has a risk of death involved. If mountain climbers truly understand severity of this risk is still up in the air even though they see fellow climbers be injured and die from this dangerous sport. In their head they say, "it happens to other not me." but, what if it was them? Climbers are not selfish for taking the risk of their life. You wouldn't think the same of a firefighter, police officer, or someone in the military, would you? Mountain climbing and these occupations are not different in the risk factors they take and who is involved. All of these groups have people who have chosen to pick the risk of death. The difference is that mountain climbers are taking advantage of what mother nature has given them.

Having seen movies such as "Everest" and "Free Solo," I am well aware of the dangers of rock climbing. Many people die every year, which raises the question: is it really worth it? If you have ever had a passion that you enjoy, you must understand how difficult it would be for these rock climbers to stop doing what they love. As Sanzaro mentions in her article, this can often be seen as a bad thing due to the risks associated with it. However, this should not be seen as a reason to prevent these people from doing what they love. In the article, it talks about being "selfish" towards your family to put your life in danger. I see where the author is coming from, and agree that climbers should think about it before starting a family. All in all, although it is very dangerous, it is not up to others to keep people from doing what they enjoy. Alter your family circumstance if need be, but passion is passion, and that will rarely change.

I'm no where near qualified to give any insight on dangerous sports like extreme mountain climbing since I'm not crazy enough to even attempt that, but I respect the people who are. They are able to look fear straight in the eye and, have fun. They can take something that the ordinary person would say "Are you out of your mind!" do it as a hobby. And for that, they have my upmost respect. This question "Is it selfish" in regards to extreme sports baffles me. In what way would this be selfish? I get that it poses a great risk to the participant and he or she can be at great risk of dyeing, but to them, that's the best part. You only live once right? It's better to dye doing what you love than live being to afraid to try.

Rock climbing is a dangerous sport. My father has participated in it, My mother has done it as well, and so have I. I've never scaled a mountain, and I’ve never gotten close to doing climbing that endangers my life, however from my limited experience of the sport, I loved rock climbing. Therefore I can’t imagine the guilt and pain professional rock climber go through when they are accused of being selfish. I don’t believe that rock climbers or participants in any dangerous sport are selfish for what they do, reckless yes, but not selfish. To professional rock climbers scaling giant cliffs and reaching the highest peaks is not only their dream but their reality. It is what they live for. When interviewed a mother of a rock climber,” cited her unwillingness to take something away from her son that gives him so much joy. Most mothers surely thought she was crazy, but I thought her love was brave.” That is true love. Obviously, she is worried about her son, but does she think he is selfish, no. Love is about sticking with someone through the good and the bad, and I can imagine that every time her son aspires to climb a mountain this mother shakes in fear, but she knows it's what he loves, so she deals with it.

I think that doing something dangerous that might kill you because you enjoy it can be selfish. At the same time though it is important for everyone to do what they love because everyone has the right to be happy. I think that most of these mountain climbers knew the risks and that their loved ones had an even greater knowledge of the risks but still let them go. David Lama's parents wrote about his love for mountain climbing after he died and their acceptance of what happened. They know that he died doing what he loved and I think that was an important thing for them. I personally that doing dangerous extreme sports can be a selfish thing because of my own experiences. My dad was a big part of the BMX community when he grew up and only retired from BMX a couple years ago at 45. BMX is racing or doing tricks off of ramps on specially made bikes. My dad only retired because he has had several head injuries over the course of his career. He had several concussions and many incidents where he hit his head pretty hard. I know that BMX is what he loved and was passionate about but I still see it as selfish because of the consequences. The chance that my dad gets something like Alzheimer's is exponentially higher then most people. I'm worried that something like that will take him away from me a lot sooner then I would be ready for and I wonder if he never did BMX how many more years I might get to spend with him.

I don’t think that rock climbers and other people who participate in extreme sports are any more selfish than people who have different hobbies. As Francis Sanzaro says in the article, mountain climbing made Roskelley, Auer, and Lama who they were and their parents loved them because of it. It gave them purpose, just like a job or raising a family might give someone else purpose. I would argue that mountain climbing and pursuing their passion made them better fathers, sons, and husbands because they were happy and fulfilled. While I don’t believe that the deceased climbers were selfish by any means, I would argue that being a little selfish on occasion is a good thing. Sometimes, we all just need a mental health break and take time for ourselves. If you are always focused on helping other people, you won’t take the time to decompress and help yourself. On a side note, regardless of your opinion on this subject, insulting someone in the wake of a tragedy just doesn’t sit right with me.

I do not feel that these climbers are selfish. Yes, what they choose to spend their lives doing can be risky but their intention is not to hurt themselves. These climbers are driven by their love for the sport and to keep reaching to new heights. The climbers should not be accused of being selfish, we should be applauding them for their bravery to pursue something they love even when it's dangerous. Francis Sanzaro writes, "They were or are devoted husbands, wives, selfless friends and loving fathers and mothers." This statement shows that even though they enjoy a risky sport, they are still devoted to their family. These are clearly wonderful people who should never be considered 'selfish'. They were just doing the sport they loved.

I can understand both sides of the argument to whether or not extreme sports participants are selfish. I have gone back and forth trying to decide what my opinion is. I understand that everyone has their own passions and certain things make them feel more at peace. I do not find in selfish for people to follow their passions, they deserve the right to do things that make them the happiest. On the other side, I can agree with the fact at certain times it can become selfish. If the person puts the sport before the rest of their family that's when I would think it is selfish. With this article being about extreme sports I think the selfishness comes in with injuries you can get. For example if you continuously got concussions from mountain climbing it would not be fair to your family to have them constantly have to take care of you. To me that is where the line is drawn whether extreme sports can be selfish. In the article it talks about how the Howse climbers who were killed on their mountain climbing expedition. That is not an example of being selfish to me because they died doing what they loved. My family is pretty calm so I do not have anyone that I really know who does adventurous sports. I did have a family member who used to be in the marines and we all supported him. While serving in the army and risky sports are extremely different you still put your life on the line for both. We understood that being in the military was his dream and we did not find that selfish.

I do not think that mountain climbers are selfish. Their acts are not fueled by them wanting to hurt themselves, but are fueled by their love for climbing, and by their love for themselves. Mountain climbers and other people who participate in "risky sports" are about pushing themselves to their limits, and fighting for what they want to achieve. Simply put, I believe that people who work to be good at dangerous things might be a little crazy, but have perseverance that many other people lack. I think that what separates mountain climbers from people who participate in self destructive behaviors, is that their motive is not to harm themselves. I think that ideally, mountain climbers need to be properly trained and take on accomplishable obstacles, and that they need to be aware of how much they would hurt those that love them, if they ever became injured or died trying to achieve something that is fueled by a desire to be the best at something "risky."

I don't feel these mountain climbers are selfish, Yes they go out and risk their lives for fun. They might die or they might not that is the risk they are willing to take. So these families that the people could possibly leave behind should be proud of that person. This is a horrible way to think but you can't just tell a world known climber to stop climbing, there are worse things that could happen.

Jess Roskelley, Hansjorg Auer, and David Lama are without a doubt not selfish. I think it is awful that people have the audacity to say such critical and disrespectful things about these people. I thought it was awful how people said, "Selfish for leaving behind sons and daughters, wives and girlfriends, husbands and boyfriends, devastated mothers and fathers to pick up the pieces." In my opinion, it is not selfish, but brave. These alpine skiers know what is at risk, but they do it anyways, because their love for the sport is so strong. If anything, we should be envious of their love and sacrifice they make for the sport, and the sacrifice they make for their families. I think that people need to realize that death happens. It will happen to everyone eventually. That's why people should be living freely and doing the things they love, not sitting back scared to die or get hurt. I support the opposing argument which says, "...but the climbers who died on Howse Peak and the dozens of others I know have been anything but selfish. They were or are devoted husbands, wives, selfless friends and loving fathers and mothers. And confident, determined and overly ambitious. Yes, they can be accused of that."

Going around the world and climbing some of the most grueling rocks are these peoples life and passion, almost like breathing to us. When people make the decision to climb a mountain of this magnitude, it takes training and preparation. They spend months getting ready for these journeys and they are well aware of the risks, as are their families. When death is involved in any situation, there is going to be denial, grief and blame. They are subjecting themselves to high risk situations and they unfortunately were not lucky. In almost everything you do there is risk for death, it is the inevitable. Dale Earnhardt Sr. died on the racetrack doing what he loved but was he selfish? Roskelley, Auer and Lama were just doing what they love. Why should fear or risk hold someone back from their passion? In life and families there are compromises that have to be made. These families saw that this was their passion and allowed them to go after it just like any other family with football players or soccer players would have done. Just because this is something out of the ordinary people are calling them selfish. Being selfish means lacking consideration for others. It is the same equivalent as calling a child selfish for wanting to play soccer or any other sport, but in the eyes of the public it is not the same.

These character that Mr. Sanzaro writes about aren’t selfish or exactly determined but more passionate and self is driven to do these sports in the first place. The mindset to keep driving through even when your life's on the line is something that can rarely be encountered. If the person doing these life taking task views how his/her loved ones are affected after their gone wouldn’t be the too sad or upset reason being is you do this passion/ hobby of yours knowing that is dangerous and still manage to take it head-on. Doing these dangerous things are for everyone most people know the price these tasks come with and reject to do them because their scared of losing their lives but the people that manage to do it feel a lot better about themselves.

To try to stop someone from accomplishing there dream or true desire is wrong and in no way are they selfish for doing so. In fact it is more selfish to try and stop someone else from accomplishing something they desire because you think it is dangerous or could hurt other people feelings if they got hurt. Humans were born with the ability to make there own choices whether they are right or wrong so what right do we have to try and take those rights in order to protect other people’s feelings and the involved individuals safety? Perhaps if you thought about it as a more personal situation such as if you had something you trained for lived for and died for how would you feel if someone called you selfish or tried to stop you because of how other people could feel after. When Erik Roner fatally struck a tree in a parachuting accident was he called selfish? How about Cloud Toda who overcame some tragic accidents was even paralyzed from the waist down but still continued with his love for riding dirtbikes only to tragically pass away after the heat from his bike Ignited the foam pit he was practice tricks into was he demeaned for not quitting or selfish for the impact it has on other people’s lives? The answer would be no all of these people along with nearly all other extreme sports athletes are just as devoted to there family or friends as they are to there love for there sport so in no way is it acceptable to try and stop or degrade what they do.

I'm at a loss for words. How could someone be so rude as to say that a person, or people, are selfish for dying when said person could neither stop nor predict this unforeseen event? It is blasphemy. Jess Roskelley, Hansjörg Auer and David Lama were, as described by the article, were as devoted to their families and friends as they were to their career and passion of climbing mountains. They died doing what they loved, climbing. When Dale Earnhardt Sr. died on the racetrack, how many claimed that he was selfish for dying during a risky sport? When Ryan Shazier had his seemingly career ending injury, how many said that he only cared about football and not his family? I don't recall anyone saying these things, so why now? Death is something that happens. It's as inevitable as the sunrise and sunset, the sun running out of energy, or me getting a cup of coffee in the morning. I don't support these allegations that these three men, or any who die in sports, are selfish in any way. I support the contrary argument of the article: that these climbers are anything but selfish; they are confident, determined, and overly ambitious. These climbers didn't leave their families with the knowledge of knowing that they were going to die. The deaths of these climbers what a saddening occurrence that no one could have predicted or stopped; it was simply nature.

Selfish, lacking consideration for others; concerned chiefly with one's own personal profit or pleasure. If you use the word selfish to describe mountain bikers, you are mistaken. Mountain biking is a sport, just like soccer or football or anything else. This article makes mountain bikers sound like they are purposely ending their own lives. In this article Francis Sanzaro writes “When will the deaths stop? Our collective wonders. I ask it, too, but I know better. They won’t. High-end climbing is going to get more risky, not less.” I personally completely disagree with this statement. While reading this all I can think is when will the deaths stop from starvation? When will the deaths stop from people driving under the influence? When will the deaths stop from school shootings? But no we are questioning mountain bikers. I believe that it is their body, their lives, and if that is their passion, nobody should stop them. I do understand the aspect that their death affects the ones who love them, but more people die from freak car accidents each year than cyclists do. And the mountain bikers who die because of mountain biking, are most likely biking at that risky of a terrain because they absolutely love it.

People don't mountain climb to die. It's not like they're planning to abandon their families, friends, etc. But then again no death is planned, death is spontaneous. Saying this, there is risk with all actions in life, but I respect the risk of mountain climbers. They push themselves to extreme limits, training for maybe even years? That's incredible. And nobody does that unless it makes them happy. You go through hell because it's what you want in life. A woman gives birth to more than one kid because she loves her kids, not because she loves the pain of labor. It's the same with extreme sports, you push the limits of human capabilities because you love the rush that comes out of it, not for death or facing the risk of death. Death is a side-effect of living life. So no, it's not selfish in any way to mountain climb, or do any extreme sports for that matter. I think it's awful for Shannon Doyne to even think about calling someone selfish for pursuing what brought them excitement.

In my opinion, I believe that the common characteristic of mountain climbers is the one of endurance. After all, these athletes experience constant mental and physical strains along their vertical journeys which are often considered too heavy to bear for the everyday-man. Oftentimes, mountain climbing is, “technically demanding, [especially] in more remote areas” in such a way that it is not only a bodily exercise but also one of the mind (Sanzaro). To climb a mountain which holds many dangers, all while being ravaged by unforgiving weather is really a Herculean feat. These people spend days, sometimes weeks, in the cold and harsh environments which are so far from society; this, from my perspective, requires the utmost fortitude of every variety. Truly, the positions in which mountain climbers maneuver through are so complex and treacherous that, “it’s like repeatedly getting heads after 20 coin flips” (Sanzaro). I doubt I have the resilience to navigate through these kinds of situations, knowing that I could plummet to my death with the slip of a finger. This is what differentiates the mountain climber from the average individual -- they have the strength both physically and mentally to pursue an activity of such risk time and time again.

I don't think what the climbers did in this article could be considered selfish. They didn't leave their families or friends with the thought that they would die. Their deaths weren't their fault. I'm sure that if they had a second chance at life. They would take it and try to right the wrong they did last time. Their deaths were due to nature and nothing else. Saying there were selfish makes about as much sense as putting a screen door on a submarine.

Dying is one of the most environmentally friendly things you can do, and these climbers did not die on purpose, so they are mostly unselfish in their deaths. With this line of reasoning, Americans who die due to problems from obesity and preventable diseases such as diabetes are selfish because they knew the unhealthy risks of their lifestyle and continued anyway for a benefit. In fact, alpinists were actually improving their fitness while climbing, so in some aspects their lifestyles were less selfish than other Americans who live in unhealthy ways. One argument for their selfishness is that they know the risk of leaving their families behind due to just a hobby. However, it is hypocritical to condemn extreme sports fans as selfish for their "risky lifestyle" while having empathy for Americans who die from heart disease and tobacco-related use that also lived "risky lifestyles" where families end up left behind. Anger, bargaining, and regret are part of the grief process. Anger towards those who have died (they shouldn't put themselves in danger!) is a painful, but natural process towards acceptance of death. But in the end, the choices of alpinists are their own. Thinking otherwise puts mountain climbing on the same level as drug use. It's true some alpinists may overestimate the benefits of climbing, but to take the choice from their hands due to relationships with others is to clip the wings of a freedom-craving bird. It would be more selfish to keep them from choosing.

In terms of riskiness, there is a line between what is reasonable or not, and simply speaking, reason is the strongest parameter. Reason should the parameter because the commonness of ignorance as a human tendency does not justify ignorance. In layman's terms, just because your friend jumps off a bridge doesn’t mean you should too. Since Mr. Sanzaro already agreed that most climbers are aware that death is an imminent risk with climbers “[having] a lot of friends who have died, most likely dozens,” climbers who “death block” are irrational. In matters of reason, previous luck of experimental probability does not change the theoretical probability. Therefore, if one has not died previously then he or she is actually more theoretically likely to die. In addition, this theory is supported by observable evidence of “dozens” for each climber. When among such staggering death statistics climbers continue to pursue climbing, the absence of reason eclipses justification. The only reasonable limits to continue climbing would be under the protection of effective safety gear, but free soloing is illogical, stubborn, and thus selfish. Tragically there is no immediate solution, since education on the issue is useless because one cannot argue with stubborn people, but instead the general population should be given a community in which loved ones of people who participate in dangerous activities can convene in order to hopefully save the lives of people who are in essence suicidal.

I believe that the main character trait of mountaineers is confidence. Climbing a 3,000-foot mountain is no joke, and if the mountaineer does not have confidence in his or her capabilities, the chances that the climb will be successful won’t be high. These mountaineers need to be confident in everything they do because they are often encountered with life-or-death situations. As mentioned, these mountaineers gain confidence the more their skills develop and the more successful they are, which can lead to overconfidence. If they aren’t careful, the large risk that comes with every move will start to become unimportant, and this is when the unexpected can happen. In his essay, Francis Sanzaro argues that mountaineers should not be portrayed as selfish individuals. He does a good at acknowledging that at certain times mountaineers can be over-ambitious, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t care about their family. He provides quotes from close family members of individuals who have passed away, and there is one idea that connects them all. They talk about how devoted they were to their family, and how the number one priority was always to come home safely, but unfortunately, that’s not always the case. I agree with Sanzaro on his argument. Mountaineers are aware of the risks that come with mountain climbing, otherwise, they would be ignorant of what could lie ahead. They participate in this activity because it brings them joy and makes them feel alive, not to hurt others.

I think mountaineers have an underlying desire to experience adrenaline and are constantly searching for new experiences. My Aunt is an avid mountain climber and has conquered mountains as extreme as Denali, the highest mountain in North America. I believe she climbs because of the joy and excitement it brings her, not because of a selfish desire. That being said, I think mountaineers are adventurous and free-spirited. I think any activity posing the possibility of death or severe injury would be considered “risky.” Football and gymnastics, for example, are considered “risky sports” because there’s a higher chance of being injured from collisions or falls. The line should really be drawn at times when death poses such a high threat that one questions whether they will finish the activity unscathed. I have climbed a few mountains in my lifetime, some more dangerous than others. When I was twelve, my family attempted to climb Courthouse Mountain, a mountain over 12,000 ft in elevation. I assumed it would be easier than the other mountains I’d summited the elevation was thousands of feet less than other hikes I’d made. However, as we neared the summit, we found a large boulder field and very narrow dirt path extending to the top, angling around 45 degrees - I still summited. I never considered the pain my death would have put the family through.

I think the mountaineers discussed in the essay are not more selfish than anyone else, but are rather pursuing their dreams like anyone else. They are simply determined to scale the mountain they desire. This perhaps gives them a feeling of achievement or euphoria. Not everyone is brave enough to go after their dreams aware of the high risks. To say that mountaineers are more selfish than others is not justifiable since everyone has selfish tendencies. There is a risk, or possibility of danger, for most sports and activities. Who can say that something should be restricted due to its risk when many other things pose risks all the time? Common activities such as driving a vehicle or going off to join the army both pose pretty high risks. However, no one characterizes those who do as selfish, even though there is a chance of death. The line of reasonability is very fuzzy and can be hard to make out. The author makes the point that mountaineers are not selfish in their endeavors, but that they may be slightly disillusioned about the risks posed to them when they climb. I agree with this statement. No one really accepts death until they near it, or it takes someone they love. Mountaineers are just pursuing their dreams, just like everyone else.

The characters that Mr.Sanzaro describes are unquestionably determined. They took mountain climbing, and held it close to their heart. They were aware of and held a good understanding of their surrounding risks and threats. They were devoted members to their loved ones, so why could they be accused of being selfish. Their actions followed their dreams and love for mountain climbing, so they did not show any selfish nature by doing what they enjoyed most despite it’s ongoing list of risks and unstable circumstances. They are human and passionate and it’s downright impossible to dissuade one who’s so devoted. In terms of risks, they are present everywhere. There are even risks in simple everyday tasks, but that’s just life in which there is not a determined safe ground free from any type of danger. Every sport in our world has risks, yet others hold more such as mountain climbing, but just because the risk values increase it doesn’t make that activity unreasonable. If one person has a solid goal and determined, it’s unlikely they will easily give up and just stop participating. So yes, there might be a line between reasonable and unreasonable but I personally believe that line is determined by an individual and their own experiences along with their sole reason for participating. Such as only doing an activity for the “rush”, personally I could find another hobby if I did not have a definite and soul giving purpose.

No, all mountaineers are aware of the risks and have a higher than life love for the activity. These mountain climbers simply push the limits on how far they can take the trade. This dedication to your trade is no different than any other activity; the only difference is that one mistake on the mountain leads to death. Free solo climber Alex Honnold talks about the dangers of free-soloing El Capitan with VICE Sports saying that the actual climb should not induce danger or fear. This is because of the planning and analytical process that takes place in order to climb the mountain. “There is no adrenaline rush. If I get an adrenaline rush, it means that something has gone horribly wrong.” Honnold says this in response to all the media that went wild after his ascent on El Capitan. It simply changed the game for the sport on how far the climbers could take it and put a spotlight on the sport for the media. Mountaineering doesn’t simply require confidence; which would lead to selfishness, instead it exhibits drive and a willingness to keep moving forward.

1) In my opinion, people such as the mountaineers described in the article are brave individuals who take risks and work hard to achieve their goals. I believe that they are very determined to do what they do and they are more selfless than selfish, if anything. The article describes how some people believe that mountaineers are selfish because they are leaving behind their family and friends and if they die on their trek up the mountains, it is ultimately their fault. But, to me, I believe that these brave people who take these risks take this into consideration, but it pushes them further to complete the task to make their loved ones proud. For a person to climb up an entire mountain or even just halfway, it takes a lot of determination and work to do so, and I believe these people have those traits within them. 3) In my life, I have had a pursuit athletically that I thought to be dangerous to participants. In my freshman year of high school, I was a part of the color guard team. Even though I thought it was cool, I also recognized the dangers of the activity. I thought about how if I injured myself, that it could injure my family hypothetically, as well. During my practice, I had injured my thumb by hitting it against a rifle and I had to wear a brace. When this happened, my family was hurt too because it meant that I could possibly need medical treatment which could be costly. Thankfully, I did not need any medical treatment and I got better in a matter of weeks.

I agree that everyone has a choice and whether they take it or not is their choice, no one else’s. Risk comes with everything anyone does, so might as well do something that has an interest. Some love risks and others enjoy the safety, but everyone encounters some type of risk every day. Others that say that when people put what he or she loves above the risks that could cause pain to others that love them, have not experienced that adrenaline rush or the feeling of the accomplishment. But if the risk wins one and the loved ones blame the actions of the person, that is selfishness. There are risks in everything people do like driving, playing sports, or even crossing the street, so blaming someone for doing what he or she loves and perusing it no matter what; that is selfish. Not pursuing that passion is not selfish. Would someone tell a firefighter to stop saving someone's life because he or she could get hurt and hurt their loved ones? No one would do that, so do not tell someone that his or passion is selfish.

Selfishness is defined by Merriam-Webster dictionary as “(a person, action, or motive) lacking consideration for others; concerned chiefly with one's own personal profit or pleasure.” By that definition, I do not think these climbers qualify as selfish. While they were doing what they did for their own personal enjoyment, I am sure that they all wanted to go home at the end of the day. They all wanted to see their families again. Francis Sanzaro explained how, when up there, the climbers don’t really even consider dying. They don’t intend to die. Therefore, what they do is no different than any other hobby; accidents happen all the time. While their hobby of choice may be more dangerous than others, choosing to do something they consider fun and invigorating does not make them selfish people. Following that same line of thought, risky is defined as “full of the possibility of danger, failure, or loss.” I think the main term here is “full of.” That implies that there is an extremely high danger rate. While climbing does have an extremely high danger rate comparatively I do not think it is unreasonable to pursue it. I think the line must be drawn when the chance of imminent danger is higher than the chance of safety. I think the point that Sanzaro is trying to make is that these people are doing what they love. They know the risks, and they stay as safe as they can, but accidents happen. In the end, they die while doing what they love to do. It’s not selfish, it’s human.

I think that the character traits of the mountaineers Sanzaro describes are best understood as part of a larger whole; the mountaineers are multi-faceted human beings who are capable of being both selfish and determined and cannot be reduced into a simple two-option dilemma. There are selfish aspects to the kind of experiences they pursue, but the same can be said for any other person. I don’t think the kind of experience the climbers hope to attain through their sport is worth sacrificing their lives for. I think that for a sport or experience to be considered “risky”, it must meet certain criteria of players/participants being injured through the sport. If it is still unclear whether this sport is worth taking part in, then analyze how many people have died directly from the sport; if the number is above zero, one should reconsider whether or not this is an experience worth dying for, and the event should also probably not be broadcasted for millions of people to watch. Sanzaro argues that the mountain climbers are not selfish for pursuing a dangerous experience, that they should work to achieve their dreams even if they are potentially life-threatening, and that they should reconsider if the experience of “feeling alive” while climbing is worth their lives. I agree with this, as I believe that it is not necessary to put one’s life on the line in order to have some mystical epiphany and that there are many other ways of feeling alive without the threat of death.

Avid mountain climbers are not selfish on purpose, they are simply blinded by the thrill of what they love. It is very likely that the mountaineers have a passion for mountain climbing, and it motivates them in life. However, this passion may get in the way of the other important things in their life. For example, their families. These mountain climbers do not mean to put their families and loved ones into situations of losing them, but it simply happens as a part of their passion. These people however, are probably very passionate and motivated people in all aspects of their life, which shows widely in their mountaineering. It is is likely that they are a;so very dedicated to their loved ones, jobs, and any other activities. As mountain climbing takes a lot of practice and training, it is unlikely that these people are careless.

I don’t think the mountaineers are selfish at all. They are simply caught up in their love for mountain climbing. I agree with Mr. Sanzaro: these climbers are just “human.” They are passionate, and they love what they do so much that they can’t let it go, no matter the risk. When they are climbing, they don’t see it as something that could mean life or death, they see it as doing something that makes them feel alive. I believe the line between what is reasonable and what is not depends not on the sport itself, but the reason it is done. Anything that could potentially result in injury could be considered “risky,” depending on who you ask, from badminton to skydiving. So how would one ever draw the line? Based on why people do the sport. The point where a sport becomes unreasonable is when participants no longer do the sport for the love of it, but for the adrenaline rush. At that point, the only reason for the sport is the risk itself. Mr. Sanzaro makes the point in his essay that mountain climbers aren’t selfish by pursuing risky sports, and I agree with him. We will never be able to stop people from speculation and inserting their own opinions, and that’s even exactly what I’m doing now; however, the only voices that should matter to this issue are the rock climbers themselves and their loved ones. Mr. Sanzaro discusses this in his opinion piece: none of the family members asked felt that what their loved one did was selfish. We shouldn’t either.

No it’s nit selfish to pursue risky things in life, some people want to do different things in life to feel the adrenaline rush. Mountain climbing a big adrenaline rush and people just love the feeling of it so they live life to the fullest.

It shouldn’t matter what you do in life as long as you the person enjoy it.

Is it selfish to do participate in risky sports like extreme mountain climbing? No, it is not selfish because in some situations you have to think about your self. Some people have different interests some like boring stuff like playing instruments, some like adrenaline sports so that is why sports or activities like this interest people so people like me will get very bored with reading books or chess or something like that, my interest is adrenaline sports because I like to do stuff thats crazy and push the limits I do not think it is selfish one bit.