Fire challenge
So the latest scare is that of teens lighting themselves on fire as part of something called "The Fire Challenge". Basically, it is a way for a kid to prove to his friends that he is brave. Of course, playing with fire is brave, but it is also very foolish.
What should encourage boys to be brave - but for a worthy cause. Having the courage to take a stand while defending an unpopular position is a good type of bravery. Lighting yourself on fire (or playing Russian Roulette) is a foolish type of bravery.
Sadly we lack men who demonstrate courage on the important matters in life. But these same men are willing to take foolish risks on matters that are of no importance.
http://denver.cbslocal.com/2014/08/02/colorado-fire-officials-warn-about-teens-taking-the-fire-challenge/
Everytime I watch that first idiot self-immolate, I feel like I'm seeing it for the first time. Every time I see it, he seems more and more surprised. I think it's funny, and appropriate, that Kipling's "The Gods of the Copybook Headings" warned us about morons like this:
ReplyDelete"We were living in trees when they met us,
They showed us each in turn,
That water would certainly wet us,
And fire would certainly burn,
But we found them lacking in uplift, vision, and breadth of mind,
So we left them to teach the gorillas, while we followed the March of Mankind.
and
"As it will be in the future, it was so at the birth of man,
There are only 4 things certain, since Social Progress [!] began:
"That the dog returns to his vomit, and the sow returns to her mire,
And the burnt fool's bandaged finger goes wobbling back to the fire..."
I wonder who the guest interview will be. Give us a hint!
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