rcwild
07-03-2005, 09:07 AM
Dave Black, the ACA's Safety and Rescue Program Director, has asked that all accident reports be submitted to him directly. See ACA Accident Database (http://www.canyoneering.net/forums/showthread.php?t=364)
I have been pretty lax in enforcing this and allowing people to post directly to this section of our forums. When people are allowed to post directly, (a) information is shared while memories are still fresh, and (b) differing perspectives are presented. But there are serious concerns:
(1) Neutral insight can be lost if people endeavor to assign blame.
(2) Beginners (and self-proclaimed experts) may reach inappropriate conclusions if they lack a broad base of experience to draw upon. There can also be a tendancy to think in terms of, "Next time we screw up, we'll be better prepared", when a more appropriate lesson should be, "What can we do in the future to avoid screwing up".
(3) There can be a tendancy toward debating minutia. "It was the 4th person." "No, it was the 5th person." "She was wearing a purple wetsuit." "No, it was lavender." Focusing on trivial details can often detract from the important lessons to be learned.
If you choose to post to this section of our forums, rather than submit your information to Dave, you do so with the understanding that the Moderators reserve the right to: (a) edit or delete your posts if they are not consistent with our objectives or policies; (b) close any thread if it gets out of hand or is believed to have run its course; (c) delete any thread and replace it with our own summary and analysis.
I have been pretty lax in enforcing this and allowing people to post directly to this section of our forums. When people are allowed to post directly, (a) information is shared while memories are still fresh, and (b) differing perspectives are presented. But there are serious concerns:
(1) Neutral insight can be lost if people endeavor to assign blame.
(2) Beginners (and self-proclaimed experts) may reach inappropriate conclusions if they lack a broad base of experience to draw upon. There can also be a tendancy to think in terms of, "Next time we screw up, we'll be better prepared", when a more appropriate lesson should be, "What can we do in the future to avoid screwing up".
(3) There can be a tendancy toward debating minutia. "It was the 4th person." "No, it was the 5th person." "She was wearing a purple wetsuit." "No, it was lavender." Focusing on trivial details can often detract from the important lessons to be learned.
If you choose to post to this section of our forums, rather than submit your information to Dave, you do so with the understanding that the Moderators reserve the right to: (a) edit or delete your posts if they are not consistent with our objectives or policies; (b) close any thread if it gets out of hand or is believed to have run its course; (c) delete any thread and replace it with our own summary and analysis.