What’s The Other Word For “Accident”?

If anything, this Paul Walker tragedy taught me that we need a new word for "accident".  To me and accident isn't something that is brought on by sheer recklessness.  The other day there was also a guy who died "accidentally" while trying to hold his breath underwater.  What was an "accident" about that?  I know he didn't intentionally kill himself, but if the result of failure was always death, then he didn't really die "accidentally", it was more "death by misadventure".

So what's the difference and what does it matter?  Well it seems that we live in a politically correct, everybody gets a medal just for participating, ignore the facts, kind of world.  I, unfortunately have to go back to this Paul Walker thing to make my point. If a kid asks about it, he shouldn't be told that it was an "accident".  And "accident" means it was unpreventable, and oopsie and no big deal.  What that kid needs to learn is "that's what happens when you drive too fast".  Now, if you want to say that the guy "drove too fast and was in an accident" that's perfectly okay.

I can go a bit further. I don't believe there are skydiving, mountain climbing or any high speed "accidents".  When you push your luck in a high risk situation, you've increased your chance of bad things happening that it's kind of beyond what I would call an "accident".

People also seem to have a problem with the fact that I said the guy "killed" his friend.  Well, he did.  He didn't murder him. He didn't intend to off him.  He did kill him.  It's cold and it's hard, but it's a fact.

People need to know that there are consequences for high risk behavior. You're not doing anyone any favors by just saying "accident" and leaving it at that.  Most of readers and listeners know where I'm coming from when I put things this bluntly because they've taken time to get to know me.  I'm concerned that we have to live alongside those people who don't understand the concept of consequences.  Let me also add, no, I would not "feel differently if it happened to me or someone I loved", I'd feel like a jerk because I could have prevented it by approaching things with a bit more caution.  I add this because there are bleeding hearts out there that secretly hope the universe will teach me some big lesson so I'll have more compassion.  To you folks I say, the universe has already taught me lessons, that's why I approach these things with an opinion firmly rooted in the reality of the situation.