New Ethics... KITE? Yes / No / Maybe

HRnico · Since 22 Mar 2008 261 Posts Da Hood Obsessed

I call complete BS. If you ride your Road bike by my house all weekend. Take the wife and little ones on a busy county road to walk or bike. Hit your favorite trails on two wheels. You all are passing my place as I work in the yard. Play a round of golf its all OK.
The first warm windy day, I'm going to partake in my preferred activity. I will certainly be maintaining about 25 meters of distance. Self launching and landing is my norm so stay away from me!

eric · Since 13 Jan 2006 1804 Posts XTreme Poster

I thought exactly the same until about two weeks ago. Now I feel differently. In my view, anything that can be done to decrease spread vectors needs to be done now. Not tomorrow, not until PDX looks like NYC, but NOW.

When/if I go out onto the river, or MTB, of fish or... that are basically "closed" for the reasons outlined above, I very much increase the draw for folks to travel here and do the same. So now, we have someone from a region of high infection going to a region of low infection. They may/will get gas/food/use a rest stop along the way.

Normally I am not one to tell people what they "should do." However, I feel like the seriousness of the situation we are right now transcends all of our societal, "It's all good Broh."

I think we are all going to have to work together for this to work. All of us--together. In that light I don't think it's productive to label folks who have/can get out onto the river, or the golf course as "elitist" or what have you. Rather, can we approach all of this from an epidemiological perspective in the midst of a Global Pandemic that is currently killing thousands of people per day, and threatening to completely unbalance the World's economy?

So, I will not be kiting, golfing, mtb or anything else that I feel may put others at risk and/or encourage a draw from folks in areas with disease, who UNDERSTANDABLY want to get out and feel some air, exercise, play and so forth.

I hope that his thread can maintain the largely positive informative tone that has been the case thus far. It's really not in anyone's interest to alienate anyone else right now. If I have done so, it is absolutely not my intent.

Eric

HRnico · Since 22 Mar 2008 261 Posts Da Hood Obsessed

the only thing canceled is Skiing, Kiting and Dinning out. Head to Walmart or Safeway, or plenty of other businesses, all looks normal. There are many peeps still going to work. So many of us relay on those still working, still interacting with others. There appears to be inconsistences. It is mostly white collar and waitresses staying home. Certain people are self isolating, some are told, some chose.

eric · Since 13 Jan 2006 1804 Posts XTreme Poster

I can’t agree with you on the normal re work at all. Many are out of work and stuff is shut down. Unemployment figures will bear this out.

Nak · Mon Apr 06, 20 10:13 am

This is a tough one for me. On the one hand, I can easily kite alone far from anyone else. On the other hand, doing anything that increases the likelihood of having to visit a medical facility is not the best idea right now. Also, kiteboarding is pretty high visibility and really does send the wrong message right now.

So what do you do? Myself, I am refraining from going kiteboarding--at least until it's warm out. Smile

OK seriously, I'm not going out for now. I'm not going to condemn anyone who does or even try and change their mind. That's each person's call right now.

All of that said, I really do believe that health care workers, first responders, and both group's families should absolutely go out kiting. They are struggling with massive stress so that the rest of us can be a bit safer while we sit on the couch watching Netflix. The families near as much as the workers. I'm glad I don't have to social distance from my spouse; that is something families of these heroes are having to deal with. If by not going out myself I make more room for those sacrificing themselves for our benefit, perhaps I have helped out just a little bit.

ldhr · Since 21 Jul 2009 1471 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

Covid-19 virus is way more deadly - the mortality rate is much higher.

H1n1 - 60.8 million cases with 12,469 deaths in the U.S.

Covid-19 virus as of 4/6 - 364,836 with 10,801 deaths.

Summary - while H1N1 was lethal - only 12k deaths. Projections for Corona virus - 100's of thousands and probably more.

I don't know about you - but I'm staying home.

The reason that Oregon has so few deaths is because we are on lockdown and staying home.

If we relax the lockdown - people from all over the USA will flock to Oregon to kite, bike, ski, climb mt. hood, climb smith rock, fish the Deschutes, drink wine, swill beer, and pass the virus on to Oregonians (NO THANKS).

HRNico - please don't kite at the Event Site. You will be noticed and the authorities will no doubt drag their feet when it is safe to re-open. I'm guessing they will invoke new rules when they do allow kiting - there will be some sort of restrictions and we need to show we can play by the rules - or we could lose access all together.

eric · Since 13 Jan 2006 1804 Posts XTreme Poster

^^^
"The reason that Oregon has so few deaths is because we are on lockdown and staying home."

Why is this so tough for folks to understand? Do you want to have Oregon hospitals look like New York's, or Italy's or how several other large cities are going to look if they don't get onto the lock down bus? Seriously. Do you want so many bodies spilling out of hospitals that we will consider "temporarily burying bodies in Central Park" as morgues get over whelmed?

No. We cannot do this forever. Yes. We can do this now and buy time.

I have seen some advocate for "Herd immunity now--just get it over with."

Okay; you first.

knotwindy · Since 25 Sep 2011 598 Posts Addicted

If only things were just that simple. Since this is a new phenomenon and a new way for people to cope with it, we honestly have no idea what will bring the best long term results. Short term is easier but it might make things far worse down the road. Might not, we just don’t know. Life is neither simple or easy. Just messy.

But yes, even my dog can sit & stay.

Aeolus · Mon Apr 06, 20 5:04 pm

Good thread people.
Was over at river talk. Nice discussion there. Steve Welch of ARTA boils it down nicely
Pokes at how you define.....essential.

https://www.rivertalkpodcast.com/podcast/ep-73-the-coronavirus-episode/

HRnico · Since 22 Mar 2008 261 Posts Da Hood Obsessed

Guess Road biking and golfing are essential

niknas · Since 18 Sep 2006 181 Posts North of OR, South of WA Stoked

I watched a sheriff boat yesterday (4/7) around 3 leave the marina head to hatchery/swell to chase down a windsurfer to have a word with him. I guess they are serious about closing the river to recreation.

McLovin · Since 11 Sep 2017 278 Posts Corbett Obsessed

Ho-Toe · Tue Apr 07, 20 3:26 pm **whodunnit?**

I heard that some of the Newport locals chased away a couple of out-of-town kiters today...

Here's a tip for those kiting in apocalyptic times: when you are violating your governor's stay-at-home order to go on a daytrip to a community where there are at most half a dozen local kiters, you stick out like a sore thumb.

PS: even when there's not an apocalypse, you still stick out like a sore thumb.

Stay At Home!

Twisted Evil

eric · Since 13 Jan 2006 1804 Posts XTreme Poster

This Covid video is 46 min long. Watch the first 20 min for https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=doR0Ejy4eo0&app=desktop

knotwindy · Since 25 Sep 2011 598 Posts Addicted

Got another link?