How much to live on

Savvy_Sue

helensbiggestfan said:

Coughing is a perilous activity.  😱.  In the past I have fractured my ribs by coughing.  🤣

So is walking! One of my siblings broke a wrist yesterday!

SouthCoastBoy

Nebulous2 said:

[Deleted User] said:

Of course the simplest way to avoid such injuries is to avoid perilous activities when reaching a certain age. For me walking, daily stretching and swimming work perfectly. I have never had the desire to have an adrenaline rush or attempt activities where possible fractures are more likely to occur, even when I was much much younger. 

You've never been a risk-taker Lord Mattenly?

I come from a working class background where people took huge risks regularly at their work. It gave a skewed view of risk in the rest of their lives, like driving cars, which was difficult for people outside that culture to understand.

There is something irresistibly attractive about going down a hill at 50+ MPH on a bicycle. That's when you really know you are alive. 

There is a huge difference between risk and perceived risk. Many people are terrified of flying, yet it is the safest means of travel, with being in a car considerably more dangerous. By some measures (deaths per billion miles travelled) walking (being a pedestrian) is more dangerous than cycling. 

Taking regular vigorous exercise carries a very small risk of death or serious injury, against a much bigger likelihood of living longer, and more importantly living longer in good health.  

Having said that - your swimming would certainly bring benefits, without loadbearing, particularly if you work hard. 

Here's some figures for you, from the last time I looked at this, 2011 stats for deaths:- 

Cyclists 98
Pedestrians 365 
Falls on stairs 693 
All transport accidents 1815
Accidental poisoning 1993
All accidents 11390 

Possibly the most dangerous thing any of us have done today is go downstairs. 
We have a higher risk of being poisoned than of dying in a traffic accident. 

For these figures to mean something we need some context i.e. is that 98 cyclists out of every 100,000 cyclists? I would think a lot more people walk up and down the stairs than cycle, so cycling may be more dangerous than walking up and down stairs. Without the context the figures become a little meaningless

Nebulous2

SouthCoastBoy said:

Nebulous2 said:

[Deleted User] said:

Of course the simplest way to avoid such injuries is to avoid perilous activities when reaching a certain age. For me walking, daily stretching and swimming work perfectly. I have never had the desire to have an adrenaline rush or attempt activities where possible fractures are more likely to occur, even when I was much much younger. 

You've never been a risk-taker Lord Mattenly?

I come from a working class background where people took huge risks regularly at their work. It gave a skewed view of risk in the rest of their lives, like driving cars, which was difficult for people outside that culture to understand.

There is something irresistibly attractive about going down a hill at 50+ MPH on a bicycle. That's when you really know you are alive. 

There is a huge difference between risk and perceived risk. Many people are terrified of flying, yet it is the safest means of travel, with being in a car considerably more dangerous. By some measures (deaths per billion miles travelled) walking (being a pedestrian) is more dangerous than cycling. 

Taking regular vigorous exercise carries a very small risk of death or serious injury, against a much bigger likelihood of living longer, and more importantly living longer in good health.  

Having said that - your swimming would certainly bring benefits, without loadbearing, particularly if you work hard. 

Here's some figures for you, from the last time I looked at this, 2011 stats for deaths:- 

Cyclists 98
Pedestrians 365 
Falls on stairs 693 
All transport accidents 1815
Accidental poisoning 1993
All accidents 11390 

Possibly the most dangerous thing any of us have done today is go downstairs. 
We have a higher risk of being poisoned than of dying in a traffic accident. 

For these figures to mean something we need some context i.e. is that 98 cyclists out of every 100,000 cyclists? I would think a lot more people walk up and down the stairs than cycle, so cycling may be more dangerous than walking up and down stairs. Without the context the figures become a little meaningless

Those are totals for accidental deaths in England and Wales during 2011. I thought I'd said that, but obviously not clearly enough. 

It wasn't intended to show that cycling is less dangerous than going down stairs, but that cycling isn't as dangerous as people perceive it is.

 When many people think about cycling their brain jumps to 'risky' almost immediately,  but it doesn't do the same for other activities. Do you ever think about stairs in terms of risk? Or do you worry more about family members being poisoned than of being in an accident? 

Cycling deaths have dropped dramatically since the 70s, but the perception of it being risky has increased. 

That there are more deaths per billion miles walked, than per billion miles cycled, is a difficult one for people to get their heads round, as we automatically believe walking is safer. 

louby40

I'm currently watching the weather predictions with interest.Our flight home from Morocco is due to land at Manchester early evening on Sunday.

Im back into work first thing Monday morning! 

A few years ago this would have filled me with dread but after nearly 30 years in education and retirement this year I'm not worried. If we can't fly home there's very little I can do about it.

What will be will be😂

Organgrinder

Everyone's attitude to risk is different and no doubt is a mixture of nature and nurture.

The exact mixture I wouldn't know but looking at inherited traits between parents and their children it can't just be down to how you've been reared.

Albermarle

Nebulous2 said:

[Deleted User] said:

Of course the simplest way to avoid such injuries is to avoid perilous activities when reaching a certain age. For me walking, daily stretching and swimming work perfectly. I have never had the desire to have an adrenaline rush or attempt activities where possible fractures are more likely to occur, even when I was much much younger. 

You've never been a risk-taker Lord Mattenly?

I come from a working class background where people took huge risks regularly at their work. It gave a skewed view of risk in the rest of their lives, like driving cars, which was difficult for people outside that culture to understand.

There is something irresistibly attractive about going down a hill at 50+ MPH on a bicycle. That's when you really know you are alive. 

There is a huge difference between risk and perceived risk. Many people are terrified of flying, yet it is the safest means of travel, with being in a car considerably more dangerous. By some measures (deaths per billion miles travelled) walking (being a pedestrian) is more dangerous than cycling. 

Taking regular vigorous exercise carries a very small risk of death or serious injury, against a much bigger likelihood of living longer, and more importantly living longer in good health.  

Having said that - your swimming would certainly bring benefits, without loadbearing, particularly if you work hard. 

Here's some figures for you, from the last time I looked at this, 2011 stats for deaths:- 

Cyclists 98
Pedestrians 365 
Falls on stairs 693 
All transport accidents 1815
Accidental poisoning 1993
All accidents 11390 

Possibly the most dangerous thing any of us have done today is go downstairs. 
We have a higher risk of being poisoned than of dying in a traffic accident. 

Bit surprised by the number of people dying from accidental poisoning, so I googled it.
As ever with statistics not everyone classifies things in the same way.
Some call drug overdoses accidental poisoning, and there were 2600 deaths from that cause alone in 2022.
Also food poisoning seems to be included as well.
Apparently under 5's are most at risk from accidental poisoning. 

helensbiggestfan

Fascinating discussion about risk.  

A lot of people say I am a risk taker. but I always retort "yes but my risks are always necessary, planned, calculated and well thought out so I don't consider them particularly risky". Lol. 

However, as I am now 73 and haven't had a dexa scan I do avoid walking on ice, just in case.  I did once skate on thin ice on a local canal as a girl with the inevitable consequences but hey I lived to tell the tale.  No harm done but I probably wouldn't try that now.  🤣

Over the years I probably gave my parents heart failure with my antics but as members of the Great Generation, (born in the twenties, living through the depression, WW2 etc) they were tough and resilient and sucked it up. I didn't tell them half of the stunts I pulled. What the eye doesn't see and all that.......And, of course, I was young and therefore invincible. Right.??

My father was ex military and a "well hard geezer" as the expression goes.  He had more  brushes with death than some people have hot dinners so I was astonished one day when he admonished me for letting my son climb a tree.  I thought he was joking at first.  I looked him straight in the eye and asked "and did you not climb trees as a boy". He muttered "that's different". 

Oh the hypocrisy, lol.  At the time I didn't get it.  However, now I'm a grandmother I finally understand.....

Sometimes I watch my grandsons do something a little scary and I can hardly bear to watch. I have to steal myself to keep my mouth zipped. However, the look of joy and pride on their faces when they overcome the butterflies and do something "brave" is always wonderful to behold.  

I honestly believe that life is about testing ourselves, meeting challenges, overcoming obstacles and yes even taking a few well chosen risks.  It's how we grow and thrive, physically, mentally, emotionally and even spiritually.  It's good for our bodies and our brains.  

Our brains consistently need new challenges, both physical and mental to form new neural pathways to replace those that age and die off.  We shouldn't let the amygdala  (the prehistoric or lizard part of the brain which is tasked to keep us safe and alive) hold sway and win all the time by making us anxious and fearful. Instead we need to constantly challenge the amygdala  and  let the pre frontal cortex, (the part of the brain responsible for logic, reasoning and decision  making) call the shots and do its job.  

I wouldn't call myself an adrenaline junkie but I still like being "thrilled" by doing something exciting like riding a motorbike or riding in an open top sports car, although nowadays I'm more likely to be a passenger,  

I draw the line at cold water swimming in winter though, and cold showers. I don't "do" cold, not any more.  

helensbiggestfan

Savvy_Sue said:

helensbiggestfan said:

Coughing is a perilous activity.  😱.  In the past I have fractured my ribs by coughing.  🤣

So is walking! One of my siblings broke a wrist yesterday!

Ouch.  Hope it heals ok.  

helensbiggestfan

Ha ha....

i always wanted to ride Route 66 on a Harley Davidson......but only as a passenger. I'm no Steve McQueen.  😁

SouthCoastBoy

Nebulous2 said:

SouthCoastBoy said:

Nebulous2 said:

[Deleted User] said:

Of course the simplest way to avoid such injuries is to avoid perilous activities when reaching a certain age. For me walking, daily stretching and swimming work perfectly. I have never had the desire to have an adrenaline rush or attempt activities where possible fractures are more likely to occur, even when I was much much younger. 

You've never been a risk-taker Lord Mattenly?

I come from a working class background where people took huge risks regularly at their work. It gave a skewed view of risk in the rest of their lives, like driving cars, which was difficult for people outside that culture to understand.

There is something irresistibly attractive about going down a hill at 50+ MPH on a bicycle. That's when you really know you are alive. 

There is a huge difference between risk and perceived risk. Many people are terrified of flying, yet it is the safest means of travel, with being in a car considerably more dangerous. By some measures (deaths per billion miles travelled) walking (being a pedestrian) is more dangerous than cycling. 

Taking regular vigorous exercise carries a very small risk of death or serious injury, against a much bigger likelihood of living longer, and more importantly living longer in good health.  

Having said that - your swimming would certainly bring benefits, without loadbearing, particularly if you work hard. 

Here's some figures for you, from the last time I looked at this, 2011 stats for deaths:- 

Cyclists 98
Pedestrians 365 
Falls on stairs 693 
All transport accidents 1815
Accidental poisoning 1993
All accidents 11390 

Possibly the most dangerous thing any of us have done today is go downstairs. 
We have a higher risk of being poisoned than of dying in a traffic accident. 

For these figures to mean something we need some context i.e. is that 98 cyclists out of every 100,000 cyclists? I would think a lot more people walk up and down the stairs than cycle, so cycling may be more dangerous than walking up and down stairs. Without the context the figures become a little meaningless

Those are totals for accidental deaths in England and Wales during 2011. I thought I'd said that, but obviously not clearly enough. 

It wasn't intended to show that cycling is less dangerous than going down stairs, but that cycling isn't as dangerous as people perceive it is.

 When many people think about cycling their brain jumps to 'risky' almost immediately,  but it doesn't do the same for other activities. Do you ever think about stairs in terms of risk? Or do you worry more about family members being poisoned than of being in an accident? 

Cycling deaths have dropped dramatically since the 70s, but the perception of it being risky has increased. 

That there are more deaths per billion miles walked, than per billion miles cycled, is a difficult one for people to get their heads round, as we automatically believe walking is safer. 

Thks for the clarification, it was most probably me not reading it properly. 

Re the billion miles walked vs billion miles cycled. The walker would take a lot longer and therefore is at risk for a longer period of time, so maybe it is not as dangerous. Sorry, i will  stop now  

I cycle and walk, and I also know a number of cyclists, some of which have had nasty accidents. These days most cyclists wear safety helmets, which is obviously a good thing, in my younger days I would never have thought of wearing one.