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Colin O’Brady Completes Crossing of Antarctica with Final 32-Hour Push

nytimes.com

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Re: Colin O’Brady Completes Crossing of Antarctica with Final 32-Hour Push

#71

Post by Stratoscope »

tedunangst wrote: post #53
Stratoscope wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

His website has a map and discussion of the route: https://www.colinobrady.com/theimpossiblefirst

That doesn't really explain the definition of crossing. If crossing a continent invokes going from one point to another, as one might reasonably assume, then why the detour to the South Pole? Why not simply go in a straight line between those points?

I don't understand the concern here. We're not saying Colin didn't cross Antarctica, are we?

So it seems like a hypothetical: "If someone takes Ted's Shortcut in the future, will that still count as crossing Antarctica?"

Maybe it will count, maybe it won't. But I'm happy to let those future people decide.

One thing we do know... If they take the shortcut, they won't get a photo like this:

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a6191d112abd95e3292c...

Re: Colin O’Brady Completes Crossing of Antarctica with Final 32-Hour Push

#73

Post by tedunangst »

Stratoscope wrote: post #71
tedunangst wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That doesn't really explain the definition of crossing. If crossing a continent invokes going from one point to another, as one might reasonably assume, then why the detour to the South Pole? Why not simply go in a straight line between those points?

I don't understand the concern here. We're not saying Colin didn't cross Antarctica, are we? So it seems like a hypothetical: "If someone takes Ted's Shortcut in the future, will that still count as crossing Antarctica?" Maybe it will count, maybe it won't. But I'm happy to let those future people decide. One thing we do know... If they take the shortcut, they won't get a photo like this: https://static1.squarespace.…

Why can't I simply be curious about the geographical or geometric definition of a crossing? It seems like a straightforward question, but instead of answering it I get six replies about the friends you make along the way.

Re: Colin O’Brady Completes Crossing of Antarctica with Final 32-Hour Push

#74

Post by dh5 »

tootie wrote: post #65
maxxxxx wrote: post #5

Just this week I read a story about Henry Worsley who died trying the same thing: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/02/12/the-white-dark... . After reading, I wonder if you have to a certain level of insanity for doing something like this.

I read that and just thought this guy is a moron. There's no discovery, no profit, just vanity.

Those are harsh words. Great feats don't necessarily involve discovery or profit.

Re: Colin O’Brady Completes Crossing of Antarctica with Final 32-Hour Push

#75

Post by gameshot911 »

tootie wrote: post #66
basementcat wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This level of insanity is not as foreign as you might think. The feeling of accomplishment I get from climbing a mountain, finishing a marathon or a long bike trip is comparable to the feeling I get after taping out a chip, shipping a major software release or delivering first-of-a-kind hardware to a customer. For some of us, getting Tetris to work in Conway's Game of Life is insanity. For other people, walking acros…

Except that guy literally died. Nobody dies playing on a computer and it's pretty rare to die from running or biking in civilization.

Often higher risk goes hand-in-hand with higher reward. It's all on a spectrum.

Re: Colin O’Brady Completes Crossing of Antarctica with Final 32-Hour Push

#76

Post by barce »

FPGAhacker wrote: post #21
maxxxxx wrote: post #5

Just this week I read a story about Henry Worsley who died trying the same thing: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/02/12/the-white-dark... . After reading, I wonder if you have to a certain level of insanity for doing something like this.

I don't know, but it's an interesting thought. What drives someone do to this? I'm in awe of it. It seems to me that it has to be tied to finding meaning in life one way or another. I have to wonder though, how long does it take for the afterglow of such a massive accomplishment to wear off and to start asking yourself "what now?"

If you look at the history of it, it puts him in the same league as the polar explorers of the "heroic age." I think the what now part is two parts: write a book about it; do the motivational speaker circuit.

Re: Colin O’Brady Completes Crossing of Antarctica with Final 32-Hour Push

#77

Post by tootie »

sharkweek wrote: post #70
tootie wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I read that and just thought this guy is a moron. There's no discovery, no profit, just vanity.

Yeah, maybe. But I also think it’s cool to see humans push the boundaries on physical and mental limitations in these types of ways.

That's why I watch pro football. Honestly I'll bet there's quite a few people who have the physical and mental stamina to cross the Antarctic, just nobody else wants to.

Re: Colin O’Brady Completes Crossing of Antarctica with Final 32-Hour Push

#78

Post by tootie »

gameshot911 wrote: post #75
tootie wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Except that guy literally died. Nobody dies playing on a computer and it's pretty rare to die from running or biking in civilization.

Often higher risk goes hand-in-hand with higher reward. It's all on a spectrum.

There's absolutely zero reward for crossing the Antarctic alone and very high risk of death.

Re: Colin O’Brady Completes Crossing of Antarctica with Final 32-Hour Push

#79

Post by deepGem »

tootie wrote: post #65
maxxxxx wrote: post #5

Just this week I read a story about Henry Worsley who died trying the same thing: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/02/12/the-white-dark... . After reading, I wonder if you have to a certain level of insanity for doing something like this.

I read that and just thought this guy is a moron. There's no discovery, no profit, just vanity.

That's way too harsh to describe a man's personal quest for adventure. It's not just vanity. You have no idea how many young minds have been influenced by this adventure. How many potential new startups will come about because someone somewhere out there thinks 'well this guy just gave up his life trying to cross the Antartic, what stops me from doing something perhaps tiny in comparison, but monumental in value, or something that I can undertake'. This is true of all adventurers who seek to accomplish something beyond perceived abilities - free diving, climbing k2 or summitting Mt.Meru on the shark fin route.

The indirect benefits of such expeditions have not been measured. If someone did, I'm quite certain, a ton of benefits will crop up.

Re: Colin O’Brady Completes Crossing of Antarctica with Final 32-Hour Push

#80

Post by _8j50 »

FPGAhacker wrote: post #21
maxxxxx wrote: post #5

Just this week I read a story about Henry Worsley who died trying the same thing: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/02/12/the-white-dark... . After reading, I wonder if you have to a certain level of insanity for doing something like this.

I don't know, but it's an interesting thought. What drives someone do to this? I'm in awe of it. It seems to me that it has to be tied to finding meaning in life one way or another. I have to wonder though, how long does it take for the afterglow of such a massive accomplishment to wear off and to start asking yourself "what now?"

What now? Time for sun cost fallacy

Thinking a lot does that. It's not just searching for meaning of life and a higher purpose but also realizing how this is the only life you get to have and it is very short. I'd compare people who do this to suiciders,they've both contemplated their current lives intolerable and found a way out: One way is through it,the other is around and both routes are one-way.

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