I was reading a story earlier about Jessica Watson, a 16 year old australian girl whos attempting to break the record for the youngest person to sail around the world. Not so surprisingly, her attempting such a journey is the subject of controversy and criticism among those who fear its too dangerous for a girl her age.

 

However, I admire her in a way. Most people her age would be sitting infront of the TV or computer, whereas this girl is out there experiencing a big adventure. Its inspiring, and something that not too many of us could or will ever do.

 

It did get me to wondering though, where is the excitement and adventure in life these days?

 

We as people are too afraid to take any risks these days, or even accept a little bit of inconvenience and discomfort. Infact, it has got to the point we try to force safety onto others, denying them the right to take risks. Such as people volunteerily choosing not to wear their helmets while riding a bicycle/motorcycle, or not wearing their seatbelt behind the wheel of a car.

 

Theres no big wars to fight (by that I mean actual war, not political jaw flapping), nor is there a major dangerous movements for the people to rally behind. Theres no conquering kingdoms/nations, fighting over land for various reasons. The earth has been explored, long gone are the days of discovering new land.

 

Most people don't truly experience a big adventure in their lives, to be scared for their lives or to not know what awaits. The closest we come is reading books or watching movies about such activities, or playing video games to "simulate" them. We dont really know anything bigger than routine life. For most of us, our lives will be similar... We're born, spend years in school, get married, get a job and work, have kids, then finally retiring. Its pretty generic.

 

Now i'm not saying I dislike everything that modern life has to offer, infact theres alot of good to it. We are quite advanced technologically and medically, and that we have the ability to take less risks. We can find love, build a family, persue happiness and live a long life. Most of us want to experience many of the things life today has to offer. But it does make you wonder if, in a way, we're missing out on something with the lack of adventure in modern times.

 

So my question is, will we ever know real excitement and adventure again like in past times? Also, would you ever want to experience such situations?

 

So my question is, will we ever know real excitement and adventure again like in past times? Also, would you ever want to experience such situations?

I think there's an issue of perception here. Sure, back in the 1X00's, when the world wasn't discovered there were explorers and all that, but it's not like everyone would go out into the great frontier and have great adventures and all that. You only hear about the famous people of the past. In a couple hundred years people will look back and think the same thing about the past few generations, people going into space, all that, where in the future that might be more commonplace and less exciting.

I doubt we ever will be "exciting" or have adventures any time soon. Why? Society is too scared to take risks. If you want to do something that involves a bit of risk with a friend on your own property, somebody could get hurt badly, and you end up losing your house. Thats an extreme example - but it's true. People are afraid to take even the slightest risks, and basically everyone feels exactly the same.

 

Poorly worded, but hopefully you catch my drift.

I read you. I'm an adrenaline-junkie in the making, and I already love anything that freaks me right the [bleep] out.

 

Yet, in a way, our meaning of adventure has just shifted. Really, doing the opposite of many people's vision of a "perfect life" - settling down with a family, living a long life filled with saving for your golden years - is adventurous. Personally, I think just wandering the world would be fine with me. Perhaps if I got a job with National Geographic I could even get paid for it.

 

It seems like a lot of our generation feels the same way, though, and I'm not sure what's going to happen. Many people I know are tired of the idyllic (and boring) lifestyle that seems glorified as the "American Way" over here. I bet many people would be happy wandering around aimlessly.

 

I don't really know what point I'm trying to make, though. Or why everything's gone. Perhaps it's money. Plenty of people in the West have all the money they'd need to simply live (or, really, just too little money to live for fun), so they don't live on the edge. We watch people imagine what living on the edge would be like - on television.

 

I don't know where my rambling went, but I'd love to go on a true honest-to-God adventure.

 

I also see what Doom means, and believe it's true. Either way, though, I want some damn adventures.

Unless you're some sort of astronomer or marine biologist there's really nothing left in this world to give adventure that can change the way we live. It is sad but true.

Sounds like it's time for a roaaaaad triiiip!

Adventure probably isn't for everyone. Most people are content with their lives, it's the ones that aren't that are adventurous, and they're still out there I think... Like that 16 year old.

Also, this yearning for adventure is why movies, many books, tv shows, and hell, even zombie apocalypse plans are popular. It's why people play airsoft, paintball, all that. It's why most people sign up for the military, go hunting, stuff like that. I think a desire for adventure is close to the heart of many people, but they lack a way to really act on it.

I'd have to agree.

 

I wish I could get a horse and go explore some unknown mountain ranges with a bunch of friends. Maybe encounter some wild beasts that we have to kill with makeshift weapons.

 

Of course, girls are expected to stay home, play with dolls, and flirt with boys over the phone/AIM. :\

Being in marching band at my school actually leads to me having many adventures (well, I call them adventures, it's mostly [bleep]ing around with friends.) For examples, just read my blog as i'm too lazy to retype it out here.

Also, this yearning for adventure is why movies, many books, tv shows, and hell, even zombie apocalypse plans are popular. It's why people play airsoft, paintball, all that. It's why most people sign up for the military, go hunting, stuff like that. I think a desire for adventure is close to the heart of many people, but they lack a way to really act on it.

I can almost smell "The Suppression of Id in Modern Society" essays being written for this thread

 

So my question is, will we ever know real excitement and adventure again like in past times? Also, would you ever want to experience such situations?

I think there's an issue of perception here. Sure, back in the 1X00's, when the world wasn't discovered there were explorers and all that, but it's not like everyone would go out into the great frontier and have great adventures and all that. You only hear about the famous people of the past. In a couple hundred years people will look back and think the same thing about the past few generations, people going into space, all that, where in the future that might be more commonplace and less exciting.

 

I'm aware that not everyone was necessarily adventurous back in those days. However, there was alot more real oppurtunity for adventure. In some cases, such as wars and revolutions it was almost a guarantee for many people who otherwise would not be adventurous.

 

Also, this yearning for adventure is why movies, many books, tv shows, and hell, even zombie apocalypse plans are popular. It's why people play airsoft, paintball, all that. It's why most people sign up for the military, go hunting, stuff like that. I think a desire for adventure is close to the heart of many people, but they lack a way to really act on it.

 

I agree, infact its one of the points that I was trying to make when I said the closest things we experience to it is reading books, watching television and playing video games.

 

Theres really a lack of options to satisfy ones thirst for adventure in todays society. With earth being explored and mapped out, and the lack of many risks in todays society, i'm uncertain as to how that could ever change. Atleast maybe til we reach the point that space exploration starts to become more feasible.

I think it's the laws. Everywhere you go is off-limits. All the safety laws in mountains, rivers, etc limit the things you do so you HAVE to buy safety gear off some company.

 

Secondly, our parents. I can't blame them completely, but they're a part of it. The media overhypes danger in the outside world. I always hear stories about the "good old" times where kids would play outside on the street, people left their doors unlocked, etc etc. There were thieves and kidnappers before, there are thieves and kidnappers now.

 

Back back in the day, 14 year olds went out West in a caravan across the continent, had to face dangerous animals, indians, and the vast wilderness. Yet now a 17 year old is safely tucked in their house by their parents.

Secondly, our parents. I can't blame them completely, but they're a part of it. The media overhypes danger in the outside world. I always hear stories about the "good old" times where kids would play outside on the street, people left their doors unlocked, etc etc. There were thieves and kidnappers before, there are thieves and kidnappers now.

 

Back back in the day, 14 year olds went out West in a caravan across the continent, had to face dangerous animals, indians, and the vast wilderness. Yet now a 17 year old is safely tucked in their house by their parents.

I always find it funny that the same generation that laments the passing of the good old days is the one that puts all these restrictions on their kids.

But then, I will guarantee that their kids will do the same.

Ya, life does seem to be dull these days. True we arn't like the old days with caravans traveling across the west fighting off indians, wolves, and bandits. But, as you said, we also have more technology now as well. Scuba diving, sky diving are to examples of things that are exciting now adays that people would never have imagined doing in the old days. And to me nothings as fun as kyaking(sp?) down some white water and my mom also has some interesting stories of when she was growing up near the ocean about how she would take her kyak down to the water and ride some of the waves that the oil tankers and other big ships would make when they came into port. You can still find adventure in todays world its just not as constant as the life or death struggles that used to take place.

Stand by Me :thumbup:. Now that's what I call adventure!

 

I know what you mean, I suppose though that in New Zealand things like adventures are much more commonplace, indeed the New Zealand lifestyle is based around the outdoors. I think the media over hype everything, for example Swine Flu. It wasn't really that bad, honestly. The media really need to embrace adventure and risks, not shun it.

 

I think it is an issue with trust almost, people have to suspect and fear other people - you can't let your kid play on the streets: they might get run over by someone else, you can't leave your doors unlocked and all that. I think you need to let children really decide for themselves. Let them get hurt, it builds character.

 

I agree with lent. I would also like to think I have a thirst for adventure, I think photographing for National Geographic would be pretty sweet, I love photography and going on an adventure would be mean.

I feel that most people here are masking this "Adventure and excitement in modern times" over a natural need for "fun" which is lost as you grow up.

 

Small adventures that you would have every day with your best friend or your next door neighbor. I know I did, and even now I miss those kind of things.

 

You surely cant expect to discover unknown lands and traverse oceans. My adventure just involves going out with friends. Not to the cinema or the mall but just outdoors, to the park or in the backyard. Often just doing stupid cabbage.

 

Still, that feeling fascination, marvel and inexplicable wanderlust cant be recreated like it was.

 

It's not TV, the media, the government, laws, or anything else.

 

It revolves around you and the passing of time.

Well, I killed an Internet Dragon the other day. ._>

 

Most of my adventures are just [bleep]ing around with friends, seeing as there's not much to do in this town.

If I could go on a real life quest I definitely would. But unfortunately my adventuring is limited to the occasional suburban stroll with a friend, which can last a few hours. Sometimes that's exactly what I need though. To get out of the house and go somewhere - anywhere - nowhere. It makes little difference to me.

Start a Fight Club.

 

 

If you could be either God's worst enemy, or nothing-- which would you choose?

 

We're the middle children of history. We have no special purpose or place. And unless we get God's attention, we have no chance of damnation or redemption.

 

Which is worse, Hell or nothing?

 

Burn the museums. Wipe your [wagon] with the Mona Lisa. At least this way, God will know your name.

 

Just kidding. When space-flight becomes cheap and easy though, we'll all be potential explorers again.

New colonization companies, more Jamestowns and Plymouths out on moons and planets, an infinity to explore. Will be good.

Unless you're some sort of astronomer or marine biologist there's really nothing left in this world to give adventure that can change the way we live. It is sad but true.

Or a physicist. That holds about as much adventure as an astronomer.

 

See, this is why we need whaling fleets again. And not the modern-day illegal whalers that have big harpoon guns and SONAR and such. I'm talking the old wooden shipped days of whaling, where you had as much of a chance at success as the whale did. Of course, we would need for there to actually be whales of some significant number before that could happen again.