84 replies to this topic

[beach]

End of the day, we have to be more responsible than they are... We know more than they do.

It may be sad, but it's to be expected that people will be unaware (much of the world).

I watch my kites and lines more in trouble areas, try to pick my spot for parking kites with some forethought, and I make sure my flight paths illustrate what is going on in that area... Nothing like thumping into the ground 50 feet away from someone who is approaching my flight area, they don't tend to come too close after that.

Well said John and that is what I do alot of, scare them away....Ben

[Kitelife]

Aye.

Another thing to remember, all it takes is ONE jerk who happens to have a seat or pull on the city council, then kite flying gets banned.

Again, we've got to be the bigger people, it's our responsibility, for everyone else's sake.

[REVflyer]

but we want to chase 'em all the way back to their vehicles John! Tangle their darn dogs into the lines, bop the little ones

I know, I know, just one person can screw it up for the whole bunch of us,... Still I want to chase 'em so bad!

[Scott_of_melnsct]

but we want to chase 'em all the way back to their vehicles John! Tangle their darn dogs into the lines, bop the little ones

I know, I know, just one person can screw it up for the whole bunch of us,... Still I want to chase 'em so bad!

I think you've hit on a new Rev Game. We could call it "The most Dangerous Rev Game"

[Kitelife]

but we want to chase 'em all the way back to their vehicles John! Tangle their darn dogs into the lines, bop the little ones

I know, I know, just one person can screw it up for the whole bunch of us,... Still I want to chase 'em so bad!

Ya, I know what you mean.

[Stone in Shoe Bob]

Aye.

Another thing to remember, all it takes is ONE jerk who happens to have a seat or pull on the city council, then kite flying gets banned.

Again, we've got to be the bigger people, it's our responsibility, for everyone else's sake.

Well said John.

On our home field (Dunstable Downs a local beauty spot) many of the regulars are quite kite aware and often stop to watch. Our biggest problem seems to be the toyshop kiteflyers constantly walking backwards in a vein attempt to keep £8s worth of plastic in the air.

[Kitelife]

Another perspective... I never look at it as "problem spectators", just people who can potentially be educated.

[Scott_of_melnsct]

Another perspective... I never look at it as "problem spectators", just people who can potentially be educated.

Spot on. The Education jargon here is "teachable moment". That's the constructive way of looking at the moment when things go wrong.

[Aerochic]

I've been having a problem with people walking their dogs unleashed at the park I like to fly lately (because the park isn't officially open yet). :/ Last time it was someone with 2 big dogs barking at my kite. Basically when they started to cross my path in the field, I put it up at the top of the window and let it hang there until everyone was bored and went away. :/ Obviously not what I wanted to do but it's better than having an incident.

[RAWVEEDA]

When you make something idiot-proof the world comes along and builds a better idiot.

[Sailor99]

When you make something idiot-proof the world comes along and builds a better idiot.

Excellent!

[Dean750]

When you make something idiot-proof the world comes along and builds a better idiot.

Perfectly stated.
This last Saturday I saw a few different classes of idiots. And while chasing them may not be the best thing to do, it's what I was doing. Testing the waters a little.
The look on the two young boys faces as they noticed the Rev in reverse following them across the field was pretty funny. Close enough that one spazzed and flung an arm out and smacked my kite. He got a load of crap from the other boy and friends at the park for it.
The mother and two kids who parked right under the kite. That was the best. Stayed within 5 feet of them the whole time with a few bicycle turns directly over their heads and then the youngest put his hand out. He obviously wasn't sticking it out there expecting a kite to land on it. He froze with a look of terror on his face and his mother soothed him while she tried not to pee herself from laughter.
Quite a few people came up to ask about Revs after that.


Dean

[Stone in Shoe Bob]

When you make something idiot-proof the world comes along and builds a better idiot.

I like that, I've put that one in my Quotations file.

[quaa714]

Leave it to Steve to come up with the line of the day!

With few exceptions I find most people don't realize what they've stumbled into and are mostly apologetic once you point out what to us is obvious but not so much to them. Once they're down field, approx 120 ft away, I generally get into a hover right over them and follow them away for a bit. It usually elicits a smile and a wave.

[nobodyspecial]

Hmmmm yup, boy I sure do like them moving targets.

[Watty]

I don't know if it's just me, but a lot of people around here, really don't like it when I fly near them. I often like to follow close behind people while the jog along the side walk, but I have had many times where the person grabs the kite and throws it away with a very upset look on their face. They need to lighten up.

[Love2fly]

Hello FRP's-

I can understand not seeing the lines... how many folks are looking down when they walk; especially if it's a nice day at a park or beach. So, we just have to kill them with kindness as we advise them of possible injuries (to our kites... ).

QUESTION:

Myself, Rich, Scott and maybe six others were flying in a roped off section of the beach at Rockaway, last October. It was later in the afternoon, so it was well established what we were doing at this Kite Festival, all day. A middle aged gentleman proceeded past the ropes toward us. He literally walked right through Scott's kite that was parked. The kite flipped around as this guy walked right over the center of it. Amazingly, the guy NEVER broke his stride or slowed down at all. He kept walking never acknowledging us, apologizing, or anything.
The question: Would this person be considered an "OBLIVIOT" or a "SUPER IDIOT" ?

[bobw]

I don't know if it's just me, but a lot of people around here, really don't like it when I fly near them. I often like to follow close behind people while the jog along the side walk, but I have had many times where the person grabs the kite and throws it away with a very upset look on their face. They need to lighten up.

Sorry Watty. I disagree. Some people will be amused; some people will consider it an intrusion. Consider that old cliche of kids annoying each other by *nearly* touching each other ("stop touching me!!!!")

Takes all kinds, and well, I would be upset if my kite was damaged, but on the other hand, I'd say it was my fault for annoying some passer by.

[FortFlyer]

He literally walked right through Scott's kite that was parked. The kite flipped around as this guy walked right over the center of it. Amazingly, the guy NEVER broke his stride or slowed down at all. He kept walking never acknowledging us, apologizing, or anything.
The question: Would this person be considered an "OBLIVIOT" or a "SUPER IDIOT" ?

Had that been my kite he would have most likely been considered a statistic

[FortFlyer]

I don't know if it's just me, but a lot of people around here, really don't like it when I fly near them. I often like to follow close behind people while the jog along the side walk, but I have had many times where the person grabs the kite and throws it away with a very upset look on their face. They need to lighten up.

Spence it might be the fact that your young, they probably get the impression you're being a punk you how people can stereotype without thinking.

Most of my Rev flying involves interaction with people, where I fly has a bike/walking path around the whole area and some actually get mad if I don't mess with them. One gentleman in his 70's will not pass unless I tipland on his hand multiple times

Once they get used to you it will change people have seen me playing with others and the next time they come by they expect me to mess with them, some days I can't even fly on my own it's spent interacting with passer by's Little kids are my favorite to mess with I can run them ragged all day and never stop laughing.

Then there are the dogs that love to hate my Rev but out of respect for antmans still healing wounds I won't go there.