Basejumper.com - archive

Name: Jeb Corliss
Age: 33
Marital Status: Single
Children: 0
Location: Malibu, California
Number of Jumps: B.A.S.E jumps 1000+
Year of first Jump: 1997
Container: WS extreme / Morpheus
Canopy: Blackjack 265
Profession: B.A.S.E jumper
Number of Skydives: wing-suits 1000+

“Jeb Corliss, Jeb Corliss, Jeb Corliss”, the mere mention of his name causes veins on some B.A.S.E jumper’s necks to constrict as they mumble expletives regarding a man they most likely have never met or interacted with on a personal level.

All part of the internet world we now live in, where stepping out into the public eye can open doors to positive new adventures and friendships or lead to ridicule, assumptions and personal attacks. In most cases, it’s a mixture of both to varying degrees in the case of a man who at heart prefers the shadows to the spotlight.

I asked Jeb if he would take a few moments from life to respond to some questions. He obliged with honesty, candor and a generous nature. Upon reading his replies to my inquires, I discovered his answers reflected a very “down to earth”, “common sense”, “black and white” approach to life.

He is a man who accepts who he is and that others will paint him as they see fit. He is more concerned with his own demons then fighting the misconceptions and perception of others. He is in no position to control what others buy into regarding who he is as a jumper or man, therefore why waste energy on issues that he does not own.

Make no mistake he is a man on a mission of “living life on his own terms and succeeding”.

1. What is your jump philosophy? What shaped your philosophy?

I was once asked by an interviewer if I was scared to die. I looked at her and said “would you like to know a secret?” She said, “Yes I would”. I then told her, “I was going to die and guess what? So are you. Everyone dies, the person holding that camera, the producers of this show, everyone. There is nothing I can do to stop death from coming for me.” So I for one will not allow the fear of something that is completely and absolutely inevitable prevent me from living my dreams and doing the things that I love.

For me B.A.S.E jumping has been an exercise in learning to control fear. I have always felt you have two choices in life. You can either learn to control your fears or you can allow your fears to control you. B.A.S.E jumping helped me learn how to harness fear, confront fear and has made it much easier for me in my everyday life to deal with fear. After you have jumped off a few dozen buildings everything else seems less scary.


2. Do you prefer solo jumps or group jumps? Please explain your reasoning for either or both.

In the earlier years of my B.A.S.E jumping career I use to really love doing solo jumps. I have always been pretty anti-social and one of the things I loved about B.A.S.E jumping when I started was the fact I could do it alone. But over time I started meeting some really cool people that had a very similar mindset. I made some really good friends, who became more like family. Then, all of a sudden I preferred jumping with them. It really made the whole experience more fun to share it with others.


3. For you personally do you view B.A.S.E. jumping as a sport, stunt, hobby, or exploration into flight? In other words do you view yourself as an athlete, a stuntman, a hobbyist, or a test pilot?

For me B.A.S.E jumping is a philosophy. It's an understanding of one’s own mortality. It's about going out in the world and pushing the boundaries of what you can do. To call it a sport is to insult it. Sports are games with made up rules with little or no real consequences. B.A.S.E jumping is a test a person puts themselves through, to see what they are made of. To see how far they can go. See how much pain they can take. How much fear they can handle. It becomes a journey into one’s own mind. If you didn't know yourself before you started jumping, you will after you have done it long enough.

4. What has been the most difficult personal challenge that you have faced over the past year?

Raising money for my landing project has turned out to be one of the most difficult challenges I have faced up to this point. Most of the projects I have done in the past could be done for relatively small amounts of money. This project is so massive in scope and so costly to make happen, it has been very hard to get the funding we need. This is the first time I haven't been able to just turn one of my dreams into a reality on my own. This time I need the support of others on a scale hard to comprehend. But, if it takes me 10 years and 9 million dollars to make it happen, then so be it. I will never give up and one way or another I will find a way. It's just going to take me time.

5. You have taken a great deal of criticism within the online B.A.S.E. community regarding being a “glory hound”, “attention seeker”, “lacking respect for B.A.S.E. ethics & history”. Do you feel any of the criticism it is justifiable? Do you consider yourself a part of the B.A.S.E. community?

People are entitled to their opinions and are free to think whatever they like about me. I am just a person trying to live my life the best that I can. I am not perfect and I do make mistakes. I have dreams and all I am trying to do is turn them into realities. My intentions have never been to hurt others or hurt B.A.S.E jumping. But sometimes things don't go as planned. Sometimes things go wrong in a way you really hoped they wouldn't. However, if you want to do amazing things with your life you must be willing to take the amazing risks. Sometimes when you take big risks things can go in a really bad way for you. I have taken big risks and I have had things go in a bad way for me a few times over the years.

6. Being a veteran of B.A.S.E., what advice would you give to a new jumper following their completion of a FJC? How important do you feel attending a FJC is to being a B.A.S.E. jumper?

I think the more a person trains the better. I know the FJC I took saved my life. What I learned from BR was absolutely crucial in keeping me alive long enough to get the practical experience. It helped me survive my walk through the mine field that some people call B.A.S.E jumping.

I will be honest; I do not promote B.A.S.E jumping as a healthy safe lifestyle. I think the dark art of B.A.S.E is dangerous and if you can find happiness in your life without doing it, you should. But, for some people, B.A.S.E jumping is what makes them happy. For some people it is what helps set them free. For some people, it saves their life. If you are one of these people then I wish you luck and all I can say is train hard and don't rush.

7. In a recent posting on the Go Fast Energy Drink site, which is one of your sponsors, you say: “After two days of test piloting, Jeb Corliss said landing the wing-suit was possible as early as next year. ‘We found there is a definite and reasonable speed for a landing attempt sometime next summer. We’re now developing four different types of technologies to land safely—it’s very important to land with zero injuries,’ said Corliss after analyzing data from the test flight.”

Do you ever think to yourself, “How did I get myself into this?” Or are you so focused on the technical aspects of the project that you don’t question yourself? Is there room to question oneself without creating overwhelming doubt and fear?

Go Fast is not my sponsor. I have done projects with them in the past and I like working with them. They have never given me money of any kind for any of my jumps or projects. I actually have no real sponsors. Mirage has sponsored my gear for skydiving, that's about it.

I don't think it can be done, I know it can be. I like projects like this because everyone thinks it's so impossible. The more people say it can't be done, the more I want to do it. I love showing people that the only limits are the ones we place upon ourselves. This has become an obsession for me. I will do whatever it takes to make this project come to fruition. It's a complex puzzle in figuring out how to do something that has never been done before. It's really what I live for now. Everything I have done up to this point has been preparation for these kinds of projects.


8. How much do you think you influence others, “whuffos”, whether they are “whuffos skydivers looking to B.A.S.E. jump or non-jumpers who seek out participation in B.A.S.E. due to seeing you appearing in videos and presenting a public image?

I have no idea what kind of influence what I do in my life has on other people.

To be honest, if I could earn a living B.A.S.E jumping in the dark with no cameras rolling I would. I have way more jumps not filmed, then filmed. If I could raise the money I needed for the wing-suit landing without talking about it first I would. But unfortunately that is not how the world I live in works.

If I don't want to work in a box and want to do things like travel the world B.A.S.E jumping. Then I have to license footage that gets put on TV, in turn, I can earn a living to continue making my dreams come true. Everyone has to make sacrifices in life to live their dreams.

I personally wish no one knew who I was. I am anti-social and at times I don't enjoy being around people very much. But if I have to raise millions of dollars to make one of my “crazy” dreams come true then I will have to come out of the dark and let people know what I am doing. Fame sucks donkey balls, but it's necessary to get funding to do huge projects. It really is a double edged sword.

9. Do you ever Google your name to see what is being written about you? Have you ever responded to any of the negative comments on the blogs, forums, ect?

Yes I have.

10. What do you do to de-stress?

I don't really have stress. I take things as they come. After breaking my back in Africa in a jump and lying in a bed for a month I learned that as long as you can get out of bed and go to the bathroom without another person’s help, life is good.

11. In the media you are often touted as “a legend”, “a pioneer”, “one of the greatest”. Do you feel that you live up to the hype? Or is it just that “hype” by the media to spice up their stories?

I am just a person living his life. I am not the best. I am not a legend and I am defiantly not a pioneer. For every person that likes something I do, there are 3 that think I am a total douche. It's nothing new; I have experienced this same thinking from a very young age. You just learn that it really doesn't matter what other people think of you. Just be true to yourself and if others have a problem with you, then it truly is their problem. Not yours.

12. What is your biggest fear in life?

It used to be love. Now I am not sure.

13. Who was the biggest influence in your life and why?

My step-dad influenced me. He was my first real friend and he got me into scuba diving when I was 16. He pushed me to be a better person and introduced me to shark diving. Shark diving was my first real passion and I still love the little buggers to this day.

14. Do you foresee “enough every being enough” for you when it comes to seeking out new adventures, challenges, or pushing the limits of your own mental strength?

I will die on my feet turning my dreams into realities.


15. Why did you agree to participate in this interview? And who would you like to see interviewed in the next round?

If people ask me questions I answer them. I have never felt like I have anything to hide. I don't usually read things like this. So whoever you interview, I most likely won’t read it.


Author's Note: This is the first in a series of interviews I will be conducting in which the participant answers 15 quick questions. Thank you to Jeb for stepping up to the challenge.

All rights reserved. No republication of this material, in any form or medium, is permitted without express permission of the autho

Jeb's awesome. Always wondered what gear he uses

Good work

Rock on Jeb !

.......land it

Black By Popular Demand!

Goodluck landing that wingsuit jeb. Cant wait to see that :)

Has there been any details on the landing structure for landing the wingsuit yet? Like what their planning on making etc..?

confucius say, man who stand on toilet..........
high on pot

Fuck it........ I like Jeb, I met him once in TFs, and I continue to see his media shit.... and you know what, fuck it.... I still like him.

I think when people ask "are you afraid to die", they do not mean dying in general, everybody understands that they will die, now what they are truely asking is "Are you afraid to die sooner than the average person?".

This is what makes me wonder what the answer should be?

When I try to explain people about the risk of dying and that you can die anyday by any minor accident, they always find some ways to fend this off and say that it's not the same and that it's stupid to risk dying in activities like this..

Does anyone know where he got all his money from? Im sure his parents, but what did they do?

Who gives a shit...... why would this matter to you?

yep, many do. in fact, I think I read it on these forums before.

I appreciate how he may get project sponsorship, but he himself lacks sponsors. it seems it enhances his ability to follow his own course.

They had some kind of art gallery or imported art from foreign lands. He traveled a lot as a kid and was exposed to a variety of foreign cultures. I'm guessing he had a sheltered life which led to his becoming not very social.

Obviously he doesn't have that much $$$$$ he's still jumping a WSX extreme? WTF! I'd figure he'd be flying A Razor or Hybrid with Trango!

Maybe he's just frugal? Scottish perhaps? Or Hebrew?

I'll tell he what hjjumper , I don't know bout u but, this thing we call BASE sure does have a lot of a trustfund fuckers in it!

You'd be surprises whose on the trust fund dole?!?!! ReAlly SaprIsED, They usually keep it as quite as possible! But eventually it's figured out!

Or just fckin rich'the second they came screamin 0ut mommys va-jay-jay!

Waaaaaahh!!!!!!!! $$$$$$$$!!!!!!!

I'm jealous!

Yeah man, I hear Andrew Karnowski's been trying to keep his trust fund a secret, but the secret is out! Who else don't we know about!? Witch huuuunt!!!

Really though, who fucking cares if someone does or doesn't have a trust fund? Live your own life and get over it.

I actually think there are more jumpers scrimping and saving just get the cash to get their skydives in and then buy the right BASE gear. Not so many trustfunders you might think. IMO

Hank, shut up and go back to your money-filled jacuzzi and golden goblets overflowing with cocaine, you spoiled-rotten trust fund baby.

Is declaring your bank accounts part of the prerequisite to B.A.S.E jumping?

1. 200 skydives
2. Declare your personal finances
3. FJC
4. Find a mentor



Seems rather judgmental and intrusive. Would you ask the people you jump with about there personal finances?

If an out of town jumper contacts you, do you ask him to see his bank statement or are you more concerned with his skill level and accountability to jump?

If Jeb asked you to join him on a jump, would you turn him down because you didn't know how much of his personal finances are earned income versus savings set up by his parents? And holy batman, the nerve of his parents providing for their children. Someone should have called social services on his parents the day they set up the fund.

What amazes me is that he trusts in the engineers designing and developing the project so that he can land without a canopy. This isn't just him jumping off a building and he only has to have faith in his own abilities.

Reminds me of the line from the movie "The Right Stuff" in which Chuck Yeager says "Anybody that goes up in the damn thing is gonna be Spam in a can" when referring to the Mercury 7 astronauts.

yes...but you forgot one...and it fits between # 2 and #3
Have a super hot girlfriend

UUUhhhmmmm...

One word sister,



BAIL!

So then you won't mind posting your latest bank statements?

Seems only fair, if people are going to speculate on Jeb's net worth.

Sounds like a bunch of junior executives gossiping around the water cooler, complaining because they don't have an office with a window.

Who would have thought, the car you drive, the house you own, your personal finances would be somehow relevant in B.A.S.E. jumping?

I fund my base jumping by selling my butt.

I will stab at this one...

Its not really about his trust fund, or lack thereof lately... I dont care.

It's just that some people dislike his approach. I have nothing against the guy...

Maybe others can break this down barney style with crayons?

The question regarded his trust fund and how his parents earned their money. No one was discussing whether they like the man's approach or not.

That's all. No need to try and turn it into something it isn't.

not trying to turn it into anything.

I find a way to fund my jumping habbits, ans so does everyone else...

We are not mindless drones, and you will find this out. There are some here that are wiser than wise.

People have their reasons why they think of Jeb the way they do, but....

What I am saying is that they are not really discussing his accounting information, trust fund or whatnot... they really dont care, I dont care.

edit to add: remember this is the internet and not real life... ( I know you do)

I know that people are talking about, "Does anyone know where he got all his money from? I'm sure his parents, but what did they do"

i know this is what is being discussed...

yes and no, but its more of an excuse for them to talk about him now.... seeing you are a fan, or knew that you article would garner a lot of attention...

Wow, what a response! Just remembered seeing him in a house in malibu that looked quite nice and wondered, hmm I wonder where that all comes from. I could give a shit how much money he has, I just wondered if it was something interesting.

Ok who can beat this net worth -$125,641.82 (yes, thats a negative sign)

are you includeing the price of a house or a hospital bill?

I know of a dude in the Carolinas who's bill is easily double that amount.

Obviously, you feel you can read between the lines...hcjumper says he posed a simple question based on curiosity.

Make it whatever you want. I don't care, Jeb certainly doesn't care.

If you want to think there is something deeper being discussed, by all means, don't let me burst your bubble.

Nope, no ownership of house or car, no hospital bills involved, just a lot of educational debt.

so you must have a really nice job... doctor. lawyer, janitorial specialist?

wow. this whole discussion of where Jeb gets his money seems totally odd.

on the surface it is appears to be an innocent question. (I personally was raised as not to ask such questions...)

many of the responses are really loaded. they appear written by people reading into the question and making assumption.

is the answer critical to BASE jumping? no, but some will find in interesting. some would call it background information that makes a name more human.

everyone of the recent Interviews is loaded with similar content. Calvin's 3-way? Calvin's & sisters' stories from childhood? Calvin's injury? which university I attended? etc.

heck, the title of the thread is "Someone You Think You Know...15 Questions...with Jeb Corliss." obviously the intent of the thread is to share potentially personal information about the man! yet the trust fund subject seems to be like kicking a hornet's nest.

not all agree with Jeb and the things he has done. maybe it is a lack of understanding, maybe it is a bit of envy, maybe it is based on something significant. if it is the latter, let's discuss IT. let's discuss the main issue, not his parent's success!

I've heard most marriages break up over money. but money is only the topic, not the real problem. it appears some avoid the real subject here as well...

we can be better than that!


ps
calling basejumperX a dick is generally considered a personal attack.
saying basejumperX's jumping is fucked up and endangers the sport is not.
thus, sticking to the core subject can permit people to be as harsh as they wish. in general, people did exactly that with stupid dave. (and maybe it helped him choose to seek help?)

"Author's Note: This is the first in a series of interviews I will be conducting in which the participant answers 15 quick questions. Thank you to Jeb for stepping up to the challenge."

15 questions, plain and simple, no follow up questions, no research, no delving into deep waters.

The question poised by hjumper33 turned out to be one of pure curiosity. It lead to the question of 'how many more people are in BASE that have trust fund?" and "does it hold any relevance with who you jump with?". Any jumper, not just Jeb.

As to wwarped's comment "some would call it background information that makes a name more human." I again ask since when does "money or material items" make a person "human"?And that was the whole point to my responses, it doesn't.

Whether it's Jeb, Andrew, or anyone else for that matter. Material possessions do not make us who we our as people. Judging someone for what material possessions they own is as inconsiderate as judging them for what they don't own.

And again, 15 simple questions with straight forward answers, take it or leave it. By the way, all the following interviews in this series are called, "Someone You Think You Know...15 Questions...with......"

 

no one suffers like the poor

Great quote by Charles Bukowski
and said in the 1987 movie Barfly

keep up the nice work : )

realistically,
you can't choose your race
you can't choose your sex
you can't choose your birth country
you can't choose your parents
you can't choose how you were raised
you can't choose your inheritance
etc.

some will be fascinated by some of the above. (both US men and women seem to be highly distracted by a hot Latin!) it provides entertainment. let's face it, a trust fund kid is raised quite differently than most. knowing some of the above features may even help understand a person better.

BUT, I'd prefer people being judged by their actions.


ps
for example, keep both series going! you've got a lot of people hooked.

Aren't they kind of the same thing for you?

She should totally interview you...I'd love to read that.

Sounds like the first three criteria for Homeland Security profiling, add religion, political affiliation and we are good to go.

"BUT, I'd prefer people being judged by their actions."

I agree. If you don't like him, fine, but if it's just because he has money and you don't, well, a friend of mine once said, "jealousy is a powerful emotion". Sure, I wish I could just travel around and jump, but I'm not going to hate someone for the money they were born into.

I really don't care how much money your daddy has, but I know unburnt objects are priceless.

amen to that

  i think having a great deal of money would certainly improve the quality of life for me. think about it... no need to worry about making rent, buying food, utilities. it would make traveling and base jumping a lot easier. of course, then you have more to lose.
witch hunt over.... i think tizzy is rich. she was the first to jump on defense. oh wait! nevermind,she doesn't jump. commence the witch hunt.

"I really don't care how much money your daddy has, but I know unburnt objects are priceless."

Yet another really good point.

O MY FUCKING GOD! would everyone stop talking about trusts and money! no wonder jeb doesnt bother reading this shit.

tizzy, great read thanks alot for the interview. it helped see jeb in a different light. one thing ive noticed about all the jeb hype is that ive never seen a person post hatefull shit about the guy that actually knows him! its usually the opposite.
gracias
jeff

Tom, i guess we did have a fun breakfast chat before start of your course...learning to jump during rehab is fun : ) Hope all is well with you and your family : )

Haha, touche.

For the record, I like Jeb. Like probably a lot of people on this board, his were some of the first videos of base id ever seen. I thought there might be an interesting story involved like his father invented the piano key neck tie or something. I already knew a lot of the story how jeb got into base, I wanted to know how he supported himself. I really enjoyed reading loic's website in the same way. The fact that his dad was an art dealer and moved around tells me a lot about jeb and where he comes from, which is a cool thing to know. I never asked how much money he actually had, nor do I care.

Out of curiosity, because I am attempting to learn about B.A.S.E.

How many of the high risk, high profile objects that Jeb has jumped, have you personally jumped from or plan to jump in the near future?

And of the objects that Jeb has jumped, filmed and licensed how many of those objects are known for suicides and have strict security in place?

Seems to be different levels of jumpers and I am wondering how much they truly effect each other.

this is really the "is publicity good for BASE" debate. I doubt no one can say for sure one way or another. people simply choose to believe.

even if no one really does the same exact jump as Jeb (or others), jumpers can be impacted in a variety of ways.

Jeb's initial success in the courtroom inspired lawmakers to initiate an anti-BASE law. other cities could do the same.

increase awareness of jumping can cause owners to increase their security pre-emptively.

untrained people may imitate. the 9-year old for example. (I really doubt BASE video inspired him, but all it takes its an irate parent to CLAIM it. especially if it deflects attention from their contribution.)

I could go on. but why? people who admire Jeb, Red Bull, etc. tend to dismiss the above and will never agree to a significant link. they focus on how these jumpers inspire them, the effort involved, etc.

in the end, people see what they want to see. they choose to focus on the facts that support a pre-existing opinion.

Actually it's a simple black and white question I poised to Kevin as he made the statement about burnt objects.

Simple enough to answer, does he jump the same objects and has he found that he is unable to do so because an object has been burnt?

I had been avoiding posting in any of
your threads due to our previous clash
but feel I should point something out.



Trust me, there lots of things about jumping
that seem simple sitting at your desk with a
cup of coffee and a keyboard.

I know, I typed a lot of shit, went to Twin Falls
watched someone die, still did 7 jumps then quit!!

After a short time I came back to the sport but
I promise you things are different in real life...

I think you interviewing people is great, but
keep in mind, the reporter should not argue
with the people who actually make the news.

Actually it is a simple black and white question. Kevin and I have discussed it now through PM's. His a nice guy and I hope he has a blast jumping in Europe this summer.

Who am I arguing with? The only person in this thread that makes the "news" is Jeb. He and I get along just fine, no arguing at all.

I asked follow up questions to comments. Damn me for wanting to understand what people are thinking and not drawing my own misconceptions due to lack of information.

explain liscensed? how do you liscense a base jumping object jump.

Thats like saying someone owns the "Perrine"

Isn't the Perrine Miles' bridge?

"If I don't want to work in a box and want to do things like travel the world B.A.S.E jumping. Then I have to license footage that gets put on TV, in turn, I can earn a living to continue making my dreams come true. Everyone has to make sacrifices in life to live their dreams."

Did you not read the interview?

actually, i've always wanted to know where the 3 triple 7 came from.

at first i thought it was his base number, then i realized how that didnt make any sense

And here is your answer:


"Three triple seven was an idea my friend Iiro came up with. He asked me if I would help with the philosophy behind the company. It was supposed to be more of a forum to bring people together from different kinds of sports that had a similar way of thinking. For reasons I can't go into here it was finally abandoned."...Jeb Corliss

Hey Cynthia, keep it up. About Jeb, I bet most of the "critics" have never even met Jeb and we all need to remember, no matter how we make a living, when we're standing on the edge saying 3,2,1, CYA, we're all pretty much the same, at least in spirit. Let's not be so judgmental unless it's based on personal experience. After all, even as many BASE jumpers as there are in the world, think about it, we're still one of the smallest and should be one of the tightest knit groups of "special crazies" around. Besides, I have a lot of faith in Iiro's judgment and he knows Jeb a lot better than I and he vouches for him as a good guy. Let's remember, we're all still BASE jumpers and not too many folks have that in common.
Rick
38

I'm pretty new here.....but I've been around the world a couple times.......most of the time a bandit in one way or another.....In my little world ( no one cares what jeb jumps ).....don't believe he's going to sneak up and burn any of my sweetest 300' sights......and if there comes a time he does......then I will start my bitchin and scrapin..... I haven't heard of any one saying he burnt one of there objects.......My biggest question is why wasnt I born a rich kid, named biff or skippy and have a girl friend named buffy.....

None of the french guys post on here (that I know of)

Edit to add: Not sure if Gerald will even try to honestly answer this, but Hey Gerald, did the ESB stunt fuck with any of your objects? More cops, more security, do you still jump?

I think they made BASE jumping a crime in New York. Don't know if it's directly because of the Jeb thing, but I am pretty sure it is an actual law now.

hasn't the law always used public endangerment for base jumping in any city?

Let's discuss this in a new thread...

Good point, I agree. We are getting off topic.

Actually, unless I am way off, it was his birthday...

Jeb's birthday is March 25, 1976.

How would that translate to 3 Triple 7?

The company is Iiro's, maybe he will decipher the meaning.

 

3 triple 7 is the standard measurements of a human grave. 3' wide, 7' deep, 77" long.

I heard Jeb say that the ESB bust got him out of his tv hosting contract. it was a positive thing. (it didn't sound like he enjoyed answering to a boss.) few who dislike their jobs feel they can quit.

in the current economic climate, people are more worried about keeping a job (if they have one). mortgage payments, car payments, educational expenses, etc. stress people out. they struggle with these basics.

if I stereotype Jeb, he has not dealt with these issues. interviews make it sound like his biggest concern is finding $9M for his attempt to land a wingsuit.

I tend to like Jeb and wish him well in his adventures. it offers a bit of escapism for me. aside from BASE jumping, however, we live in different worlds.

lucky for you, i have a simple three step program designed entirely to accomdate your needs, for the low low price of 9,999$ I will show you how to spend your money as frivolusly and recklessly as possible, enabling you to feel like a real "hot shot" and one of the "in" crowd. SoCal condo not included..
contact my office for information on the program.

 

Yeah man, ditto...

I worked a shit ton of jobs getting my degrees
and went heavily into debt. While some of the
people I met are great, a lot of them are douche
bags who have no clue why everyone does not
spring break in a foreign country

A self-made man is a guy I want to have a beer
with and listen to their stories, adventures, trials,
and tribulations.

GREAT BOOK: Education of a Wandering Man
written by Louis Lamour, fantastic read which
helped me persevere on my own path!!!

Yeah, because if Jeb was to write his life story it would have none of that...the poor dude is so boring.

I will let Jeb know that you wouldn't be interested in having a beer with him. Oh, but wait, another tidbit that isn't in those 15 questions. Jeb doesn't drink any beverage except water, nor does he partake in drugs. He runs to the gym each day, works out and runs home. He says the 2 mile run to the gym is a nice warm up and cool down.

For the record, yes I have friends that were fortunate to have their parents set up trust funds. They used the money their parents provided them, invested it, built companies and created a life of their own. Shame on them.

You know, having money affords people opportunities, it doesn't guarantee a cake walk in a life.

Generalizing people based on stereotypes is really odd coming from a group that doesn't like to be lumped together as douche bags by non-jumpers.

Sometimes you seem to try to pull us together... then others you poke "us" with needles...

We are not voodoo dolls and you are not our savor nor are you Oprah Winfrey...

Yeah, well, I am more of an individual...never did sign up for the after school clubs.

Never had a need to be part of any of the "cool kids" clubs.

Don't care to act as anyone's savior and good Lord, do people still watch Oprah?

You can only be "poked" if you place yourself in that position.

So you apparently like getting poked?

I mean its seems to more than a few people that you are not here to benifit others, but yourself moreover.

Some have said you come here and use word play to your advantage when cornered or not even respond when overwelmed...



Now that that is over... See what I mean? This to many is a lifestyle and do not like it when people mess with it, some they take it serious.

I am not against you, You garner attention than brings people to the board and some like it... some depose of it.

then what the hell are you doing here?
everyone knows basejumpers are the coolest kids around.

but I am not in your club.

Funny. Race car drivers think they are the coolest kids around, rock musicians think they are, millionaire executives believe they have the edge on cool.

You know what my problem is? I like too much diversity in my friends.

Ah, yes, "they", "them", "some people"...I have heard tale of "such people". I thought "they" had to do more with the New World Order than insignificant me.

So enlighten me, does your jumping benefit you or are you jumping to benefit others?

I know Jeb jumps for himself. I know I write for myself. (when I am not getting paid for an assignment)

What's so wrong with living ones life in doing what you love to do?

I am not really concerned with those "few people" who are keeping a tally to place in my permanent record. I learned a long time ago, there is no permanent record.

all kinds of antisocial behavior get justified with the same question! for example, the Flatbed Ten would agree. (this was the group whose rebellious behavior marked the end of legal BASE jumping of El Cap).

doing what one loves to do sounds quite romantic, at least until people start extracting more than they create; receive more than they give.

examples abound.

English has a term for people who ignore their impact on others:


the tv show "Dirty Jobs" honors those that do jobs that are not "what you love to do." these people frequently enable modern society to function. but really, what child dreams of being a sewer worker? how could we function without them?

BASE ethics appears to be the communities efforts to define the balance between self interest and the interests of the group. honoring these principles while chasing one's dream should be encouraged.

Tizzy did you have a trust fund, not that I care, but you seem very offensively defensive. Only thing I can think of is trust fund or crush on Jeb.

We really need better emoticons on this site. Here's one




You guys really need to get over it. Personally I like the interviews and another person's point of view.

A wise person told me recently, (paraphrased)

For a group of people who don't like to be judged, you (as a group) are very judgmental.

very true sir, true indeed

 

I have got 4 words for you:

self-in-dul-gent

correct, please leave immediately- my four words

True that many other extreme sports are cool. I think most BASE jumpers probably have more respect for the guts and skills of the big wall free solo rock climbers than any other sport since one slip and they are dead. They rely only on skill and not equipment. But in all sports other than jumping, even climbing, something has to go wrong to get killed. Racing, climbing, skiing, etc. if nothing goes wrong, your not only live, but you never get the same level of gut wrenching adrenaline we experience by the initial feeling of going past the point of no return on exit as you begin to fall. In our sport, we have to affirmatively take positive action in order to survive. Not quite true of other sports. We only live if we throw a pilot chute Maybe that's not the same as cool, but it does sort of denine a trait required of the kind of person it takes to engage in the activity.
Cliffleaper

this is crazy. i wish i hadn't posted anything.

i think it would be best to go make a jump, hike in the mountains, free solo climb, whatever... than to experience this vitriolic crap.