A Skinny Take: The danger is everywhere

Once in a generation anything up to 20,000 curlers and spectators convene at Scotland’s only Lake – near a tiny Trossachs village called Port of Menteith – armed to the teeth with ice skates, large rocks and warm clothing.  Motivated by the desire to have a bit of fun amidst the otherwise grim sub-zero temperatures, revelers can experience what will for many be a once in a lifetime opportunity to, just like Jesus, walk on water.  

As Jim Patterson of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club (RCCC) commented “Anyone who has been to one will remember it for the rest of their lives.”  But nostalgia and memories for life were clearly not on the minds of the Authorities, who brought all the excitement crashing to a halt as they cancelled the event late last week: “Following extensive discussions with a wide variety of interested parties… it has not proved possible to address all health and safety concerns” announced the rule-crazy party poopers who also go by the name of The Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority .

Curling has taken place intermittently on the Lake as far back as 1837, and as RCCC chief Colin Grahamslaw commented “curlers have a vast experience of ice and know what's safe to go on.” Yet such an assurance was not enough according to Central Scotland Police, who weighed in their tupence worth: “there are clear and obvious risks and the safety of the public could not be guaranteed.”

But this begs the question, can the safety of the public ever be guaranteed?  There are risks associated with everything – every time we leave our houses we are surrounded by danger – crossing the road, climbing a hill, driving a car; does this mean we should outlaw cars, ban hillclimbing and all just stay inside overcome with fear of danger, rendered immobile by the prospect of a thousand perilous risks hanging by a thread above our fragile heads?

Perhaps some people would say yes.  At least it certainly seems like they would:  no curling on the lake; wear goggles when you play conkers; remember to mind the stairs; no hot drinks on the bus… the list goes on.  This hysterical climate, it would seem, has largely been fuelled by the insurance industry, companies and other institutions who have been attempting to take as many steps as is possible to reduce compensation claims – on the rise in light of the American style sue-culture that is slowly permeating British society – illustrated, often hilariously, by adverts such as those by The National Accident Helpline.

If only there was a maverick among the RCCC willing to coordinate a few smaller scale games on the lake regardless – a symbolic act of defiance in the face of unreason; because the sad thing is that it could be another thirty years or more before the Lake freezes over again, and by then we’ll probably all be walking around like the Boy in the Bubble. 

 

See more of Ryan's work at http://www.rjgallagher.co.uk/