{"id":58745,"date":"2025-04-17T06:13:07","date_gmt":"2025-04-17T06:13:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/?p=58745"},"modified":"2025-04-24T09:48:05","modified_gmt":"2025-04-24T09:48:05","slug":"judgment-in-base","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/judgment-in-base\/","title":{"rendered":"Judgment in BASE"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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Survival in the BASE environment requires us all to apply sound judgment every time we put our lives on the line<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Judgment <\/strong><\/h4><\/div>\n\n\n\n

In modern BASE culture it seems that \u201cjudgment\u201d has picked up a negative connotation, even though we commonly refer to \u201cgood judgment\u201d as being necessary to survive.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an attempt to examine this inconsistency, it\u2019s necessary to start with some definition of the word, which is widely accepted to be:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Judgment: an estimate or opinion formed by comparing and discerning. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this form we can apply judgment to a wide range of precisely observable things like; parachute systems, exit points and the techniques we use to jump them. We can also judge things that are less tangible like; stated goals, designed progressions and intentional performances (which is the literal job of mentors and instructors and the implied job of friends). In the interest of personal and communal progression, everyone needs to feel comfortable applying judgment to these items for themselves and for the people they care about. Without us judging these items, we wouldn\u2019t have progressed to the exciting and radical place that we find ourselves in now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By contrast, there are a few things that become tricky to judge since they are largely imperceptible by modern human means and may in fact change by simply attempting to observe them. These tricky items include things like: motivations, subconscious reactions and unintentional interactions (though we often go slightly mad attempting to judge these things anyway). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo by Matt Blank<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The Purpose of<\/strong> Judgment <\/strong><\/h4><\/div>\n\n\n\n

In BASE jumping, just like criminal justice, we often fall into making the same basic mistakes in applying judgment, which often point to a misunderstanding of the its purpose. In my humble opinion, the purpose of judgment is to work toward progress. This is not to say that passing judgment on things where progress isn\u2019t the goal isn\u2019t possible, just that in the context of BASE jumping, this seems like a waste of time. By judging something, we are essentially saying that there is room for improvement and pointing out the specifics of where work can be applied, in the most objective way possible. By being objective about our judgment, our assessment can be used to drive at a more universal truth, which is ultimately more helpful to improve whatever is under scrutiny. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But how we understand the possible improvements of whatever we judge may lead to some basic mistakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo by Brian Mosbaugh<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Mistakes in Applying Judgment<\/strong><\/h4><\/div>\n\n\n\n