b l o g o f p a r a g

I guess thats what happens when one underestimates nature! They probably had this pride and arrogance in their minds, only about the temperatures and not the dryness of the regions... :)

It's a shame that people can spend so much time discussing other people's personal fates on the internet. Have none of you ever done anything vaguely silly in your lives and got away with it?

And if not and you can pride yourselves in that, perhaps you should consider that a bunch of people are currently grieving for this person who may just be checking the internet and getting a punch in the stomach by reading what you guys have to say. Perhaps not the best way of making the world a better place, then???????

You might want to replace all your "carelessly phrased and critical of everything" words with pictures (nature, stars etc.) and that also with just one line caption.

Nic is right. Please don't be critical of the person who lost his life in the tragic accident. You must be doing inordinate number of silly things everyday. I see one right here; it's your "Blog."

How dare you! Avik was a wonderful person and would never have been so critical of you. There is more to the story than is told here in such a lovely 'Public Servicement Announcement' way by our wonderful government.

You want to judge the guy? Take a look at this article: http://pubs.acs.org/cen/education/83/8328educ1.html It's how he spent most of his free time - sharing his love of science with high school students.

After carefully reading the contents (old and new) of "parablog" I have to say that the author of this blog is a complete wimp.

Don't caution your friends by calling anyone stupid, especially someone you don't know.

It is shame to see not a single word of apology expressed by the blogger.
Calling a dead man stupid is indeed a biggest stupidity.

Next time you go to GC watch out for Avik's spirit.

wow man. how did you get all friends of avik to show up here to flame you?

hold on .. yup .. you show up in google on searching for him.

So, maybe you should consider your source?

Of course the National Parks Service is posting an article saying that "We told them not to do it!" They're just covering their asses to avoid being sued. How do you know that's what really happened?

Maybe you should hear the story from someone who was there (or at least has heard a first hand account). Unfortunately, the only story out there is the one posted by the NPS. His family is foreign and doesn't have the wherewithall to be heard. They're a little too busy greiving.

Perhaps you should call up his sobbing mother and ask her what really happened?

Wow... :) Is there anything called a human spam controller!!

I again emphasize that one should learn to respect nature, and that it is the mightiest in front of us puny humans!

smarter than you: OK. Can you please enlighten us, who are suckers for government propaganda, with the real story? Were you there in the Canyon with Avik? Was his family there in the canyon with him? From my interactions with the National Park rangers, I know that they are some of the most helpful and friendly people on the planet. These park rangers were there when Avik was in the canyon. I think I can believe the story they tell, but, I would like to hear your version as well.

Also, is hiding your identity, part of being smarter than me?

Hi.

I'm Avik's cousin. I typed his name on Google to find a picture of him, and I found this. I understand why you posted this, and I don't mean this to be a flame. I normally follow a Don't Like-Don't Read policy, but I felt like I should justify why people are angry. The loss is very fresh, and Avik was a great person. His parents are currently staying with my family, and I know how hard it is for them. It is obvious that this death could have been easily avoided, but it was not. That makes it even harder to deal with. I am glad that you are warning your friends so that they understand why the Park Rangers are warning them, but Avik was not arrogant or stupid. So go ahead, warn your friends, but please, do not do it at the expense of Avik's memory.

The internet is an amazing invention. I find it ironic that the same technology that was able initially to alert us in England to Avik's unfortunate and untimely death is the technology through which I have now been able to read your views on the incident.

I hope that, as your update suggests you intended, your post is able to avoid a similar incident ever occurring to one of your friends.

However, I'm sure despite your protestation, you really are able to understand why people (some of them my friends) have responded as they have. Different emphasis and content in your original post could easily have shown that you were most interested in alerting your friends to the dangers, instead of wanting to show up Avik for being 'so stupid'.

You are of course entitled to your opinion, but I hope some of the posts made in response have served to make you aware that, in commenting on a random news story, you are in fact directly in contact with those most immediately affected by this tragedy.

And us with you.