From: bob@pta.pyramid.com.au (Robert Vernon)
Subject: Re: Our daily philosophy question
Keywords: beer
Organization: Pyramid Technology Corporation, Sydney
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1992 10:47:50 GMT

In article <1992Sep28.083430.15210@zia.aoc.nrao.edu> dbriggs@zia.aoc.nrao.edu (Daniel Briggs) writes:
>As we all know, the "case of beer" rules so often mentioned are sometimes
>followed, and sometimes not.
>
>First jump at a new DZ    <-- good time to buy beer
>
>First jump on a thursday  <-- maybe not a good enough reason to buy beer
>
>(Incidentally, I think the "first anything" rule is the primary cause of
>people not buying for the really significant occasions.  We get so
>inured to shouts of "case of beer" that our beer buying reflexes get
>dulled in those cases where it's truly appropriate.  But that's a musing
>for another posting.)
>
>I was actually thinking about a case when most people really do cough up the
>booze.  (Umm, that didn't quite come out right.  You know what I mean!)
>Namely, I mean reserve rides.  It seems that people still do respect this
>one.  If the rigger saves your life, you buy him booze.  Usually whiskey,
>but sometimes the old standby "case of beer".  Seems reasonable.  After all
>if you don't, Gawd knows what he's going to put in your reserve container
>next time.

At our DZ the rule is a case for the first anything or any significant
achievement.  So after your first reserve ride, you buy a case
regardless of the reason.  It doesn't matter if you packed the main or
not.  You don't need to buy a case after your second reserve. (But
noone will complain if you do).  We don't insist you buy one after
your first jump.  This is because we don't know them and most first
jumpers never return anyway.  (But we don't mind if you do and its a
good sign that you will return if only to get your beer back).

The significant achievement is anything that you do (good or bad) that
the rest of DZ thinks is worth a case.  This is usually taken with a
grain of salt as the rest of the DZ usually thinks anything is a good
reason.  The usual reasons are qualifying for an A-licence or getting
some other rating.  Some unusual reasons why people have bought
recently have been finishing 2000 AFF jumps and breaking a Tandem
students leg.

I often run the bar here and I can tell who the stingies are by the
amount of pressure needed to get them buy.  Some just don't no matter
what, which doesn't worry me except that they are usually the same
people who get in first when someone else buys.  What really pisses me
off are the ones who talk you into doing a star-crest attempt (8-way)
with them and then disappear when the bar opens.

One of the problems with the first anything rule is that most firsts
happen early in your jumping career.  It gets expensive.  A girl
recently managed in one weekend to complete 100 jumps, qualify for her
star-crest, qualify for her c-licence, did her first 16 way and wore
a soft hat for the first time.  We all figured that that was 5 cases
but we had to let her off with one as she was flat broke.

>Now the question is this: Exactly when do you owe the rigger that bottle of
>rye?

The beer is for everyone.  You don't buy for your rigger or your
instructor.  You just buy.  A sensible precaution is to make sure you
are ready to drink yourself, otherwise you will miss out on your own
case.

>Here's a extra credit question:  What's the oddest circumstance in which
>you actually bought beer?

An 8km bad spot.  I had no choice on that case.  They'd drunk half the
case I hadn't bought yet before we got back and I still had to fight my
way to the bar to try and save 10 beers for the poor suckers that I
spotted out.


Bob V!


BTW:  Bouncing is worth a 44 gallon keg.  Leave enough money in credit please.