Todd You seem to have missed the point I was trying to make.  Of course Hamlin chose to participate in the sport.  Of course no one who was in a dental office had their heart stopped by a (non-existent) helmet blow.  That's not at issue here.  My point is that, despite football's built-in proclivity for injuries, this particular one was a result of exceedingly bad luck.  That's what I mean about forces beyond our control.  Do you not agree that luck abounds in life, whether good or bad?  Do you not agree that to say we have been lucky or unlucky is another way of saying we had no control over the unfolding of some event?  Or do you think free will and choice operate for the most part?  If so, then I'd like to ask you if you can decide as a matter of will what the next thought will be that pops into your head.  If you think you can do that, I would invite you to try sitting still for five minutes with your eyes closed and seeing if you can pay attention to your breath for two successive breaths without your mind wandering off into all manner of thoughts, totally beyond your conscious control.  If you've never tried doing that, give it a try it and let me know what happens, and let me know if it might give you a different perspective on choice and free will.

Todd You seem to have missed the point I was trying to make.  Of course Hamlin chose to participate in the sport.  Of course no one who was in a dental office had their heart stopped by a (non-existent) helmet blow.  That's not at issue here.  My point is that, despite football's built-in proclivity for injuries, this particular one was a result of exceedingly bad luck.  That's what I mean about forces beyond our control.  Do you not agree that luck abounds in life, whether good or bad?  Do you not agree that to say we have been lucky or unlucky is another way of saying we had no control over the unfolding of some event?  Or do you think free will and choice operate for the most part?  If so, then I'd like to ask you if you can decide as a matter of will what the next thought will be that pops into your head.  If you think you can do that, I would invite you to try sitting still for five minutes with your eyes closed and seeing if you can pay attention to your breath for two successive breaths without your mind wandering off into all manner of thoughts, totally beyond your conscious control.  If you've never tried doing that, give it a try it and let me know what happens, and let me know if it might give you a different perspective on choice and free will.

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