I talk to many rail birds over the course of a year... I try to give them an accurate forecast of the cost, not a rose colored glasses view. I am not judging them, I am giving the information that they need in determining whether to proceed. If I learn that the guy is just barely making ends meet and has a baby on the way... I will tell him to wait until he can afford to do it. Nothing wrong with that. I will also tell the person cheaper ways to get going, like flying in the park or a vacant baseball diamond...where they don't have to pay AMA and field dues. In that conversation... I always mention the cost of crashing... some people cannot handle failure very well.... and in this hobby you will fail at times... that is why it is not for everyone. The crashes always sort out the fliers.

So I am an internet tough guy??? I stated the obvious... how is that being a tough guy?? My failures are numerous, I get back up, dust myself off, and try again. At some point, I will concede total failure, but it does not happen often. He took the radio when offered... he knew the risks... I would not have offered the box to someone so green, but I have also trimmed planes to fly hands off and handed the box back to the owner who promptly crashes. There are no certainties in life.