Tom Greene: In praise of risk – why courage beats a generation of caution

We live in the safest moment in human history. We have mandatory seatbelts, side-curtain airbags, carbon monoxide detectors, bike helmets, and vaccinations against all forms of maladies.

We’ve wrapped ourselves in bubble wrap. But are we really any safer today?

What happened to the old-school jungle gym? And the round, metal spinner that was a staple on every playground? Every kid I know was tortured on that thing. What about the metal playground slide that would immediately deliver third degree burns in July. Where did these rights of passage go?

Growing up in Georgia, life was an adventure. Once we learned to ride a bicycle, the world was open for exploration: tunnels, sewers, abandoned buildings, construction sites and anywhere else we could venture. Yes, kids in my generation were l