Mikhail Kropotov Nov 10, 2009:

I second that. This refers to himself.

Mark Berelekhis Nov 10, 2009:

That first sentence and a half describes his own take/feelings on his activities. It's not until 'а что касается общественного мнения' that we learn his attitude toward his audience. First comes the thrill, then the added bonus of shocking others.

Rachel Douglas (asker) Nov 10, 2009:

Why? It seems just as important, that he wanted to shock other people. In the next sentence, and throughout the profile.

Mark Berelekhis Nov 10, 2009:

Definitely related to him, not the spectators 'All he cared about was the rush/thrill' ; 'the rush/thrill of it was everything to him' -- something like that. Or to play on Olga's suggestion: 'as long as the adrenaline kept pumping.'

The breath option doesn't work here.

Rachel Douglas (asker) Nov 10, 2009:

OK, you guys... I'll give the whole sentence, I don't think it's a state secret. Note that in the following sentence, he himself is described as a thrill-seeker, but then it emphasizes how much he liked to shock others.

"Он относился к той породе людей, для которых все равно с какого этажа прыгнуть со второго или четвертого, главное, чтобы дух покрепче захватывало. В погоне за острыми ощущениями X был готов в любую секунду рискнуть собственной жизнью, а что касается общественного мнения, то он был уверен, что оно существует только для того чтобы он мог его эпатировать".

Draft: "He was one of that breed, who don’t care if they jump from the second story or the fourth; what counts is how it takes your breath away. Thrill-seeker X was prepared to risk his life at any moment. As for public opinion, he believed that it existed for the sole purpose of being shocked by him."

Mikhail Kropotov Nov 10, 2009:

I'm quite sure posting the whole sentence here would help. Of course, you may not want to disclose that much, and that's fine with me.

Rachel Douglas (asker) Nov 10, 2009:

Ambiguous The context doesn't decide it, unfortunately. We are told that this person's a thrill-seeker, but also that he believes public opinion exists only in order for him to shock it.

Mikhail Kropotov Nov 9, 2009:

This most likely refers to his own adrenaline rush, but it's impossible to tell for sure without additional context.