How much money did these people have? Does it depend if they jumped on what there income was? Would more people jumped if you would only get money for jumping? This looks easy. Give me a Mr. Incredible costume and i would do it right now for $30 without heisatation.
Just jump lol. I wish I could do this. It actually looks kinda fun.
In the religion and mythology of ancient Greece, Poseidon was the god of the sea and of water in general.
I think that bravery is being afraid to do something but doing it anyway and working through it. it is also not being afraid to do something. the people they chose to film were all very good at questioning and second-guessing themselves.
Cool vid! really made me think about decision making process. keep up the great work!
Thank you NY Times, very cool! I wish I could go here and jump!!! These people are very brave!!! Again, very cool!!!!
We watched this video in class, and found it perplexing and challenging to the mind. The human bravery complex is a very fascinating topic, and this exemplifies this indubitably. Thank you NY Times, Very Cool! ALso makie more casey neistat thanks
I give these people credit. I am afraid of heights and would not have done this. In my opinion the only risks that are worth taking are the ones that benefit us or other people. My logic is basically don't do it if you don't want to. Last time I was told to jump off a cliff it was at a water park and was 25 feet. I had jumped off this in past years but this year I had just seemed extra babyish and didn't do it. I keep thinking about this jump and how they get paid to do this. So maybe if i had climbed all the way up there and was getting paid maybe but idk.
I love this! As suspenseful as any Hitchcock film!
3
I have always found this fascinating. I lived near Blue Mesa in Gunnison, Colorado and we had 10 to 50 foot cliff jumps. And I would sit there many days and watch people struggle with even the smallest heights.
I would like to see this experiment done with people who are convicted of violent crimes, specially gun charges. I'd like to see how tough or brave they are when faced with this struggle.
I would like to see this experiment done with people who are convicted of violent crimes, specially gun charges. I'd like to see how tough or brave they are when faced with this struggle.
Did you jump?
I've done this a few times (feet first) when I was younger. While I was able to launch myself off the platform with some bit of ease (and a lot of peer pressure), the desire to be in the water was amazing. It seemed to take for ever to get down into the pool, where I felt at once an enormous sense of comfort. Once you leave the platform, you really understand what type of force gravity unleashes on your body.
2
I laughed the whole time
3
This is actually quite profound and exhilarating. It shows so much about our connection to other people, our primitive animal fears and cautions, our ways of communicating with ourselves, and more. It also shows how different Europeans are form Americans.
I remember jumping off a high dive when I was a kid a few times, though I don't know how high it was then--that was 50 years ago. I doubt it was this high, because though it took me quite a while to get up the nerve, I finally did it and it was fun.
I remember jumping off a high dive when I was a kid a few times, though I don't know how high it was then--that was 50 years ago. I doubt it was this high, because though it took me quite a while to get up the nerve, I finally did it and it was fun.
1
Just curious - what do you take away from the film in terms of differences between Europeans and Americans? I would think this shows primitive/ non-cultural differences, but interested in hearing what you thought.
Love, love, love the 10 meter tower. Split many a bathing suit and plenty of bruises courtesy of the tower.
1
Have none of you cliff dived as a kid? jumping into a pool with no obstacle sticking out is a piece of cake!
I don't know how much mental preparation went into the whole decision-making process for the participants. It seems to me like I would want to see others who had survived the jump and find out what they did and how they did it. I would most definitely not be the first participant who jumped off unless I had successfully completed jumps from heights that were lower.
1
Of course I would jump! Where do I go to try it? People do this all the time with great form and beauty,
Is this yet another silly psychology (a genuine non-science) experiment "magic"?
Pffffffft! LOL
Pffffffft! LOL
1
I have done it, several times. What I realized when up there is that it is higher than 33 feet, psychologically. It is in a pool. That end of the pool is deep to protect the jumpers/divers. The water is clear. Thus, from your eyes to what you observe - the bottom of the pool - is more like 55 feet.
4
A jump like this with no water brought me an invitation to become a Marine force recon platoon leader when finishing officer candidate school at Quantico.
JT
JT
I must say, though I am not an ardent swimmer, I do believe that I would have jumped... no, dived in some kind of aerial acrobatics.
That would be the only reason for me to dare to jump from that high. It just has to make rational sense.
That would be the only reason for me to dare to jump from that high. It just has to make rational sense.
having jumped from the tops of 60' cypress trees into Lake Harris, or off cliffs ledges of several Kaolin mines in Central Florida,or off the Bob Sikes Bridge in Pensacola..There's nothing like it.. Now at 64 years young I doubt I do the 1.5 somersault in pike that I used to do,,but without doubt 10 meters is something that I would in a moments notice. Ya just have take care of the jewels before ya hit the surface!!!
1
The Marine Corps has incorporated this as part of recruit training for Decades.
And did Not issue a single 10m Hero Badge to any of the tens of thousands either
And did Not issue a single 10m Hero Badge to any of the tens of thousands either
Wild horses would not induce me to do this.
The curious thing is that I have no abstract fear of heights, but a simple inability to function cuts in about 10' off the ground. I didn't even know I was 'afraid of heights' until I was in my early 20's and set out up a ladder to paint the eaves of our house. Just above the first floor it was like I hit a force field: down one rung fine: up two rungs - impossible. Who knew? Not me until that moment. It is a limitation I now accept.
One explanation is that at about 10' off the ground on a ladder or tower is about where your peripheral vision loses awareness of the ground and if you have any underlying balance issues your brain 'suddenly' loses a data check as to where you are - so you stop.
The curious thing is that I have no abstract fear of heights, but a simple inability to function cuts in about 10' off the ground. I didn't even know I was 'afraid of heights' until I was in my early 20's and set out up a ladder to paint the eaves of our house. Just above the first floor it was like I hit a force field: down one rung fine: up two rungs - impossible. Who knew? Not me until that moment. It is a limitation I now accept.
One explanation is that at about 10' off the ground on a ladder or tower is about where your peripheral vision loses awareness of the ground and if you have any underlying balance issues your brain 'suddenly' loses a data check as to where you are - so you stop.
1
I did it, twice, in a life jacket as part of survival training in the Navy. "Remember keep your arms crossed and grip the arm holes tightly or you'll dislocate both of your shoulders..."
3
i did it one time only, when i was 13 yrs old, and I am 64 now. It remains one of my most searing memories.
9
Little Compton Rhode Island has a jump from a rock into the ocean of about that high. Loved it in my 20s, not so sure about it today in my 60s.
Great piece!!! PB
Great piece!!! PB
1
Climbing a ladder about 7 meters to paint my house was enough for me.
1
I climbed down from the 30 meter tower at Sherkston Beach in Canada many years ago. Finally jumping off the 20 meter platform was tough enough!
1
Being the third of four brothers and the last to act upon a dare by the oldest, I vividly remember that moment 50+ years ago at New Delhi swimming pool called the NSCI. My brothers all could swim and dive well and each demonstrated in their own calm way. Without a word being said, it was my turn. I remember clambering up the steps of the 10 meter board and looking down at what appeared to be a postage-stamp size body of water below. There was no going back. Just imagining the look from them if I were to was enough to keep me up there, transfixed. It seemed like an eternity as I contemplated my next steps.. just jump, try a dive and perhaps enter the water awkwardly. I chose the former. It was the first and only time I fell from so high and remembered the elapsed time as excruciatingly long. The next instant was a blur. I smacked the water hard, and went several feet below the water. I was smiling as much surfaced on an accomplishment that my brothers would not tease me about.
3
I would jump like the young girl - with a running start, not looking down. It would help to have a friend with me who would jump at the same time.
2
I visit this place every day and see people jump from this tower. It was a pleasant surprise to recognize the tower and the wall behind it here on NYT. I can confirm that people act like this. Especially young people, young people act like this also at the lower levels of 5 meter and 7.5 meters. What's lacking here is the people on the ground. Usually, people come in groups, and there are people on the ground yelling at the people up in the tower to jump and the people up in the tower are yelling back. And then at some point, depending on who it is in the tower I suppose, people on the ground get tired of waiting and start yelling at the person to get down or jump. The lifeguards also have very different attitudes to this. Most are silent observers, but it happens that lifeguards encourage people up in the tower to jump. One thing that is very rarely seen, which is seen here, though, is two people up in the tower at the same time. You're not supposed to go up in the tower until the person before you has jumped, so this does not actually happen very often in reality.
12
I watched this mesmerized. Would I do it? I love the water - but I am not a strong swimmer (salt water - not pools)
Then I remembered I went skydiving about 15 years ago. The same sensation presumably: all or nothing - here goes - just do it -
I remember being at the door of the plane - frozen - not by manufactured fear but by animalistic fear - you aren't made to do this - the instructor urging "go! go!", and out we went, and it was the most freeing and otherworldly feeling I have ever had and I remember thinking and telling friends after, "I have to do this every day, or never do it again..."
Then I remembered I went skydiving about 15 years ago. The same sensation presumably: all or nothing - here goes - just do it -
I remember being at the door of the plane - frozen - not by manufactured fear but by animalistic fear - you aren't made to do this - the instructor urging "go! go!", and out we went, and it was the most freeing and otherworldly feeling I have ever had and I remember thinking and telling friends after, "I have to do this every day, or never do it again..."
5
Just a climb up that ladder would be too much.
3
I loved this! Absolutely riveting. I could feel my own anxiety mounting as I internalized their anguish. Not only is this an observation of human trepidation but it's an exercise in empathy. By the end, I felt wrung out!
6
I would have preferred jumping to backing gown the ladder over the hard tiles! In any case, it is a rational fear that people have and one shouldn't judge them for it! Fantastic video.
3
Jumping off the 10 meter board was a graduation requirement at Augustana College (Rock Island). The falling was worrisome but wondering if you would ever get back to the surface after the plunge was the scary part.
When I saw this film, I was immediately reminded of my own ascent to a 10 meter board maybe 40 years ago in State College Pennsylvania. I had watched a number of people jumping off, and eventually decided to try. I climbed to the top of the platform, and what struck me was that I could see straight to the bottom of the pool - probably another 5 meters down. The surface of the water seemed to disappear. I stood there for a long time, and when I jumped, I remember thinking how long it felt like it was taking to reach the water. After the jump, I figured it would be easy to do it again. I climbed to the top of the tower again, and looked down, and this time, my only thought was that I must have been out of my mind to make the first jump. I turned around and climbed back down.
3
There was a 10 meter board at the small man-made lake we used to swim at. Starting from age 4, I used to jump off it regularly - never gave it a thought.
I didn't go to the lake for several years, and then went back about age 9. I still had no hesitation, but this time I landed flat on my belly.
Never did it again.
Would I do it now (55 years since i first tried)?
I don't know.
I didn't go to the lake for several years, and then went back about age 9. I still had no hesitation, but this time I landed flat on my belly.
Never did it again.
Would I do it now (55 years since i first tried)?
I don't know.
I lived this. My friend and I climbed up the tower at swim camp. We were probably 12 years old or so. Looked over the edge at 5 meters, hmmm, at 7.5 meters, yikes, at 10 meters, nope, no way, climbed back down to 7.5 meters and jumped. It was a long way down compared to the 3 meter board we lived on every summer. No regrets and no desire to jump off 5, 7.5 or 10 meter platform since. Once was enough.
1
"Would you jump? Or would you chicken out?"
A better question is why would we expect or want kids to jump 33 feet?
A better question is why would we expect or want kids to jump 33 feet?
2
Jumping off this tower is all mental. I am a 15 year old diver. The first jump off 10 meter will always be the hardest no matter what dive you are doing off. Kids jump off it all the time and it is completely safe. My first time going off I was at the top with two 6 year old girls and a 15 year old guy. I was 12 and it was all our first time going off. The first ones to jump were the two girls. Immediately after that I jumped followed by the 15 year old.
I've watched it a couple of times (once with my 10 year old who is sure she could do it) and it occurs to me that it would take courage to jump and to climb down. Could I do it? I don't know. I have bungee jumped, but I haven't swam in about 40 years. They say it all comes back, but this isn't the way I want to find out.
1
I just watched it with my kids. My 11 year old son, who has jumped plenty of times off of a 5 meter platform, and from a cliff about 7 or 8 meters high, immediately said: "She made the big mistake." "What's that?" I asked. "She looked down," he said. I do think that bravery, whether it is physical, emotional, or intellectual, is an important part of a full life. We figure out ways to be brave.
4
Now remember the boys who stood in the door and jumped out into the darkness over Normandy.
14
seems like a lot of people have chosen to forget that as of lately
6
Wow that was riveting. Brought back memories of cliff jumping on the Columbia River in Oregon in my 20s. It might have been that high. I remember looking down and thinking a while but jumping and doing it many times after. We wore shoes so as not to hurt your feet when you hit the water.
While we were there some guys showed up and one took a running leap from far back complete with a yell. Not even looking for other swimmers. It takes all types.
It was fun to be tested!
While we were there some guys showed up and one took a running leap from far back complete with a yell. Not even looking for other swimmers. It takes all types.
It was fun to be tested!
2
When I was attending an advanced Water Safety Instructor camp way back in the early 80s (I collected certifications like my husband collected boy scout badges) we were required to jump from the 10 meter platform for something. I remember standing in line waiting for my turn to climb up as we inched forward on a brisk morning. It seemed almost Rube Goldberg like as each person climbed up, yelled out their name and, usually, within 15 seconds or so you'd hear a splash. A few competitive divers would show off but the vast majority would take a deep breath, pull their bodies in tight and just get it over with. Spin forward 5 years and I'm at Naval Officers School in Newport, RI and this ritual was being re-enacted but this time with much more important as it's about how to jump off a ship with a massive life preserver (note to everyone, be REALLY careful where you put those straps that go between your legs). I was asked to do the first plunge and wait to help anyone who had issues and one by one, people made it through until this one gentleman got up there and froze. Everyone was trying to encourage him until I finally I got tired of turning into soggy prune yelled up "...for God's sake, your Grandmother was a partisan and a little jump is scaring you? Close your eyes and jump dammit, we're all waiting for lunch!" So he did and told me afterwards he almost punched me for saying his Grandma was braver than he was. It's all about motivation and getting over fear.
4
One thing I noticed in scanning some comments, watching the video and reading the piece is that they didn't mention the misperception of the divers who looked down, and how this misperception might influence their decision to jump or not to jump. The platform is 10 meters, yes, but when you look down you are not looking to the surface of the water but at the bottom if the pool. The diving well of a 10 meter platform is about 12-15 feet deep and sometimes more, so what in reality is a jump of about 33 feet appears to the diver to be one of about 45-50 feet because that's what the brain perceives. And there is a vast difference between those two perceived heights, psychologically. I know from experience because a group of us on my high school swim team were training at the University of Miami pool over a Christmas holiday long ago and it was our first interaction with a 10 meter tower. We decided as a group that we should all jump off the tower. Two ultimately never made it up the ladder and one climbed down after looking over the edge. The rest of us jumped. But it was much more reassuring and easier to look out across the pool and then jump than it was to look straight down to the bottom and do so. We learned that trick pretty quickly. So it's no wonder when one of the participants in the experiment said it looks a lot higher from up above. That was his erroneous perception.
7
I worry about people seeing this in terms of bravery.
Fear of heights is not about bravery so much as a built in biological setting (my guess is it can be shown to have a strong hereditary basis like many other psychological factors). Among the people I know there is a range from some who are afraid to even get close to a dive like this to others for whom it is only mildly challenging. The ones who find it easy are often less brave than those who find it difficult (in general terms).
Fear of heights is not about bravery so much as a built in biological setting (my guess is it can be shown to have a strong hereditary basis like many other psychological factors). Among the people I know there is a range from some who are afraid to even get close to a dive like this to others for whom it is only mildly challenging. The ones who find it easy are often less brave than those who find it difficult (in general terms).
8
"Overcoming our most cautious impulses with bravery unites all humankind."
Been there. Done that. Bravery didn't enable me. It was purely a sense of acceptance that I should ... not "had to," because I could have backed down ... step off the edge.
But it wasn't a mere 30-meter tower. That would have been a piece of cake. It was a wall and it was the only thing separating me from Vietnamese machine gun fire. I had a shipmate lying on the ground on the hot side of the wall and I had to go drag him back behind the wall. So over I went. There was never a moment's hesitation.
You just do what you have to do.
Been there. Done that. Bravery didn't enable me. It was purely a sense of acceptance that I should ... not "had to," because I could have backed down ... step off the edge.
But it wasn't a mere 30-meter tower. That would have been a piece of cake. It was a wall and it was the only thing separating me from Vietnamese machine gun fire. I had a shipmate lying on the ground on the hot side of the wall and I had to go drag him back behind the wall. So over I went. There was never a moment's hesitation.
You just do what you have to do.
4
What a amazing view of human nature! I was riveted like never before!
1
I helped cater a party at an outdoor activities park with a ropes course, climbing walls etc. They had a 30 ft platform that you could jump off and land in a giant inflatable bag. One of the employees said they'll have up to 10 or so kids a day that do it, and in the 8 years he'd been there only seen a handful of adults do it.
I think a lot of adults have filled their head with inhibitions over the years and kids are mostly free of this restraint and haven't found excuses not to do things yet.
I think a lot of adults have filled their head with inhibitions over the years and kids are mostly free of this restraint and haven't found excuses not to do things yet.
Trump doesn't jump, but finding people willing to accept minimum wage to do it for him has never been a problem. We know that from his five deferments during Vietnam. Trump's supporters in the election are still jumping off for him. I just heard tell them it's gonna be great.
8
One may only hope that the filmmakers themselves jumped first just to see what it's all about and to lend some credence to their creation.
3
Jumped from planes, 5 times - different experience, but there you got less of a choice...
1
Suicide Gorge, South Africa c.2002 . "Kloofing" is essentially the art of following a mountain stream down its course by floating, jumping and swimming. The penultimate jump on this hike (or rather descent) was a 33 ft jump over a water fall! I did jump but foolishly held my nose which meant my body , while technically free falling , swung sideways almost pendulum like. I hit the water ribcage first and I'm not lying when I tell you that I felt my internal organs shift. The next day the opposite side to where I entered the water was bruised badly. Heck of an experience and I actually think in a controlled environment like a pool I may be less hesitant to jump. Valuable lesson learnt though., enter water with either toes or hands first.
2
Would be interesting to target only people who have a fear of heights (like myself). I would ba fascinated to see the moment one overcomes their fear, as well as the moment one succumbs to it.
1
From my point of view the test is about thinking. Those who thought about and analyzed the situation saw that it was okay to jump even if it was scary. Those who did not analyze the situation saw it from the pov of their lizard brain. They had no reason to muster courage. It was only -to them- something to fear.
Analyze situations and you can overcome your fear: the 30 meter board was created to jump from, many have done so, like them the water will save you so jump. If you don't think like that every step up the ladder will increase your fear, courage will fail.
We need to learn to analyze our situations, then we will know if it is safe to jump or not, invest or not, take the job or not, buy the weed or not.
Most of those who took the test probably gave it some thought. It's a good lesson for all of us.
Analyze situations and you can overcome your fear: the 30 meter board was created to jump from, many have done so, like them the water will save you so jump. If you don't think like that every step up the ladder will increase your fear, courage will fail.
We need to learn to analyze our situations, then we will know if it is safe to jump or not, invest or not, take the job or not, buy the weed or not.
Most of those who took the test probably gave it some thought. It's a good lesson for all of us.
2
I went up a 10m tower with my dad when I was about 12. To his surprise I jumped and so he had to jump, too. He told this story to everyone, again and again. Lovely memory
2
Does anyone know if there is a place to do this near New York without signing up for any classes, teams, or competitions? Clearly, there is no lack of infrastructure, as there are a number of pools in the area which have this equipment. However, as a casual pool-goer who just wants to do dive for recreation, I have had trouble finding a pool that will even allow me to use a regular diving board--much less a 10 meter platform. In any case, I have been curious to try a high dive for quite a while and would pay a decent amount of money for the opportunity to do so--but do not wish to pursue diving in an organized way.
I jumped once and it punctured my right ear drum. Never again.
2
I'm not sure I would jump in this experiment. Adding to the perception of height is the fact that we have to add our own height into the equation and take into account our eyes are at the top, thus adding the perception of even more distance overall.
Also – I can't help noticing that no one has showered before using this public pool. This is the same problem I have when I swim at my local Y. I often confront people (nicely) and remind them that we're not taking a bath here — we're sharing a public facility. Some people tell me they have never showered before using a public pool and find my request intrusive. Odd – and infuriating.
Also – I can't help noticing that no one has showered before using this public pool. This is the same problem I have when I swim at my local Y. I often confront people (nicely) and remind them that we're not taking a bath here — we're sharing a public facility. Some people tell me they have never showered before using a public pool and find my request intrusive. Odd – and infuriating.
1
I did it. Once. Maybe 20 years ago. I was a lifeguard instructor, a good swimmer and I knew what was going happen going down. Climbing up is scary. I survived to say I did it, never never again.
Great video. We can all relate to such primal fear. Something so simple that we know is safe, but our basic instinct overrides our reason. Says a lot about why the world is upside down, run ragged by our fears.
3
This experiment shows in a dramatic way why it is so important to obtain 'informed consent' before participating in a psychology experiment. Imagine if these divers were socially coerced in some way to jump from the height of 30 meters, without full knowledge that it was just a test. Or, imagine if it was implied if they would lose their job or get thrown out of school if they 'didn't perform' in some way. Or worse yet, what if it were done to someone with acrophobia (fear of heights). It would be tantamount to sadism and psychological torture.
Informed consent of this type is a basic precept of the Nuremberg Code, the Declaration of Helsinki, and the "Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct" of the American Psychological Association.
Informed consent of this type is a basic precept of the Nuremberg Code, the Declaration of Helsinki, and the "Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct" of the American Psychological Association.
3
Reminds me of how I felt when I signed up to do a 40m bungee jump over a river. They told me "3, 2, 1 and then go" and I remember an infinite pause after he said "1" where I looked down and saw the height and my body screamed at me not to do it. I didn't jump with flair the way I'd imagined I would - I just did a tip over. It was a rush, and it was scary, and it would definitely be a challenge to override the fear and do it again!
Mr. Bean!
Realized while watching this that the mantra I use to calm myself is from Pee Wee: "Your mind plays tricks on you - play tricks back!
2
My daughter is a diver, 16 years old, who also dives platform. She has been diving for 3 years. She has 5 dives off the 10 meter platform currently, including a 2 1/2 forward somersault, and an inward 1 1/2. Her worst smash (they call failed dives a smash) that I witnessed was her first back 2 1/2 off 10 meter. The pool had the bubblers that release air bubbles underwater to reduce surface tension for new dives. She came out of the back spin early and landed on her back. It knocked the wind out of her, and she was bruised. Without the bubbler, it likely would have been a worse outcome. I almost jumped down from the grandstand onto the pool deck, (about 10 feet) but the lifeguards attended to her. I was impressed that when she recovered, she got back up on the 7 1/2 meter tower and did some more dives! She says divers are always anxious on the 10 meter, because things can go wrong. Many divers refuse to go up there, at least initially. That is probably why there are fewer tower divers. They are especially anxious when trying a new dive from 10 meters. Coaches are generally very careful to only let experienced divers who have mastered many dives on the 5 meter and 7 1/2 meter platform to move up to the 10 meter.
2
Interesting project and video.
"Overcoming our most cautious impulses with bravery unites all humankind. "
There seems to be a fundamental misunderstanding of human nature here.
Another phrase for "cautious impulses" is "survival instinct", and our exceptional ability to judge risk/reward has played a large role in our success as a species.
At times a suitable substitute for "bravery" is "foolhardiness", or in extreme cases, "stupidity".
In the sub-title to this article it said, "Would you jump or chicken out?"
Phrasing it that way reveals a judgmental view that distorts reality. There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with getting up to the top of that board and thinking, "This doesn't make sense. I don't know what I'm doing. I've never jumped from a height like this. I don't know to what extent I'm risking my life. I'm not prepared potentially to die just to not lose face."
The glorification of excessive risk-taking has resulted in many tragic and useless deaths.
For the most part, the risks facing these divers are fairly small. But they don't know that and they are exhibiting a very healthy human response to a difficult-to-calculate risk when they hesitate.
Let's not glorify foolhardiness and stupidity by using phrases like "chicken out" or "bravery" in an inappropriate context.
"Overcoming our most cautious impulses with bravery unites all humankind. "
There seems to be a fundamental misunderstanding of human nature here.
Another phrase for "cautious impulses" is "survival instinct", and our exceptional ability to judge risk/reward has played a large role in our success as a species.
At times a suitable substitute for "bravery" is "foolhardiness", or in extreme cases, "stupidity".
In the sub-title to this article it said, "Would you jump or chicken out?"
Phrasing it that way reveals a judgmental view that distorts reality. There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with getting up to the top of that board and thinking, "This doesn't make sense. I don't know what I'm doing. I've never jumped from a height like this. I don't know to what extent I'm risking my life. I'm not prepared potentially to die just to not lose face."
The glorification of excessive risk-taking has resulted in many tragic and useless deaths.
For the most part, the risks facing these divers are fairly small. But they don't know that and they are exhibiting a very healthy human response to a difficult-to-calculate risk when they hesitate.
Let's not glorify foolhardiness and stupidity by using phrases like "chicken out" or "bravery" in an inappropriate context.
22
As someone else said, if you have a lot of fear - it takes guts EITHER to jump or to climb back down. Some jump without assessing danger, some because social pressure causes higher level of fear. And some jump- and take other risks because they love the thrill - the exhilaration - and are confident in their physical abilities.
2
The risk is far greater when driving while strapped into a steel cage hurtling down the highway at speeds exceeding 60mph while avoiding other cars and any potential obstacles or hazards. It is merely the fear of the unknown, not the fear of the jump. This fear is rational in a natural environment if you don't know the depth of the water, you cannot see the bottom or determine whether there are any objects that you could collide with. Otherwise, I imagine that taking such a calculated risk would be similar to learning how to drive a car by first assessing the capabilities of the vehicle in an environment such as an empty parking lot. A far greater percentage of participants die in auto accidents than are harmed by jumping off a 10 meter platform into a pool with deep enough water. This is an easy fear to rationalize away.
1
I’ve got a theory about this: our hominid ancestors were terrified to leave their nests in the trees and with good reason: falling meant vulnerability to being just another animal on the food chain. The survivors of our species were the ones who clung to the top branches and waited until the “coast was clear” before carefully descending down the tree trunk. The reckless and the clumsy got eaten; the prudent and careful survived. Perhaps, we should rethink the difference between an irrational phobia and a realistic fear and then judge the decision to leap (or not) within a different context.
1
I could've watched all 64 of them jump or not jump. It's weird that it sounds pretty boring to watch people battling with themselves if they should jump or not, but it was captivating. I was really routing for the old lady dressed in a blue swimsuit, and when she went to the ladder I got a bit disappointed, but then when she changed her mind I was cheering to the scream.
I think it was interesting that there were girls and ladies in ages 10-70 (?) participating, but no older men, just young guys.
I think it was interesting that there were girls and ladies in ages 10-70 (?) participating, but no older men, just young guys.
Your first sentence reminds me of something I learned in my training as an actor.
I remember a teacher saying "you want the audience to always be wondering what you are going to do next." This video is stellar in documenting exactly that sense. Acting students should study it. Some of these people--you just have no idea what they will do until they do it.
We also did physical trust exercises--falling backwards into the arms of a group.
As an artist you have to free your mind and body. So doing this jump would also be a good addition to the exercises of actors, dancers, singers.
I remember a teacher saying "you want the audience to always be wondering what you are going to do next." This video is stellar in documenting exactly that sense. Acting students should study it. Some of these people--you just have no idea what they will do until they do it.
We also did physical trust exercises--falling backwards into the arms of a group.
As an artist you have to free your mind and body. So doing this jump would also be a good addition to the exercises of actors, dancers, singers.
As a child my mother and aunt would on occasion load up the car and drive us to a funky little lake where we would spend the day splashing around beneath a dock taking turns pretending we were Lloyd Bridges in Sea Hunt. One of the fixtures of this simple get-away was a raft about a hundred yards off-shore with a two diving boards and a rustic platform some nine or ten feet above that. This is where the boys climbed to show off for their girlfriends. I was a butter ball ten year old girl when I decided to scale the tower and go for it. That is until I got to the edge of the platform and looked down. It was soooo far.
To make matters worse my mother and aunt caught sight of me and started yelling "Get down from there, right now." This was compounded by a stream of teenage boys waiting for their turn. So I made my choice and leaped out into space and felt myself, if only for a moment, liberated and free. I've been leaping ever since
To make matters worse my mother and aunt caught sight of me and started yelling "Get down from there, right now." This was compounded by a stream of teenage boys waiting for their turn. So I made my choice and leaped out into space and felt myself, if only for a moment, liberated and free. I've been leaping ever since
I've always been afraid of heights and hate water, but I'd a jump.
I was the kid who at various times broke an arm falling off a high bar, dislocated a shoulder on a box horse, was kicked in the thigh by a real horse, and got knocked cold by a T-bar. The way I look at it, overcoming fear is part of growing as a human being, and we should never stop. Even if you're a klutz like me.
I was the kid who at various times broke an arm falling off a high bar, dislocated a shoulder on a box horse, was kicked in the thigh by a real horse, and got knocked cold by a T-bar. The way I look at it, overcoming fear is part of growing as a human being, and we should never stop. Even if you're a klutz like me.
1
I worked as a lifeguard at a pool in college and one day, a boy of about nine or ten climbed up the 3-meter diving board (not platform, as shown in the picture) and just stood on the edge, too terrified to jump into the water and too scared to climb down. I was the only lifeguard on duty at the time, so I had to go get him down. I have a fear of heights and believe me, it was not fun going out to the end of that board and finding out the only way he would move was to jump off the end with me. That jump was one of the scariest things I've ever had to do. You can bet that I will not go up on a 3-meter diving board or platform ever again.
18
I think this "experiment" is ridiculous. Let's see if we can scare people into jumping off a tower to probe that it "unites all humankind." And I sure wouldn't do it for $30!
6
Pretty sour and cowardly for a Boulderite. Lighten up!
3
Just think of being on the deck of a burning ship during WWII, and then ask me if you or anyone else would think twice about jumping into icy seawater that may or may not be coated with No. 2 diesel oil from a torpedoed ship...
2
The Ode de Joy played at the end of the footage, if it is meant to celebrate the beautiful back dive of that diver, is misplaced.
There are two main categories of the participants: the no-hesitaters and the hesitaters. Among the no-hesitaters are those who immediately jumped and who immediately re-tracked, and among the hesitaters are those who finally jumped and who finally re-tracked. Why the hesitation?
To answer that question, we ask, why bother to sign up for the experiment to begin with (the fee does not require the participant to dive or to hesitate)? I think the answer is the innate yearning to know, to learn, to find out, our rational monkey instinct.
Then, what pulls us back from the edge of the board? The answer is probably fear. But fear of what, injury? death? reputation? bankruptcy? failure? Any rational participant would give the rational answer, No, there is none of that. So, whatever is that fear, it is irrational and induced by our senses; it is not much different from the fear experienced while walking along in a graveyard on a moonless summer night with thousands of night insects chirping.
Life for the no-hesitaters is easy. It is always a struggle for the hesitaters.
Sing Ode de Joy to those who finally took the rational plunge!
There are two main categories of the participants: the no-hesitaters and the hesitaters. Among the no-hesitaters are those who immediately jumped and who immediately re-tracked, and among the hesitaters are those who finally jumped and who finally re-tracked. Why the hesitation?
To answer that question, we ask, why bother to sign up for the experiment to begin with (the fee does not require the participant to dive or to hesitate)? I think the answer is the innate yearning to know, to learn, to find out, our rational monkey instinct.
Then, what pulls us back from the edge of the board? The answer is probably fear. But fear of what, injury? death? reputation? bankruptcy? failure? Any rational participant would give the rational answer, No, there is none of that. So, whatever is that fear, it is irrational and induced by our senses; it is not much different from the fear experienced while walking along in a graveyard on a moonless summer night with thousands of night insects chirping.
Life for the no-hesitaters is easy. It is always a struggle for the hesitaters.
Sing Ode de Joy to those who finally took the rational plunge!
7
I think you are wrong about fear being irrational. It may not be expressed by conscious, logical thoughts. But it is often based in a fundamentally sound rational, if unconscious risk/reward evaluation.
First of all, there is in fact the danger of DEATH in a dive like that ... though that danger is actually small. However, people standing at the top of that board, with no diving training or background in the statistics of diving accidents, must nonetheless weigh the risk/reward of this action. It may be conscious or not.
Some choose not to jump. They are expressing a cautious nature which has gone a long way towards ensuring the survival of our species thought the millennia. It is a sensible thing to do.
Some hesitate but finally choose to jump. This could be for many reasons. Examples -
"If I don't jump I'll look foolish to my friends."
I'd classify this in the "stupid" category. Choosing between looking foolish to one's friends or possibly dying shouldn't be too difficult a decision to make. Look foolish! But of course, many people, especially teenagers and young adults have chosen to avoid looking foolish, and indeed some have died because of that strategy, thereby earning the "Darwin Award".
Another example.
"It looks scary. I'm scared. But they wouldn't have put me in this situation if it really WAS dangerous. So it's probably safe. So I'll jump."
This is a reasonable risk/reward calculation, though it is one dependent on a very high degree of faith
First of all, there is in fact the danger of DEATH in a dive like that ... though that danger is actually small. However, people standing at the top of that board, with no diving training or background in the statistics of diving accidents, must nonetheless weigh the risk/reward of this action. It may be conscious or not.
Some choose not to jump. They are expressing a cautious nature which has gone a long way towards ensuring the survival of our species thought the millennia. It is a sensible thing to do.
Some hesitate but finally choose to jump. This could be for many reasons. Examples -
"If I don't jump I'll look foolish to my friends."
I'd classify this in the "stupid" category. Choosing between looking foolish to one's friends or possibly dying shouldn't be too difficult a decision to make. Look foolish! But of course, many people, especially teenagers and young adults have chosen to avoid looking foolish, and indeed some have died because of that strategy, thereby earning the "Darwin Award".
Another example.
"It looks scary. I'm scared. But they wouldn't have put me in this situation if it really WAS dangerous. So it's probably safe. So I'll jump."
This is a reasonable risk/reward calculation, though it is one dependent on a very high degree of faith
1. The word is 'hesitators'.
2. Our senses are almost always rational. A jump into anything from that hight is almost invariably dangerous or fatal, and walking in a grave-yard — or any other environment — outside on a moonless night has been perilous for our entire history, and is still perilous now, as we have very little ability to tell what danger may lurk around us. Especially with those thousands of insects chirping.
3. We weren't shown any known non-hesitators, as editing cut any hesitation of theirs out.
4. Any other application of 'An die Freude', such as waiting around for the last person to jump and then using it (presumably also while somehow cutting to slow-motion) would've been less effective than what the film-makers did do.
2. Our senses are almost always rational. A jump into anything from that hight is almost invariably dangerous or fatal, and walking in a grave-yard — or any other environment — outside on a moonless night has been perilous for our entire history, and is still perilous now, as we have very little ability to tell what danger may lurk around us. Especially with those thousands of insects chirping.
3. We weren't shown any known non-hesitators, as editing cut any hesitation of theirs out.
4. Any other application of 'An die Freude', such as waiting around for the last person to jump and then using it (presumably also while somehow cutting to slow-motion) would've been less effective than what the film-makers did do.
I was 16 and psyched the pool had a 10-meter platform. I had been diving for most my life, so it was just a new challenge for me. The first time, I looked over the edge and jumped feet first. That stung the bottom of my feet, so I decided it would be safer to slice the water with a simple swan dive. That went well, so I did it about a half dozen more, enough so it was no longer a thrill to approach the edge. I decided to amp it up with a single forward roll before pulling into a swan dive. Next, two rolls. Unfortunately, no one told me how difficult it is to break the centrifugal force once you get rolling. I landed on my rear and nearly blacked out from the pain. Once my heart rate turned to normal, I forced myself to complete one more swan dive (over the protestations of my watching parents, who thought the exercise was crazy from the beginning). Pulled it off perfectly. Now, I can honestly say I'm not afraid, but I never have to do it again.
9
In 1979, when I was 18 me and 75 other Marines jump off a 30 foot tower on dry land while connected to a 25 foot rope. We all did in the 30 seconds the drill sargent allowed. Two days later we jump out of a plane with parachutes, no tandem ride or Go Pro, we all did it. When two people are on the platform they are more likely to jump. Share your fears and you conquer them. Excellent film!
19
I would climb, walk to edge, give a little wave to the crowd, walk back down, collect my 30 bucks. Easy money. Would it be dishonest that I know myself that well?
Physical bravery is one thing. Courage of conviction is quite another. I'm far more interested in those studies. We have an amazing test case going on in the US right this minute.
Physical bravery is one thing. Courage of conviction is quite another. I'm far more interested in those studies. We have an amazing test case going on in the US right this minute.
6
definitely chicken. City Sportif in Beirut had a beautiful 10 meter diving board. i loved the square 25 foot deep and cold pool that went with it, but dive off that high board - no way!
1
I think it is interesting that participants looked down. I wouldn't do it but I would not look down, that's sort of psyching yourself out rather than psyching yourself up.
1
I can truly empathize here. Bit of a long story; but here goes. Boarding school in Bath, England, around 1950, we used to go to the local baths every Saturday morning. I would dive off the low boards and jump off the high one - 16 feet. One morning, the guy in charge suddenly announced "no more jumping off the high board." I was the first one on line. Being young and foolish, I dived. It was fun and I practiced and then won the school diving cup later. Around that time, I went to an outdoor swimming pool in Stroud, Gloucestershire. It was a cloudy day and I stood for about half an hour waiting for the sun to reappear (in England, right!) because the height looked so daunting in the cloudy weather. Many years later, in the States, on my 70th birthday, I skydived (in tandem). I wanted to see what an adrenaline rush was like. I had absolutely no fear! And no rush! :( I tried a second time and still no fear. Moral of the story is: go through your fear and enjoy the freedom life has to offer. PS. I went snorkeling last year in the Bahamas and was required to jump off the back of the boat. Perhaps it was the flippers I was wearing, but I really had to muster up some courage to do it.
7
I jumped off a 10-meter board as a gangly 11-year-old, at the now-defunct Heart of Atlanta motel (Googling the motel, I learned about a landmark discrimination case -- the wonders of the internet). Anyway, I landed awkwardly, yes, it hurt, but I was okay. I still remember the fear (and the stinging, burning in my legs) 46 years later. It was a long way down. Here's a pic of the high dive ...
http://www.atlantatimemachine.com/downtown/heart_1964.htm
http://www.atlantatimemachine.com/downtown/heart_1964.htm
7
After watching a few people finally jump, I was convinced that I could do it. But I'm sure I'd ultimately chicken out.
1
I rarely watch TV or YouTube and was absolutely captivated. Loved it.
6
I've written about my own 10-meter platform experiences in "Throwing them in the deep end", here: http://backmarker-bikewriter.blogspot.com/2011/01/banned-in-backmarker-t...
As a writer and motorcycle racer, I've spent a career exploring the nature of fear and its relationship to risk. I love this video, which gives a remarkably clear and simple illustration of something I've spent whole books exploring.
As a writer and motorcycle racer, I've spent a career exploring the nature of fear and its relationship to risk. I love this video, which gives a remarkably clear and simple illustration of something I've spent whole books exploring.
8
Personal grit and a desire to work through it.
Something most millennials will never have.
I weep for the future on my country.
Something most millennials will never have.
I weep for the future on my country.
3
Sure, right. Because there are no navy Seals, no volunteers in the all-volunteer army. There are no divers or daredevils. Get over yourself.
5
Maybe millenials just listened to their mothers when they said, "if all your friends jumped off a ten-meter platform, would you do it too?"
"Kids these days" - every generation ever, going back to BC.
Parents and grandparents have been bemoaning the lack of virtue of the younger generations throughout recorded history. If you listened to the opinions of each generation concerning the next you'd think that humanity would have descended into a new dark age of avarice, sloth, and ignorance by now.
Your generation isn't special. Neither is mine. We will face different problems and solve them in different ways. Our priorities and morals will be different. But the advancement of humanity marches on, as it has for thousands of years despite the dire predictions of the elder generations.
Parents and grandparents have been bemoaning the lack of virtue of the younger generations throughout recorded history. If you listened to the opinions of each generation concerning the next you'd think that humanity would have descended into a new dark age of avarice, sloth, and ignorance by now.
Your generation isn't special. Neither is mine. We will face different problems and solve them in different ways. Our priorities and morals will be different. But the advancement of humanity marches on, as it has for thousands of years despite the dire predictions of the elder generations.
1
I would do it right after I watched Maximilien Van Aertryck and Axel Danielson do it. Fascinating, entertaining, well-constructed and edited film, however.
2
If you look carefully at the credits, Mr. Van Aertryck did do it, he's one of the jumpers.
9
I showed this to my fourth graders before school and at lunch today, they were fascinated!
6
Back in the mid 70s, I worked at a summer camp that had a double Olympic pool and a high diving board. I am not sure of the height, perhaps a 5 meter board. I went out to the end of the board, looked down at the lines and sides of the pool, seemingly closing in, and felt a wave of panic come over. I couldn't even walk back to climb back down the ladder. I had to semi crouch/crawl back and felt so relieved to feel the ladder beneath my feet. This video made me relive those moments, both cheering the people in the film and feeling the knots rising once again in my stomach.
6
I have such a terrible fear of heights, even climbing the stairs (much less looking over the edge) would be impossible for me. Does anybody know any cures for acrophobia?
2
I had really terrible fear of heights for a long time. Then, someone told me I could choose to focus my attention only on the safe parts of my experience. Focusing on the solidity of my feet on the ground, rather than the view of the void, helped a lot. Working kindly with myself, I kept going. There's a tall fire tower near where I live. I hiked to it regularly, and practiced going up and down the stairs while holding the handrails and placing my feet carefully. I kept my gaze level, and focused on my breath. Over time, as I feel more and more grounded in my body, I have seen a lot of change. I wish you all the best! If you want to work with your fear, please know that you can do so from a place of compassion.
4
1971 or 1972, early spring. I was with a bunch of high school classmates at the trestle that crosses Lake Lewisville parallel to I-35 north of Dallas. Several dozen feet over a murky and rather cold water surface.
Hesitation time, about half a second. Fear of jumping vs. peer pressure. Easy decision. I jumped.
Hesitation time, about half a second. Fear of jumping vs. peer pressure. Easy decision. I jumped.
1
I jumped. Once.
I was about ten or eleven.
Scary, but it was fine.
I was about ten or eleven.
Scary, but it was fine.
This is a wonderful film for those of you who have nothing to do with your time.
A very boring and excruciating painful film to watch.
Hard to believe you wasted $30 a person on this rubbish.
A very boring and excruciating painful film to watch.
Hard to believe you wasted $30 a person on this rubbish.
1
You just wasted your time watching it, too, so you must have been equally fascinated by the apprehension these divers faced, just like the rest of us lower educated and ignorant illiterates..... ha, ha, the jokes on you......
10
I once tried a jump like that in Hawaii. It was off a cliff and the perspective of from above made it seem like you could land on a rock, but of course no one did. It was definitely not 10 meters, but it still prompted all those primal fears. Still, no matter how much I told myself, "just do it!" I couldn't do it. I can't say I regret not doing it!
1
You were wise to not do it. I did (read my comment below) when I was on the north shore on Oahu, and it changed my life for the worse.
Ok ..folks...some years ago I was asked to fall backwards from a platform into the
arms of my fellow participants. I think I was the only person who DID NOT
do so. I am terrified of roller coasters. I have read that different brains experience
these kinds of events differently. I have no desire to ever take the leap. On the other hand, I am capable of speaking up and confronting bullies. I rather relish it.
We are all different,
arms of my fellow participants. I think I was the only person who DID NOT
do so. I am terrified of roller coasters. I have read that different brains experience
these kinds of events differently. I have no desire to ever take the leap. On the other hand, I am capable of speaking up and confronting bullies. I rather relish it.
We are all different,
5
For me, it wouldn't be just the height. The though of jumping into water that even MIGHT be cold is consuming. I literally cannot jump into a swimming pool of cold water.
1
Just be 1) rationel. Then 2) concentrate. 1.1) Is there a risk that I will hit the poolside? No not if I take on step straight forward. 1.2) Is there a risk that I will hurt myself when I hit the water? No not if I take on step straight forward. 1.3) Is there a risk that I will hit the bottom of the pool? No not if the pool is deep enough. And it is. Of course I checked this before going up here. 1.4) Are there other risk factors? Nope. This is a well-defined space and task which is why this is an easy challenge. Ok then 2) concentrate, stand up straight (here is the real challenge for some young people), look straight ahead and take one step forward. Gravity will take care of the rest. Peace of cake
7
"one" step. "Piece" of cake
2
Don't sweat the typos, Mr. Dahl. I doubt there's more than one or two of us who can speak any Danish at all, so kudos on your grasp of English.
3
It's real easy be so "logical" sitting in front of your computer. I think it's a whole other situation actually being up there!
From on top of the platform it looks like a LOT more than ten meters to the water. It's scary the first time you do it, but after that it's a lot of fun.
That's because you are looking at the bottom of the pool, a further ten feet or so.
Of course it does. If you are average height, looking down the water is about about 11.65 meters away. (Your eyes aren't at the 10 meter level).
Definitely would. On swim call off an aircraft carrier in the North Arabian Sea, I got to the jump-off point and was nervous, never having jumped from that height before. Then it dawned on me: when I jumped, I was simply going to travel through air for a few seconds (if that), hit the water, sink downward at a deacreasingly rapid rate, bolt back to the surface because the water was so salty, and voila! Sure enough, that's what happened. Besides, it certainly helped having a couple thousand of one's closest friends and shipmates take the plunge before me!
12
Best thing I've seen in the Times for months.
3
No wonder 70% of those who answered the call jumped. Someone like me, who is afraid to even walk out on my own 12th story terrace while holding my hand on the door and away from the edge, would not answer the call.
4
A few years ago my wife and I base-jumped off the SkyTower in Auckland, New Zealand - a drop of 192 meters (http://skywalk.co.nz/about/skyjump/) and the tallest structure in the southern hemisphere. Even though we knew that is was 100% safe, it was still the scariest experience of my life and one that I would be hard-pressed to repeat. As we went up in the elevator, we decided that the only way to make sure that we would not chicken out would be if my wife jumped first because then there would be no way that I could change my mind. After I was harnessed up, I was walked out on to the gantry - 192 meters above Auckland - by one of the staff. Every fiber in my being was screaming, "Dont do it - this is crazy!!" After being connected to the cable for the descent, the young lady said "OK - jump whenever you are ready". I tightened my grip on the railing of the gantry. However, having seen my wife do it - screaming all the way to the bottom - I knew that I could not turn back. I jumped off and free-falled at ~85km/hour for about 10 seconds into a gentle landing at the bottom. After we were done, we went to a bar and had several martinis to "celebrate" the experience. But never again.......
4
There used to be high diving boards at the city pools back in the sixties. There was a three tier high dive platform of 5, 10, and 15 meters at Astoria Pool which was built as the training facility for the 1936 Berlin Olympics. All long gone in the wussification of America. I jumped off the 10 meter second level at Astoria twice in succession one afternoon when we went there for summer day camp. I was about ten or eleven, but it did seem like a long way down.
1
We used to cliff-dive (or jump) on canoe trips, from heights of maybe 7 - 10 meters. In those days, 50 years ago, it was fun and challenging. Now? I wouldn't even go up the ladder; wisdom or fear, I don't know.
1
The girls wearing bikinis are the bravest of all.
12
what do you mean with that comment?
2
They mean that jumping from that height may cause their bikini top to be forced upwards and exposed their breasts. Unless they don't mind that kind of display, they're brave lol
The tops come off easily from such high jumps?
I relate to the social pressure. When I went skydiving, I choose the static line option, rather than tandem jump. Jumping then becomes an independent choice--or not.
Planes took up four jumpers at a time. The instructors made us sign agreements that stated if the first jumper did not jump, he/she had to pay the cost of the three other jumpers in the plane. The instructors explained in their experience, the psychological effect is so great, if the first jumper refused to jump, no one would jump.
I was the last jumper. As each of the three other jumpers went out, I thought, "hell no, I'm not going to jump". Now every time I tell this story, I say, "I only jumped because everyone else jumped before me."
Planes took up four jumpers at a time. The instructors made us sign agreements that stated if the first jumper did not jump, he/she had to pay the cost of the three other jumpers in the plane. The instructors explained in their experience, the psychological effect is so great, if the first jumper refused to jump, no one would jump.
I was the last jumper. As each of the three other jumpers went out, I thought, "hell no, I'm not going to jump". Now every time I tell this story, I say, "I only jumped because everyone else jumped before me."
1
Good for you! I went tandem.
When I was a youth (1980's), I jumped off of 20 and 30 foot platforms at a public pool in northeastern Indiana (approx. 6 & 9 meters). It was a bit scary and smacked my arms pretty hard when I hit the water. I definitely wouldn't recommend this to anyone much older than 20 years old and that isn't thin and relatively fit. Also, females should use a one piece suit for this — it'd be way too painful with a two piece, and you'd likely lose the top on the landing.
1
I also jumped without hesitation. I didn't give myself time to peek, self-talk, analyze or hesitate. Then I jumped again and again. It was thrilling.
Ahh, yes, the Firehole River in Yellowstone, a 30-foot jump after a rocky climb. It was fun but he who hesitates often chickens out. "Just do it!"
I wonder, what happens when you give the jumpers more technical information about how to jump well with more safety and comfort. such as to prevent their nose hurting when they hit the water, or to go feet first etc.
i think it would improve the jumping rate, perhaps?
i think it would improve the jumping rate, perhaps?
1
Well honestly, I'd jump. I've jumped out of a plane over two miles up, so 10 meters just doesn't have much of a scare factor for me. But I'll admit, jumping out of that plane was tough as hell, and as soon as I did it, every nerve in my body screamed, "you moron, you've just killed yourself".
I've got a thing for heights too really. At my college quad there was a level foundation next to ground that sloped downward, and for kicks I'd walk off the edge at different heights. Ten feet was no big deal at all, fifteen was gut-wrenching, but the impact from landing from about twenty feet convinced me to quit it.
I've got a thing for heights too really. At my college quad there was a level foundation next to ground that sloped downward, and for kicks I'd walk off the edge at different heights. Ten feet was no big deal at all, fifteen was gut-wrenching, but the impact from landing from about twenty feet convinced me to quit it.
My daughter was a platform diver in high school. She could do a handstand on the end of the 10 M platform and move from that into various beautiful dives. As a parent, watching this was the hard part!
2
Those dives are quite amazing to watch, they are beautiful....
Someone should try this with members of a less risk-averse country.
1
Think of it this way. It's not really a jump is it? It's more a step. Gravity does the rest. Heh!
1
Also I really enjoyed watching this. Very interesting to see how people reacted, my favorite was the older lady who said "No, I don't have the guts," and actually started going back down the ladder, then decided she did have the guts after all and went for it. I'm sure for everyone that managed it, it was an exhilarating feeling and it would have been easier the second time.
For those who couldn't do it, if this were a project to help their self-confidence and not a general experiment, I think they should have gone down to the lowest platform and jumped from that a few times, then gone to the next one up and done that until it was easy, then tried again. Most people can overcome their fear given enough time I think, and practice with slightly less scary things.
Picturing myself in the mix now, I think I'd have just run right off the platform without looking down, figuring looking down would make it a lot tougher. And I'm sure I'd have shouted something unprintable.
For those who couldn't do it, if this were a project to help their self-confidence and not a general experiment, I think they should have gone down to the lowest platform and jumped from that a few times, then gone to the next one up and done that until it was easy, then tried again. Most people can overcome their fear given enough time I think, and practice with slightly less scary things.
Picturing myself in the mix now, I think I'd have just run right off the platform without looking down, figuring looking down would make it a lot tougher. And I'm sure I'd have shouted something unprintable.
22
Why is the Times wasting its precious and ever-diminishing resources on something so trivial and pointless. To jump or not to jump. Who cares?
It's an expose of how humans handle their fears and overcome them. This is a vital part of our existence. You should watch it...
5
I have a friend who is in his mid-fifties and still competes in mountain biking and whitewater kayaking at a very competitive level. I asked him what the secret to beating guys thirty years younger was. His answer: "Keep doing things that scare you."
4
I wouldn't even climb the tower.
3
Coast Guard boot camp 1962. Picture 50 naked recruits told to make the jump
(winter, little or no heat at pool) or else! "Or else" meant you'd be thrown off by an instructor. I recall being told to look straight ahead on the way down so as not to belly flop. Peer pressure such that only one recruit was thrown off. Still memorable after 56 years.
(winter, little or no heat at pool) or else! "Or else" meant you'd be thrown off by an instructor. I recall being told to look straight ahead on the way down so as not to belly flop. Peer pressure such that only one recruit was thrown off. Still memorable after 56 years.
7
Just wish we had seen a camera shot from the board looking down into the pool. As others have written, I found this riveting and entertaining.
3
We humans are an interesting lot!
Often, we observe monkeys, gorilla, and pandas in zoos or reserves. This video is a chance to consider human behavior -- at the diving tank.
We see fear, reasoning, opportunity, and discernment tied together in a neat package.
Worth watching and studying.
Often, we observe monkeys, gorilla, and pandas in zoos or reserves. This video is a chance to consider human behavior -- at the diving tank.
We see fear, reasoning, opportunity, and discernment tied together in a neat package.
Worth watching and studying.
4
Done both and jumped out of an airplane, but as the saying goes , that was then and this ..........
Frida and Linus are the sweetest!. They are so kind to one another.
23
I was struck by that, too! "If you fall, I'll fall as well Frida."
I was riveted by this video because it is a quiet meditation on doubt and on humility, on conquering one's fears or accepting one's limitations, on offering support and pulling away as needed. After the incessant narrative of vaporizing humanity and compassion during the last two weeks, watching this felt like a deep inhale.
35
Beautifully put.
My thoughts exactly. Well said.
I jumped from the 10 meter platform when I was 12 years old at the local university diving pool. I remember making the jump a few times and being terrified, but by covering my face with my hands on the way down, it made the jump possible. Some time after that experience, the 10 meter platform was made off limits to recreational users and I never attempted such a height again. Now that I am in my 40's, I doubt that I could muster the will to do it again.
3
Knowing how to do it safely would help. If you aren't a trained diver, you need to go feet first. A bellyflop at 10 meters can hurt, and might cause injury.
When you look down, you see the bottom of the pool, not the surface. So it looks like you're diving from 14 meters, not 10 (assume the pool is at least 4 meters deep).
I've done it... I was scared every time.
When you look down, you see the bottom of the pool, not the surface. So it looks like you're diving from 14 meters, not 10 (assume the pool is at least 4 meters deep).
I've done it... I was scared every time.
3
I have to admit, reading the premise after a friend of mine linked to this on Facebook, I thought "That's the most boring premise I've ever heard. Who in their right mind would sit through 16 minutes of that?"
What followed was me sitting in front of my computer, mesmerized, for 16 minutes.
It's extremely fascinating to see how people react.
What followed was me sitting in front of my computer, mesmerized, for 16 minutes.
It's extremely fascinating to see how people react.
8
Great piece of work.
I have rappelled off a 25 story building in Chicago and jumped with a cable attached off the Stratosphere Hotel in Vegas but I think this would be pretty hard for me to do.
I have rappelled off a 25 story building in Chicago and jumped with a cable attached off the Stratosphere Hotel in Vegas but I think this would be pretty hard for me to do.
2
This project is one the most reckless and potentially harmful that I have ever heard of. In 2004 I jumped from a 25 foot rock into the ocean and immediately suffered a herniated disc upon hitting the water. Peer pressure and the idea "just do it" were reasons why I did this. Jumping from that rock was the worst decision of my life as my spine has never fully recovered. A lifetime of sciatic pain and immobility are my reward for consorting with the kind of people who put on this project - people who are so dangerously naive that they will ask others to jump 30 feet into water so they can make a movie to "bring humanity together." Let me tell you, few things will show you the depths of isolation and despair like being immobilized in excruciating pain from a traumatic spinal injury. Don't jump! And don't listen to the idiots who are telling you to do it out of "bravery." Shame on the producers of this film - encouraging young, healthy people to do something that could potentially ruin their lives is serious ethical infraction.
5
Oh for heaven's sake, it is 33'. Jump you big sissies!!!!!!!!
1
Yeah, it really isn't that high at all. The mind plays tricks......
I caught myself silently cheering the divers, and holding my breath in anticipation as they let go. I'm not sure I could do that myself!
2
Don't think about it! Just do it!
2
That's how Trump became president.
3
Previously I had dove from 1 and 3 meter boards. I was not a trained diver. I had a rare occasion, to "do" for the first time, a 10 meter platform. I did 3 or 4 dives..all headers. The next day I felt as if I had been to the first day of high school football practice. Minor sprains of both wrist. Sore shoulders, and surprisingly, to me, the top of my head was sore.
As some of the other commenters remarked about military 10 meter requirements, while qualifying for my various maritime licenses, one of requirements for STCW certification was to jump into pool to simulate jumping from a ship. Depending on the school it could vary from jumping from the deck of a pool with a PFD on, In my instance the instructor insisted the members of the class jump, wearing a Gumby suit, from a 10 meter platform. For me the Gumby suit, large and ill fitting, made me feel as if I would trip. At the edge of the platform, with trepidation, I would hesitate for a long time to make sure a made a clean, feet first departure without a hint of not being absolutely vertical. I would have a deep seated fear of doing a belly flop.
As some of the other commenters remarked about military 10 meter requirements, while qualifying for my various maritime licenses, one of requirements for STCW certification was to jump into pool to simulate jumping from a ship. Depending on the school it could vary from jumping from the deck of a pool with a PFD on, In my instance the instructor insisted the members of the class jump, wearing a Gumby suit, from a 10 meter platform. For me the Gumby suit, large and ill fitting, made me feel as if I would trip. At the edge of the platform, with trepidation, I would hesitate for a long time to make sure a made a clean, feet first departure without a hint of not being absolutely vertical. I would have a deep seated fear of doing a belly flop.
2
I thought I had already done this: 12 years old, West Park (now called Centennial Park) swimming pool, Park Ridge, IL. I jumped off "the high dive" several times. I remember other people having to climb back down (and this, when people were already on the ladder, so you had to climb down around them). One guy broke down in tears and I always felt so sorry for him. So... I had been there, done that, right?
I haven't been to that pool in 50 years, so I googled it. It's there, all right. Sure is. Yeah, right: all 3 meters of it. (What? That was 3 meters? Seemed a lot higher!)
Would I jump from three times as high? I'd just like to think so, but... I have nothing but respect for these people. Even (or especially?) the ones who couldn't do it, but were willing to get up there and then climb back down.
I haven't been to that pool in 50 years, so I googled it. It's there, all right. Sure is. Yeah, right: all 3 meters of it. (What? That was 3 meters? Seemed a lot higher!)
Would I jump from three times as high? I'd just like to think so, but... I have nothing but respect for these people. Even (or especially?) the ones who couldn't do it, but were willing to get up there and then climb back down.
25
Approach it gradually, 1 meter, then 3, then 10. It's great fun. If you want to pause, stand at the top of the runway of a 90 meter ski jump, or at its end where human flight begins. I recommend Harris Hill in Brattleboro, VT this February.
1
I jumped once. Took so long to reach the water that it seemed like I could have read a book on the way down. The impact was a real wake-up! Doing that one time in my life was enough.
9
Surprisingly entertaining!
10
About 50 years ago, when I was in the early thirties, I began to learn swimming as a therapy for lower back pain. I was a clumsy beginning swimmer (still clumsy). I was also reading Shaw's St. Joan, wondering how did she feel when burned at the stake.
I wanted to find out: what would be a situation that would put me as close to death as possible without dying? (An absurd question, as if I could learn about death by not dying.) I chose diving from the diving board in the local public swimming pool. It was nowhere near 10 meter, probably no higher than 10 feet, if that.
The fear provoked by the imminent jump, imagined or planned, was overwhelming. More than once on that first day, and on the many days afterward into the next swimming season, when I decided (or deluded) myself to have a taste of death, I went through the ritual of climbing up the ladder, walked to the edge of the board, paused, stared at the water below (my eye level was about 5 feet above the board), and walked back and down.
But one day, for reasons I probably will never know, I just jumped. I am sure in the seconds of descent I looked awful (as probably would St. Joan in the flame), but the rushing of water over my limbs, torso and face after the plunge was exhilarating.
I still do not know how St. Joan felt when she was burned. But I have learned to understand that that was not important to her. What must be important was her belief that she would be received, after the burning, as a child.
I wanted to find out: what would be a situation that would put me as close to death as possible without dying? (An absurd question, as if I could learn about death by not dying.) I chose diving from the diving board in the local public swimming pool. It was nowhere near 10 meter, probably no higher than 10 feet, if that.
The fear provoked by the imminent jump, imagined or planned, was overwhelming. More than once on that first day, and on the many days afterward into the next swimming season, when I decided (or deluded) myself to have a taste of death, I went through the ritual of climbing up the ladder, walked to the edge of the board, paused, stared at the water below (my eye level was about 5 feet above the board), and walked back and down.
But one day, for reasons I probably will never know, I just jumped. I am sure in the seconds of descent I looked awful (as probably would St. Joan in the flame), but the rushing of water over my limbs, torso and face after the plunge was exhilarating.
I still do not know how St. Joan felt when she was burned. But I have learned to understand that that was not important to her. What must be important was her belief that she would be received, after the burning, as a child.
8
i remember i did this when i was a very young teen ...and have never forgotten it! then, with older boys waiting on the ladder urging me to go ...i eventually kept saying to myself "just take one step forward" which i did as a small jump and survived. it has remained my mantra for 45 years when faced with an extremely anxious episode (fight or flight) ... I still say to myself, "take one step forward ..." from that day ...
48
Love the sentiment
1
I've jumped out of an airplane with a parachute on and somehow got through that just fine. But in that instance, looking down, the distant surface didn't seem real - it was like jumping into a picture. But the surface appears all too tangible and real from a mere height of ten meters. Actually, I wish the filmmakers had included a shot of the view from the edge of the diving platform, so we had an idea of what the prospective divers were facing.
18
I think they showed it at one point.
My brother and I were seven years old when a 16 year old female neighbor, a lifeguard, taught us the dog paddle. It was our first step towards conquering our fear of water. As it was free to get in to the pool during morning lessons we would sit and watch as she instructed pre-swimmers. On a dare we went up to the top of the high diving board (over thirty feet). Like a cheetah she ran and climbed up behind us. I went to the end of the board, looked down, and got cold feet. As I attempted to get past my brother she halted me and said there was only one way down. My brother, kept saying "You First Big Brother. You first! Then me!" I cried, "What if I drown?" To which she replied "If you can do the doggie you can't drown. I'm a lifeguard fer Pete's sake she said. Nothing can go wrong." ( We never knew who Pete was ). We both jumped almost in unison with my brother landing next to me. We spent all day in the deep area. My brother even attempted a dive, doing such a loud belly flop everyone came running to check on him. He paddled away, "I'm alright, I'm alright. Just sore." That summer you couldn't keep us away. We became paper pickers, got free admission, and went every morning, walked home for lunch, returning to swim until early evening closing time. Needless to say that was back in the early 60's and we were never again so tanned. Luckily marriage and work stopped us as we weren't as worried back then of the skin cancer problem. There is nothing greater than conquering fear.
15
What a brilliant piece of work. I was cheering so hard for some of them, willing them to take that step.
14
I once had access to a 10 meter platform for a whole day when I was a teenager, and to my everlasting regret I chickened out. It's really high! (I did jump a couple of times from the 7 meter platform though, so that's something).
5
About 10 years old, visiting cousins who belonged to a pool with a high dive (maybe the height of the lowest on this film). I could do a flip off the low dive without any trouble, and could dive off the high dive. But I couldn't get up the nerve to flip off the high dive. Time after time, I'd wait my turn, get to the top of the high dive, take a running start -- and dive. By the end of the day, it had become a joke with the lifeguard and me, and of course I wanted to impress him, but was too frightened. Finally, closing time came, and he said "one last time." But he was distracted, moving pool furniture etc., and most people had headed to the locker rooms. And that somehow helped. But, somehow I got the idea that since the board was so high, I wouldn't have to have any spring. I stood on the end of the board, and just flipped over....
Of course, I hit the water flat on my back. I still remember what it felt like, being underwater, burning from the top of my head to my ankles, the wind knocked out of my lungs, thinking I was going to die.
But such was the desire to avoid shame, I made sure the lifeguard didn't know I'd about killed myself. And I don't think I ever did a flip off a diving board again, high or low.
Of course, I hit the water flat on my back. I still remember what it felt like, being underwater, burning from the top of my head to my ankles, the wind knocked out of my lungs, thinking I was going to die.
But such was the desire to avoid shame, I made sure the lifeguard didn't know I'd about killed myself. And I don't think I ever did a flip off a diving board again, high or low.
6
As an ER doc, this video made me angry.
You can get badly hurt jumping off this platform! Some experts believe that you can reach speeds of up to 40 mph diving from a 10- meter board ... For a 10-meter platform, the water should be 16 feet deep.
One could black out from hyperventilation--fear...fall and strike one’s head on platform.
Sorry it was stupid and potentially dangerous. They used to require this at Annapolis Naval Academy-no more!
You say “chicken out?” I say “Retreat and show you are smart!”
The two most common words before dying:
“Watch this!”
or
“Hold my beer. Watch this!”
You can get badly hurt jumping off this platform! Some experts believe that you can reach speeds of up to 40 mph diving from a 10- meter board ... For a 10-meter platform, the water should be 16 feet deep.
One could black out from hyperventilation--fear...fall and strike one’s head on platform.
Sorry it was stupid and potentially dangerous. They used to require this at Annapolis Naval Academy-no more!
You say “chicken out?” I say “Retreat and show you are smart!”
The two most common words before dying:
“Watch this!”
or
“Hold my beer. Watch this!”
31
live long, but no glory (or fun?)
As Midshipmen at the U. S. Naval Academy in 1960, we had to jump off a 30 foot tower to simulate abandoning a disabled ship.
I was not a particularly good swimmer, much less a diver while my roommate was excellent at both. When I got to the top of the rope ladder I quickly walked to the edge of the tower, crossed my legs and jumped. I forgot to close my mouth and ripped my frenum but no real damage.
My roommate refused to simply jump and insisted on diving. His request was denied because a dive in an emergency could result in a broken neck or other serious injuries. So he was instructed to simply jump or climb back down the ladder. Back down the ladder he went and did so several more times until he was finally given a direct order to jump, at which time he finally obeyed.
We all have our little demons somewhere.
[email protected]
I was not a particularly good swimmer, much less a diver while my roommate was excellent at both. When I got to the top of the rope ladder I quickly walked to the edge of the tower, crossed my legs and jumped. I forgot to close my mouth and ripped my frenum but no real damage.
My roommate refused to simply jump and insisted on diving. His request was denied because a dive in an emergency could result in a broken neck or other serious injuries. So he was instructed to simply jump or climb back down the ladder. Back down the ladder he went and did so several more times until he was finally given a direct order to jump, at which time he finally obeyed.
We all have our little demons somewhere.
[email protected]
6
Humans are just so beautiful!
8
It's easier to do a back flip like the last diver or 1 1/2 forward flip than to jump. I was a diver in college and have never jumped from the 10M. Land wrong and you will be bruised. I always thought it was stupid torture the way the ROTC would jump in their boots from the 10 meter every year. No training on how to land, bloody noses and all. Seemed more an exercise of peer pressure than bravery.
2
I needed to jump, clothed, from a 5 m tower to qualify for a lifesaving course about thirty years ago. Going up, I wasn't scared, but standing at the edge, my knees literally were shaking-- until then I thought it was a joke when I'd seen it in cartoons. Finally, I just went for it. But that was the last time.
4
Fascinating!
4
Was so worried that last back flip was going to turn into a very painful back flop!!!
3
Fascinating. I know it's perfectly safe to do, but even though I swim all the time, I'm afraid even to jump into to a pool from the deck or dive off a starting block. It's completely irrational, but apparently not uncommon.
5
Dear MV,
Ah, but of course, it's not perfectly safe to do. Just ask Greg Lougainis, the Olympian diver who managed to smash his head on the platform while diving off. And of course diving too deep can smash your head into the pool bottom. The height causes danger too, those shots of two people going off at once were pretty dangerous, for if one landed on top of the other, bones would be broken.
Ah, but of course, it's not perfectly safe to do. Just ask Greg Lougainis, the Olympian diver who managed to smash his head on the platform while diving off. And of course diving too deep can smash your head into the pool bottom. The height causes danger too, those shots of two people going off at once were pretty dangerous, for if one landed on top of the other, bones would be broken.
That was thoroughly enjoyable to watch! Particularly when two friends were on the platform.
10
From that height you would hit the water at a speed of about
14 meters /second.
An inexperienced diver might only rotate 90 degrees and hit the water with his body horizontal. That would really be very painful.
There is a difference between being safe and "chickening out".
When I took a mandatory swimming class in college we were supposed to dive off a 3 meter board. I couldn't do it. The teacher called me names but I didn't care. The person ahead of me had hit flat and did not look very good after his failed dive..
I was a "chicken" and jumped feet first and was spared that painful experience.
I don't know what this psychological experiment is supposed to prove if anything.
14 meters /second.
An inexperienced diver might only rotate 90 degrees and hit the water with his body horizontal. That would really be very painful.
There is a difference between being safe and "chickening out".
When I took a mandatory swimming class in college we were supposed to dive off a 3 meter board. I couldn't do it. The teacher called me names but I didn't care. The person ahead of me had hit flat and did not look very good after his failed dive..
I was a "chicken" and jumped feet first and was spared that painful experience.
I don't know what this psychological experiment is supposed to prove if anything.
14
10 meters was said to be the crucial height for Army Airborne training. I made the jump twice at the Michigan State University Pool while in a mandatory ROTC class (this was 1964). It cured me of any desire to be a paratrooper or a soldier of any kind.
24
David Winn: I probably jumped off the same 10 meter tower you did at MSU. But I was taking the beginning swimming/water safety course taught by Coach McCaffree and not the ROTC course.
That jump was quite an experience. It was a life changing event because from that point onward, I understood that with proper preparation, there is nothing I couldn't overcome. And that was true for so many other students in that class.
Thank you, Coach McCaffree.
That jump was quite an experience. It was a life changing event because from that point onward, I understood that with proper preparation, there is nothing I couldn't overcome. And that was true for so many other students in that class.
Thank you, Coach McCaffree.
1
its higher than it looks because you are seeing all the way down to the bottom of the pool. for those of us who are military pilots required to take water survival training this is a tri-annual ritual (not quite 10 meters but close) taken in a flight suit and boots.
7
In Navy boot camp, we had to jump. It was in anticipation of having to jump off a carrier deck if you had to abandon ship.
8
Right. How are you going to jump 60-70 feet off the carrier deck if you can't do 40 feet?
You don't get out of boot camp unless you make the jump, Afterwards you have to tread water for 15 minutes.
There was a diver nearby and under the water to grab you if you panicked.
Warning! Do not flounder and grab the diver. He'll knock you out if he has to.
You don't get out of boot camp unless you make the jump, Afterwards you have to tread water for 15 minutes.
There was a diver nearby and under the water to grab you if you panicked.
Warning! Do not flounder and grab the diver. He'll knock you out if he has to.
1
I don't know why but this video was completely riveting.
118
Yes it was. Could literally hear and feel the internal dialogues...
Id jump. Id have to walk off the end...no pause, no look...eyes ahead...
Id jump. Id have to walk off the end...no pause, no look...eyes ahead...
2
I used to be a diver, but now I am riven with anxiety disorders, particularly vertigo and claustrophobia. I blame law school.
53
Try an SSRI. Some can alleviate fear of heights.
Dang, me too, cept the law school!
All excellent examples of dopamine-induced behaviors including the financial inducement to participate in the experiment, the natural fears that kept many from taking the plunge, and the need for approval that convinced some (or many) to overcome their fears of danger in order to gratify craving for approval and avoid more threatening fears about being mocked for backing out.
DopamineProject.org
DopamineProject.org
3
When going to Navy OCS in Newport RI, I was lucky and got assigned to the swimming pool - great place to avoid gigs.
It was our job to teach officer candidates how to swim if they could not and then they had to jump off a 3 meter tower into the pool.
At the time there were very few black officers in the Navy and even fewer in the Marines. We had a black OC who could not swim so I showed him how to swim the length or the pool by holding his breath and going face down.
Told Chief Journigan, formerly in the UDT, to get the Captain back pointed to the tower while the black OC and I was on the tower. Told the black OC what I was going to do - he got a big smile and nodded his head yes. If he didn't jump he would spend 6 months on one of the ships in Newport as an E-1 with permanent mess duty.
It worked and everybody was happy.
When at sea on occasion we would anchor for swim call and the sailors would do a sailors dive from 15 meters - that is diving head first with hands down to the side and then swimming under the ship.
We did lots of man overboard drills and once some idiot on the motor whaleboar pulled the hook release and 8 guys were MOB and the idiot got permanent mess duty.
FDR said it best - all we have to fear is fear itself.
It was our job to teach officer candidates how to swim if they could not and then they had to jump off a 3 meter tower into the pool.
At the time there were very few black officers in the Navy and even fewer in the Marines. We had a black OC who could not swim so I showed him how to swim the length or the pool by holding his breath and going face down.
Told Chief Journigan, formerly in the UDT, to get the Captain back pointed to the tower while the black OC and I was on the tower. Told the black OC what I was going to do - he got a big smile and nodded his head yes. If he didn't jump he would spend 6 months on one of the ships in Newport as an E-1 with permanent mess duty.
It worked and everybody was happy.
When at sea on occasion we would anchor for swim call and the sailors would do a sailors dive from 15 meters - that is diving head first with hands down to the side and then swimming under the ship.
We did lots of man overboard drills and once some idiot on the motor whaleboar pulled the hook release and 8 guys were MOB and the idiot got permanent mess duty.
FDR said it best - all we have to fear is fear itself.
3
Navy boot camp's swim class was predominately Black attendance. I could see the city boys not knowing how to swim but no the ones who lived near the water.
Many of the drownings here in the Summer are Black people who go fishing from a boat not knowing how to swim and not at least wearing a life jacket. Even when they go with others it's found that the others can't swim either.
Many of the drownings here in the Summer are Black people who go fishing from a boat not knowing how to swim and not at least wearing a life jacket. Even when they go with others it's found that the others can't swim either.
When I was a boy there were public swimming pools in Alameda that had ten meter towers. We would dive from them frequently. Then while in High school I would dive from the tower at the men's gym at UC Berkeley.
I competed on the three meter board. Today diving boards are hard to find, due to lawsuit by people that hurt themselves, and lawyers who saw an opportunity to cash in. I would not dive off one today as I have a replacement shoulder due to skiing accidents and would worry about dislocating it as it is much weaker than the original one.
The trick is to dive and stay flat then slowly rotate head down arms close together to break the force on the head, and go in head first. The more vertical you are the smoother the entry.
I competed on the three meter board. Today diving boards are hard to find, due to lawsuit by people that hurt themselves, and lawyers who saw an opportunity to cash in. I would not dive off one today as I have a replacement shoulder due to skiing accidents and would worry about dislocating it as it is much weaker than the original one.
The trick is to dive and stay flat then slowly rotate head down arms close together to break the force on the head, and go in head first. The more vertical you are the smoother the entry.
3
Swimming and diving all my life and ten meters is still pretty high.
19
Okay, gang, play with your tech toys and pretend you're living in modern civilization when we're still measuring human worth--and don't tell me those who back out don't get judged--by daring people to take frightening, potentially dangerous physical risks. (We're not told how deep the pool is; it seems only fair to tell the participants, unless the depth is marked a lot more clearly than the video shows. I also wonder how cold the water was.) It would be horrible to see someone suffer a stroke or panic attack (which conceivably would restrict the breathing, increasing the odds of drowning once in the water) on the way down.
I have to admit, though, it would have been great to see one healthy show-off executing a graceful swan dive. Only the last jumper did so with any pizazz. Or if someone removed their swimsuit just before taking the plunge--not for titillation's sake, mind you; just if you're going to go primitive, you might as well go all the way.
I have to admit, though, it would have been great to see one healthy show-off executing a graceful swan dive. Only the last jumper did so with any pizazz. Or if someone removed their swimsuit just before taking the plunge--not for titillation's sake, mind you; just if you're going to go primitive, you might as well go all the way.
1
I did jump from the 10 meter board. No one gave me $30 and there were no cameras. No one dared me. I just went up there and, just like that youngster, I did not stand around assessing the height or depth or consequences. I took a run and yelled my lungs out all the way down. I survived. I was 10 at the time and did not repeat that act of lunacy ever again. I am 78 now and still remember the rush.
So does age have anything to do with the impulse? What does the study show?
So does age have anything to do with the impulse? What does the study show?
67
hi i just wrote a similar thing. Did it once, would never do it again, and it remains a high point in my life ( i am 64)
Since I have fallen from fairly good heights, several times in my life, and nearly fractured my skull in the process, I would chicken out. When I was young, I was fearless. Experience will change that.
16
You sound like my Dad. When he was 16 he fell off a cliff in Virginia and fractured his skull. He was a lot more careful after that.
Oh I dunno, I've rollerbladed since 1989. Got dragged behind a bus once for severe lacerations, been hit full on by cars at least five times, thrown quite a distance on a couple of those impacts. Broke my right radial wristbone and my left fourth metacarpal on two side-view mirrors.
And after all that, I still rollerblade in traffic. I think experience didn't slow me down because I always survived relatively unscathed.
And after all that, I still rollerblade in traffic. I think experience didn't slow me down because I always survived relatively unscathed.
Way back when I was in Navy bootcamp. Part of the training was how to jump off the deck of a ship (should it be on fire or sinking). We had to jump off a 30 meter platform for practice though, in fact, decks of Navy ships can be twice as high. The secret we were given, and which no one in the video followed, was to stare at the horizon. Looking down tends to rotate the body forward. You don't want to belly flop from that height.
We were also taught how to create a flotation device from a pair of Navy bellbottoms but that's another story.
We were also taught how to create a flotation device from a pair of Navy bellbottoms but that's another story.
33
Oh the memeories of that training day!
2
A belly flop from that height can cause internal injury.
1
I'd like to hear that bellbottoms story.
Loved it! I found myself shrugging my toes in anticipation of what participants would do. I totally loved the lady who started climbing down and then comes back up, good for her!
20
jumping under coercion is now bravery? bravery is saying this is not right for me no matter how many people are watching/waiting and then turning around to walk away..something some unnamed here members of congress might try to learn.
13
I did this when I was 15. I did a swan dive....not because I was brave or wanted to face my fears. I wanted to feel free. I had an abusive home situation and used to dream about flying. So I did. Unfortunately, when you land, you are back on the same earth you left. But for those moments from the platform to the water, I knew nirvana.
61
@MountainDragonfly If there's any chance you can find a Master's Diving team or course I'd highly recommend it. I took it up in my fifties and it has been wonderful. One of my favourite moments is a Layout (swan dive) off the three meter board. For just a moment you aren't going up or down and it feels like flying/nirvana. You can have that feeling again and it will be well worth it. Good luck.
1
I was taken by the young girl near the first of the film. With a simple, "All-righty, let's do this" she is off. Doesn't stand on the edge looking down, obsessing with the height or the danger (she may have previously done so but the film doesn't show it). it's as if she knew he could do it and also knew she could, if allowing herself to do so, chicken out. She focused, didn't let the thoughts of failure take their toll.
37
Three families. 6 adults, 8 kids. On vacation. One family rented a houseboat. When I went to inspect the houseboat, the kids begged me to jump off. I asked "why me and not the other adults?" Best compliment: "because you're the fun one!" Of course with that, I did it. Not this high, but for a woman in her late 40s at the time, the fall seemed to last forever. No repeats from me. The kids did it all afternoon. Great mini-movie!
7
I have mild vertigo, so I think it would be easier to jump than to climb back down the ladder.
23
A great documentary to watch. Such a study of human behaviour. I can sympathise with those who backed out but I'm reasonably confident that I would have jumped. I've been in that situation on a number of occasions, including military parachuting and the knowledge that I will feel so bad if I don't jump overcomes the fear of jumping. Knowing that you will feel so much better after taking the plunge and once again overcoming a fear is also a motivating factor. I think my approach would be a quick glance over the edge and then a run from the back. I am also confident that I would be screaming all the way down.
2
Part of Navy swim qualification included the 10 meter "abandon ship" jump. We were taught form: arms grasp shoulders, tuck chin in elbows, cross ankles, look down for clearance, look at the horizon and step off. The sequence was briefly practiced and everyone went. I remember it being a sloooow motion drop - at least for me.
Most of these people appear to have had no training, thus exposing themselves to injury. Their jumps were an UN-necessary risk and balking (or at least pausing) was a rational response. Now - had the back of the platform been on fire ....
So, do you take risks that are not needed? The insurance industry has a word for that.
Most of these people appear to have had no training, thus exposing themselves to injury. Their jumps were an UN-necessary risk and balking (or at least pausing) was a rational response. Now - had the back of the platform been on fire ....
So, do you take risks that are not needed? The insurance industry has a word for that.
13
risks that are not needed? I think that's called "Fun" in some languages.
Set up. Paid participation. Not a documentary. Reality television for the effete.
Not a set up. Pure unpaid participation. I know for sure. Why being such a d-bag when you know nothing about it?
4
Masse, they don't hide that it was a set up situation and that they paid them, it's right there in the article.
"It was important for us not to conceal the fact that this was an arranged situation, and thus we chose to show the microphones within the frame. "
"We paid each of them the equivalent of about $30 to participate. "
"It was important for us not to conceal the fact that this was an arranged situation, and thus we chose to show the microphones within the frame. "
"We paid each of them the equivalent of about $30 to participate. "
2
The article says they were paid: "We paid each of them the equivalent of about $30 to participate — which meant climbing up to the diving board and walking to its edge."
Not that it detracted from the video; it was enjoyable nonetheless.
Not that it detracted from the video; it was enjoyable nonetheless.
2
Great piece on human nature. Was the $30 a tactic just to get people to show up? Can't imagine that amount of money would have had any influence on their decision.
Want to see what else you've done.
Want to see what else you've done.
1
Hmmm. No comments from people who got hurt being similarly foolhardy?
3
I think there are a couple here now, but what the heck, here's another. Rollerblading around I came to a long 25 degree hill with a right angle turn at the bottom, and decided to skate down it as fast as I could. Nobody around or anything, just wanted to see how fast I could get. Wound up being very fast indeed, too fast to make that turn at the bottom, and I wiped out, tearing myself up a lot, particularly my right elbow.
Made it worse by trying to apply first aid myself, despite a flap of skin hanging off; thought the skin would reattach. Instead it died, and I smelled and felt what was probably gangrene a couple days later. Went to the ER, got a heck of a lecture and some surgery from the doc, and I've got a 2" by 1" scar on my elbow forever now.
Still I lucked out, could have gotten paralyzed instead with that wipeout. So yeah, taking risks does not always work out well.
Made it worse by trying to apply first aid myself, despite a flap of skin hanging off; thought the skin would reattach. Instead it died, and I smelled and felt what was probably gangrene a couple days later. Went to the ER, got a heck of a lecture and some surgery from the doc, and I've got a 2" by 1" scar on my elbow forever now.
Still I lucked out, could have gotten paralyzed instead with that wipeout. So yeah, taking risks does not always work out well.
I loved that! It was such a good "test," because once you commit, you cannot take it back. You either jump or you don't. There's no halfway.
I'd love to know how many people wanted to jump again after their first time.
I'd love to know how many people wanted to jump again after their first time.
9
When I was a kid, starting at about 8 years old, there was a 10 meter tower at Wakulla Springs park in Florida. Every year, at the beginning of summer, I would go to the top and generate the courage to jump. It often took 15 or more minutes, even though I'd done it dozens of times before. After the first jump, I would go again and again, as quickly as I could climb back up. It *IS* a long way down, but for one brief moment you're flying!
2
Very clever. A study in human decision making, courage, and the decision to fight another day. Can't blame anyone for their decision, but you can praise those who decide to jump.
For an added twist, an added incentive? A child drowning below? Clever, clever filmmakers.
For an added twist, an added incentive? A child drowning below? Clever, clever filmmakers.
What transcends culture and origins are personality traits and temperaments. The Big Five personality traits of openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism have shaped us through the ages. Not all of us are brave and not all of us are able to overcome cautiousness. Some of us lack sufficient cautiousness and are prone to impulsive decisions and actions that bring harm to ourselves and to others. I think that we are seeing an example of this in the White House.
6
This is a gorgeous, intensely humane film. Thank you.
14
I did this jump, in 1953, when I was 11. I went feet first (altho I often went head first off 3m board). Never again! 30m is a hellovah jump...and I was young and flexible and all that.
Maybe the 'real' test is, will anyone do it "twice"?
Maybe the 'real' test is, will anyone do it "twice"?
1
Fantastic insight. When you come to the cliff's edge, do you just jump or do you always look down first to make sure there is a net to catch you? What of those self defeating fears?
Loved this! Made me weak in the knees watching it!
5
10 M is very, very high. Especially when you stand up there waiting a while and the water grows increasingly clear so that when you peer down you are really seeing the bottom of the pool.
Very interesting video! Wonderful people watching!
Very interesting video! Wonderful people watching!
5
Exquisitely ENGROSSING!
Magnificently inventive......
I do not know that it tells us anything new about the human condition.....Even in the "simplest" of challenges, so many of us will cower, many LESS will do.......alas, the power of "the crowd", our own humiliation at our cowardice will be the principle motivator in so many decisions we take in life---especially like this, where there is enough pressure from the outside.
I ask the creators: would it all have changed if the place was filled to capacity?.....Aaah! now that's a question to ask....
By the way, my suspicion is that the last person is a "professional" or at least one with experience enough. She showed a grace that no other could or did.....Still, marvelously enjoyable.....THANK YOU!
Magnificently inventive......
I do not know that it tells us anything new about the human condition.....Even in the "simplest" of challenges, so many of us will cower, many LESS will do.......alas, the power of "the crowd", our own humiliation at our cowardice will be the principle motivator in so many decisions we take in life---especially like this, where there is enough pressure from the outside.
I ask the creators: would it all have changed if the place was filled to capacity?.....Aaah! now that's a question to ask....
By the way, my suspicion is that the last person is a "professional" or at least one with experience enough. She showed a grace that no other could or did.....Still, marvelously enjoyable.....THANK YOU!
1
1
Did anyone get hurt?
4
I loved this!!
2
Watching Linus and Frida on top of the tower is by far the best thing I have seen all week. Love conquers all! Go Linus ! go Frida!
16
If you offered 100 dollars to jump your rate would climb to 90 percent!
1
Surprisingly compelling. Thank you!
4
I love this quote:
"Bravery is being the only one who knows you're afraid.'
-- Franklin P. Jones
And this:
"Bravery is the engine of change."
--Aisha Tyler
"Bravery is being the only one who knows you're afraid.'
-- Franklin P. Jones
And this:
"Bravery is the engine of change."
--Aisha Tyler
5
Now this is real!
3
Yeah !
Don't defund the arts !!!
Don't defund the arts !!!
38
Would love to see the demographics of who did and who didn't.
6
Absolutely grand!! I recognize all of those emotions. Kudos to the backflip
22
Ten Meter Tower jump is a graduation requirement at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis. I've always wondered if exchange cadets from West Point and US Air Force Academy climb back down the ladder...
17
We sponsored several midshipmen who really had trouble with this.
3
Watching this is making my palms sweat.
4
Making this film seems a bit reckless. People can get hurt diving from 10 meters.
3
Wonderful
4
In my home town, there were granite quarries that were filled with water. You could jump from ledges anywhere up to 90 feet. The place was the nightmare of every mother in town. Lots of us drank and every year someone died -- almost always someone who drank too much. Anyway, the quarries attracted folks who did not discuss the challenge. The decision was made before you reached the ledge. Nobody turned back. This is a very different situation -- whether you jump or not doesn't matter that much. If you're somewhere where everybody jumps, you will, too.
3
What a great piece. I love watching the true angst as people try to screw up their courage to jump.
5
I remember sneaking up to the 10 meter height when I was about age 8, when lifeguard was not looking, at a large outdoor public pool (dive boards since closed).
The going down was ok (cannonball), but you go in pretty deep, and feeling panicky about getting ALL the way to the surface again, so far above--maybe 12-15 feet?
The going down was ok (cannonball), but you go in pretty deep, and feeling panicky about getting ALL the way to the surface again, so far above--maybe 12-15 feet?
4
Those people were jumping into the 6-7 foot level.
From the underwater shots, I think you mean the depth looks more like 6-7 meters, not feet. Minimum depth for a regulation size Olympic 10 meter diving platform is 5 meters (16 feet, 5 inches.) I hope the water was heated. The prospect of cold water would add to my anxiety.
1
The pool is 4,8 m deep, and the temperature is 26 °C
(Sources: Valhallabadet's webpage, and the Wikipedia page "Valhallabadet")
(Sources: Valhallabadet's webpage, and the Wikipedia page "Valhallabadet")
Being in my bathing suit in the New York Times would be even scarier than a 10-meter jump.
139
I wish some of those large ladies in too-tiny bikinis had shared your fear. Yikes.
1
Simple cure - do it skyclad (naked).
So glad that other cultures are less into body-shaming than we are.
7
Makes me want to re-watch Bergman.
1
Very interesting! I wonder what percentage of people said they were going to jump before going up -- everybody? I know when I watch this, I say to myself, "of course I would jump." But you can never know until you do it!
2
Who was that last woman? What a character she most be! I didn't think I'd watch the whole think but it was oddly mesmerising.
40
Who was that last woman? Judging by her swimsuit and the way she came off the board, rotated, and entered the water: a competitive diver.
It seems very unlikely that was someone going off a diving platform for the first time in her life.
It seems very unlikely that was someone going off a diving platform for the first time in her life.
Check the film credits and note that the last named participant is: Elin Astrom.
Then check the Swedish diving team Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=354013541329747&id...
Lo and behold, they list an Elin Astrom, too.
Then check the Swedish diving team Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=354013541329747&id...
Lo and behold, they list an Elin Astrom, too.
3
I'd have to be scared into jumping, like if Steve Bannon were standing behind me.
115
Elliot Silberberg, thank you for your brilliant comment. I just spit my tea all over my screen!
Excellent portrait of fear and overcoming it. A perfect 10!
4
Susan--There are my OTHER ways I would still be willing to display the overcoming of fear. I would give my life for this country, for instance. There would have to be something, I love, at stake.
5
Bravo. Sometimes I get a great notion to jump in the river and live.
2
Fascinating! My heart was in my throat the whole time. I've stood on such precipices, and have been reduced to quivering terror just like these people. That fear of heights is built into our DNA.
5
It's not the fear of heights in our DNA it falling. Watch a new born baby as you take support from it. It instinctively reaches out and grabs with its tiny hand even at one day old.
In addition to the fear of falling we are born with a fear of loud noises,the desire to suckle and the ability to walk. Hold a newborn so that his feet are on the ground and he will start moving his legs to walk.
The fear of heights starts at about the time we start crawling and exploring.
The fear of heights starts at about the time we start crawling and exploring.
I have done this. In college my friend Ravi spoke once of jumping off the 10-meter. It sounded like fun, so we went late one night, jumped the fence to the pool in the park, beautiful evening, silence of distant traffic with no one around.
He jumped first, a running dash for the entire platform length. I watched from the poolside. He kept "running" as he was falling--his arms & legs never stopped moving. It was clear he really enjoyed this type of thing. I got up there, and yes, it looks far, far higher to the uninitiated once one is standing on the platform. We are not used to seeing such things sans safety barrier, and so the heart starts pumping. It did not seem like a good idea after all. I was very hesitant for about a half-minute or so (I think), and if Ravi was not already accomplished and cheering I probably would have chickened out.
Instead of a long run, I committed, took a couple of launching steps and pushed out as far as I could from the edge of the platform and suddenly found my arms and legs flailing wildly. I was looking down toward the water for most of the fall, my eyes probably bigger than they had ever been before or since. The splash hurt, water in the nose, but it was worth the sense of accomplishment. I am glad I did it. It was a vivid, thrilling, fun moment--one that will never be erased from my memory. ...But, I don't think I'll ever do it again. I watched Ravi jump a couple more times, and then we bailed before we were found out.
He jumped first, a running dash for the entire platform length. I watched from the poolside. He kept "running" as he was falling--his arms & legs never stopped moving. It was clear he really enjoyed this type of thing. I got up there, and yes, it looks far, far higher to the uninitiated once one is standing on the platform. We are not used to seeing such things sans safety barrier, and so the heart starts pumping. It did not seem like a good idea after all. I was very hesitant for about a half-minute or so (I think), and if Ravi was not already accomplished and cheering I probably would have chickened out.
Instead of a long run, I committed, took a couple of launching steps and pushed out as far as I could from the edge of the platform and suddenly found my arms and legs flailing wildly. I was looking down toward the water for most of the fall, my eyes probably bigger than they had ever been before or since. The splash hurt, water in the nose, but it was worth the sense of accomplishment. I am glad I did it. It was a vivid, thrilling, fun moment--one that will never be erased from my memory. ...But, I don't think I'll ever do it again. I watched Ravi jump a couple more times, and then we bailed before we were found out.
8
I was on a cliff in Curacao roughly the same height where the dutch military were jumping off. My girl friend liked jumping from heights into water. I was tempted for five minutes and suspect that my behaviors echoed some of those seen here. In the end my girl friend went, loved it, didn't lose her bikini. I chickened out. Great vid. thanks.
5
When I was 6 we moved back to the states into a neighborhood with a community pool. Parents refused to let me go there until I passed the swimming instruction. Graduation was a jump off the "high dive" - probably a 5 meter. It just well could have been a hundred, I was so terrified. But, on my third walk to the edge I just kept walking. Glad no one was filming.
5
Great little film.
I feel the fear just thinking about jumping off a board 33 feet over the water. I'm pretty sure I'd end up skulking back down the ladder.
I feel the fear just thinking about jumping off a board 33 feet over the water. I'm pretty sure I'd end up skulking back down the ladder.
3
Ten meters is 39.4 feet not 33 feet.
You'll have to redo your maths. It is actually 32,808399 feet.
2
Bad calculating. It's not 39.4 feet.
A remarkable set of responses to conflicting impulses. Millions of years of evolution say “no;” the mind and spirit say “yes, I can.”
We all go through this every day, in a hundred different ways. It’s time to pick up your protest sign, and jump off that board.
We all go through this every day, in a hundred different ways. It’s time to pick up your protest sign, and jump off that board.
34
A million years of evolution is why we are alive today.
As I watched this, I could feel the adrenalin pumping through me even though i was sitting in front of my computer. Watching this video made me realize , in a most palpable way, that some of the fears I've had recently need only be assuaged by 'jumping in', and the Ten Meter diving board serves as a great visual metaphor.
3
Mesmerizing. I'm sorry it ended. When I was a teenager in Hopewell, New Jersey there was a swimming hole in a old stone quarry. I jumped from a high stone ledge that must have been equally high. This brought it all back. As I 60 year old I'd do it again if the opportunity arose.
3
The most compelling thing that I have watched in at least a year. Edge of my seat for each decision.
28
In 1984 during freshman orientation at Dartmouth College we were required to pass a swim test. Afterwards, under peer pressure, many of us jumped off the 10 meter platform. It was fun!
3
I can easily imagine diving from a 10 meter platform. I have done a sunstantial amount of mountain climbing, rappelling, etc., and handled that okay once I overcame my initial fears.
However, there is one endeavor that I can't imagine doing: ski jumping. Once at Lake Placid I stood at the top on the lower skI jump. It would take an awful, immediate threat to my or my familiy's life to find the naked courage to leap off a skI jump.
So stick that in your study and jump off a cliff with or without a parachute--without your foreknowledge, of course.
However, there is one endeavor that I can't imagine doing: ski jumping. Once at Lake Placid I stood at the top on the lower skI jump. It would take an awful, immediate threat to my or my familiy's life to find the naked courage to leap off a skI jump.
So stick that in your study and jump off a cliff with or without a parachute--without your foreknowledge, of course.
3
A fascinating study into human behavior. The head vs. the heart.
4
Great! I lost a bet and jumped, but had many of the doubts and fears shown in the video.
3
How wonderful to watch the range of emotion and human interaction as people attempt to master their fears and encourage one another jump.
Thank you for this wonderful snapshot of the hopes and trepidations which make us human.
Thank you for this wonderful snapshot of the hopes and trepidations which make us human.
13
The best ones are the ones with pairs. I love the negotiating they do back and forth, and their rationales for why they should or shouldn't jump. This was a great distraction on a terrible news day. I was surprised at how quickly the 16 minutes went by watching it.
25
Years ago, when I was in college fooling around in the pool, just for kicks I climbed to the top of the 10 meter platform. From up there it felt like the water was very, very far down and I might as well have been 100 meters up. Luckily there wasn't much peer pressure, and even though there were small kids jumping from both the 10 and the 3 meter platforms, I didn't have it in me to do it.... I can sympathize with the folks in the video.
3
A lot of it is where you focus. Look at the people who succeed in jumping (diving). They don't dwell on the fall. They concentrate on jumping well. It isn't courage. It is focusing on execution. The human mind can't focus on both executing well and the fear of falling.
10
I feel sorry for the ones who chickened out. Not because I don't sympathize -- it really is scary as hell, the first time -- but because it such a thrill when you actually do it, and it really isn't dangerous.
Diving from that height, on the other hand, that really can hurt. That final shot, of the young woman doing a backward half-somersault, that was intense just to watch. Wow. :-)
Diving from that height, on the other hand, that really can hurt. That final shot, of the young woman doing a backward half-somersault, that was intense just to watch. Wow. :-)
15
And it required her to know what she was doing. Head first, without proper technique, can snap your neck, leading to death or disablement.
In the end I was glad to see her flip to feet first. A very few people have been known to fall from great heights (135 ft+, Brooklyn Bridge) into water and survive, though often with broken ankles or legs, or spinal injuries.
Good reasons to be trepidatious in this endeavor!
In the end I was glad to see her flip to feet first. A very few people have been known to fall from great heights (135 ft+, Brooklyn Bridge) into water and survive, though often with broken ankles or legs, or spinal injuries.
Good reasons to be trepidatious in this endeavor!
3
So well done. I felt up there with them. I'd like to think I would jump.
1
In my early twenties I faced such a choice. I went swimming at a quarry in Northern New Jersey with my younger brother and his best friend. I had been diving from 30-40 foot cliffs regularly at that point, but we found ourselves climbing to a 100 foot spot. His best friend went with no hesitation and my brother right behind. The only reason I dove was my unwillingness to back down to something my brother had done. I dove and lost control, landing flat on my back. I hit the water with so much force that the button and fly on my cutoffs were torn off. When I got out of the water my pants fell down. I was near to passing out and spitting up blood. As they helped me to the car, the police started to raid the illegal swimming hole, took one look at me and shook their heads, walking by. I spit blood for two weeks but had no other lasting effects. That is, until a couple years ago, when I visited my brother's friend in the town that he has been a teacher in for 30 years. I discovered that everyone he had taught over that time knew who I was. From that story...
26
Wow. So fun to watch the indecision, and the complete lack of visible fanfare when someone decides to do it. Happens almost unexpectedly to the observer, but not the diver. Some years ago my wife, son and I joined some friends on a hike in upstate NY that led to a waterfall with a deep, dark pool at the base. Local kids were jumping off of two ledges on the cliff that formed the falls - one at about 15 feet, the other at 25. My son and I jumped the 15, no problem. The 25 was scary and we both said no way. My wife, whose brothers flew fighter jets in Desert Storm, scrambled up the cliff, walked out onto the high ledge, and jumped. No fear, no hesitation. She got out of the water and said it was "easy." Right. Everyone cheered and then looked at me. I had no choice but to climb to the higher ledge and jump. So I did.
39
This is priceless! You capture perfectly an approach-avoidance conflict phenomenon whereby approximation to the feared but desired target increases anxiety/avoidance, and retreat from the target releases anxiety and allows people to switch back to the approach mode. Pretty cool!
8
As a fifteen year old I found myself, with my baseball team, in the Olympic pool from Berlin's 1936 Olympics. I climbed to the 30 meter platform and stood looking out over the water while my teammates yelled "Jump, Jump". None of them thought I would. I dove and entered the water with a small splash. This still stands as one of my teenage accomplishments that I am most proud of, not allowing fear to keep me from accomplishing what I wanted. Of course, I was too young to consider that I could have broken my back.
3
We jumped and dived of these all the time in Germany, even as young teenage boys, it was so much fun.
1
I haven't thought of doing such a jump since I was a university student, where a brand-new outdoor pool with tower had just opened.
3
Fantastic!
33
What happened to the little girl, who with courage, jumped early on in the video?
It's not nice to leave us hanging as to her safety>
It's not nice to leave us hanging as to her safety>
22
She obviously was perfectly fine!!!!
6
You needn't worry: a 10 meter jump into a nice deep end, is not very dangerous. You have to land VERY badly in order to actually hurt yourself. Its quite fun once you've done it a couple of times!!
10
No one was injured what-so-ever in the making of this film clip!!!
2