[mootothemax]

What it is about our minds that make it so easy to imagine being up there, on the ledge, looking down, maybe with one foot over... and my palms are sweating heavily already.

It's a bit like having a child; I now spend nights worrying about the most ridiculous events that could happen to my daughter.

Why do our brains like to torture us like this?

[anigbrowl]

Because 99.9% of the time those inbuilt reflexes are what keep you and others alive; people who don't have them get Darwin awards.

I was glad to see they used safety equipment, especially since they were working with non-professionals, but I was annoyed that they didn't mention it in the article and played it down in preference of the breathless self-affirming schtick. Safety protocols matter, because they're what makes the difference between everyone going home after having done something difficult and had a life affirming experience, and going home with PTSD or not going home at all.

The photographer standing on the corner of the building with no safety so he can take a selfie? Fuck him. Doing that on your own or with similarly risk-tolerant friends? OK, enjoy your dangerous hobby, I can appreciate your enjoyment of it as a spectator and relate indirectly to high-risk situations I am comfortable with. Involving an audience of people (on the rooftop) while demonstrating such a disregard for safety? Horrible passive-aggressive behavior that burdens everyone else with significant mental and legal risk, not to mention his employer.

If this took place in a professional context (eg of a commercial film/photo shoot) that would be an instant firing offense of the never-hire-this-person-again variety. If you're going to do dangerous stuff in a group of mixed ability, you have an ethical and professional obligation to adhere to and demonstrate the highest safety standards. If you want an entourage to witness how badass you are (as opposed to leveraging that through your creative work) then you're a walking liability.

Edit: I see Von Wong arrived here at the discussion. I'm going to leave the above up unedited, not to be personally insulting but because it expresses my sincere annoyance about this issue.

[jlebar]

> The photographer standing on the corner of the building with no safety so he can take a selfie? Fuck him. Doing that on your own or with similarly risk-tolerant friends? OK, enjoy your dangerous hobby

If he falls or drops any equipment, he puts the people below him at risk of fatal injury. This isn't just a question of showing off for an audience, it's a question of the safety of bystanders.

As others have said, the level of safety demonstrated here appears negligently insufficient to match the risk to the photographic subjects and to bystanders below, machismo aside.

[smacktoward]

> If you want an entourage to witness how badass you are (as opposed to leveraging that through your creative work) then you're a walking liability.

Yeah. It's like the old joke: what are every true redneck's last words?

"Hey y'all, watch this!"

[linuxlizard]

"Hold my beer!"

[jonahx]

I was struck by his genuine self-confidence and lack of fear. It didn't come off as daredevil machismo at all. I thought it was inspiring.

Von, I'd be curious to know how you reached that level of comfort? Is it just the way you are, do you have training or experience in stunt work, something else?

[anigbrowl]

No doubt, but self confidence != immunity from mistakes. On the side of a mountain, that's one thing, on the side of a skyscraper it imposes risks on other people which they never signed up for. See my comment elsewhere in the thread about the camera rig, for example - sorry, but it's inadequate.

[jonahx]

I read your other reply and I see your point now.

[Gracana]

He took his picture while standing on a flat platform next to something scary. You cursing him out and imagining how "passive-aggressive" his behavior is seems utterly bizarre to me and I could not disagree more with how you're portraying the situation.

[aaron695]

> people who don't have them get Darwin awards.

Darwin awards, making fun of people who have died. Never really got how that became cool.

More often than not a combination of drug addiction, poverty and mental illness that lead to there demise.

[vonwong]

Ah but standing there on that ledge and looking down knowing that the slightest mis-step could mean the end, where none of your worries past or future matter except the present... That feeling is so magical <3 !

[ChuckMcM]

Stress highs are not the same for everyone. Glad you didn't find one of those people during your project.

[jwise0]

I'm not sure why you got downvoted for this, but I wanted to say that the point you're trying to make is not in vain. Different people have different risk tolerances, and even enjoy different levels of risk: and, of course, we combat fear of risk by having knowledge of what the real consequences are and what our limits are. Some of the pieces that highlight Alex Honnold's work [1] as a free solo climber bring to fore a very similar experience: the emptiness and clarity inside you of knowing that you must focus 100% on what you're doing is said to be quite liberating.

[1] e.g., https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itIRdx1pJ2I

[kordless]

Those are similar to feelings associated with awakening as well. I'm not saying they are the same thing, but I'd put my money on them being related.

[Zelphyr]

> Why do our brains like to torture us like this?

It sucks but its the same aspect of our mind that thinks up the amazing things like skyscrapers and cameras that we're then able to build. Imagination. :)

For contrast look up stories of the woman with a damaged amygdala who literally has no fear whatsoever. She has to have people around her to keep her from doing dumb things like pick up poisonous snakes.