1135 Feet, Two Bananas: World's Scariest Selfie
August 26, 2014 10:21 AM   Subscribe

 
ooh... i can't wait...
posted by ReeMonster at 10:24 AM on August 26, 2014


NOPE.
posted by hotelechozulu at 10:25 AM on August 26, 2014 [6 favorites]


I had the opportunity to go to a party at the Skydeck in Chicago last week. Just thinking about it gave me a panic attack, so I stayed in the hotel room and worked instead.

I literally cannot comprehend how these people are able to do this.
posted by jbickers at 10:26 AM on August 26, 2014 [1 favorite]


I am terrified of heights, but that view might make that climb worth it.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 10:28 AM on August 26, 2014


My wife and I were in Chicago a few weekends ago and even though I never went when I lived there, I decided it was time to finally go up the Sears Tower. After a ridiculous line to go up the elevator, it was actually pretty darn neat. We even got a photo of ourselves on the Ledge (the protruding glass thing), though we only stood there for the minimum time necessary for the photographer to take a picture. Other groups were doing all kinds of configurations and funny poses. We were pretty much just "ok I have to move farther in? Fuck, ok, it's been 10 seconds, is it done? Yes? Thanks!"

This though... holy fuck. Doesn't it get windy up there?!
posted by kmz at 10:31 AM on August 26, 2014 [1 favorite]


One of my fears is finding myself in that situation.

Like, I wake up and all of a sudden I'm on top of a building. I didn't get myself up there but I have to get myself down, and it's terrifying.
posted by entropone at 10:32 AM on August 26, 2014 [5 favorites]


In the same vein:

http://ontheroofs.com/hong-kong-2/
posted by I-baLL at 10:32 AM on August 26, 2014 [5 favorites]


And who says people do stupid things for their GoPros?
posted by Dean358 at 10:34 AM on August 26, 2014


I don't want to go there, but I enjoyed the view since they were willing to do the work.
posted by GenjiandProust at 10:36 AM on August 26, 2014 [3 favorites]


So...how many people have died doing these stunts? Does anyone know?
posted by yoink at 10:48 AM on August 26, 2014


There was a story passed around recently of various selfie-related deaths, not specifically related to heights but some were from falls, I think.
posted by kmz at 10:49 AM on August 26, 2014


Looks like they climbed The Center.
posted by anazgnos at 11:09 AM on August 26, 2014


Yoink, KMZ, I've always wondered if there was a site for GoPro gone wrong. You know, parachute doesn't open, avalanche, motorcyclist run down etc. "Snuff Selfies;" is that a thing?

I REALLY REALLY DON'T want to see it, (I'm nervous even mentioning it, in case I'm somehow calling it in to being) but I'm thinking it's already out there somewhere, waiting...
posted by ubi at 11:22 AM on August 26, 2014 [1 favorite]


I climbed a mountain once unwillingly (it was a military thing). I was so high the evergreens looked like they were "to scale" like on a train set. I deliberately kicked rocks off to watch them fall. I was hot and exhausted and pushed way past being afraid. At some point I started contemplating just stepping back. I made it to the end, mentioned how tempting it was to just be done with humping the radio. How that distance started to look comforting. Guy in front of me says, "Dude, we were all thinking that." I was never afraid of heights again.

This said, these photos challenge that idea.
posted by cjorgensen at 11:25 AM on August 26, 2014 [5 favorites]


Yoink, KMZ, I've always wondered if there was a site for GoPro gone wrong. You know, parachute doesn't open, avalanche, motorcyclist run down etc. "Snuff Selfies;" is that a thing?

Compilations of these videos are definitely already on Youtube, though I haven't seen one where someone dies.
posted by Jahaza at 11:26 AM on August 26, 2014


I have a GoPro, and I used it just once for a project, but selfies on a stick, I didn't think of! I was thinking of a video of wandering around with it tied to a long string with a couple of balloons, too.
posted by xingcat at 11:34 AM on August 26, 2014


I clicked on the link but feel guilty and will not knowingly do it again. Someone will die doing this, if they haven't already, and the attention is part of the attraction. If I were a moderator, I would delete this post.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 11:44 AM on August 26, 2014


Um, I'm a little curious how the guy climbed up there w/o anyone stopping him or his friends? I know HK is a busy city but surely some security guard would've noticed someone in the progress of climbing a skyscraper?

I did laugh at the comment about how "rooftopping" should be considered a "art."
posted by chrono_rabbit at 12:11 PM on August 26, 2014


Kids these days....
posted by OHenryPacey at 12:17 PM on August 26, 2014 [2 favorites]


I made it to the end, mentioned how tempting it was to just be done with humping the radio. How that distance started to look comforting. Guy in front of me says, "Dude, we were all thinking that."

This is called L’appel du vide, the call of the void. I read (but can't cite) that it's our brains way of mapping the idea of "danger" onto the surrounding landscape to avoid accidental meanderings to death, basically the mind's "Are you sure you want to do this? You won't be able to undo" dialog. I personally sometimes feel it when an NYC subway train is approaching.
posted by Brainy at 12:19 PM on August 26, 2014 [13 favorites]


> Someone will die doing this, if they haven't already, and the attention is part of the attraction. If I were a moderator, I would delete this post.

Are we going to delete all posts about extreme sports? About BASE jumping? Racing cars? Cave diving? These are all sports with a pretty high death rate and one that is certainly influenced by publicity...
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 1:00 PM on August 26, 2014 [2 favorites]


That was absolutely beautiful.

Hong Kong has the highest "skyline ranking" of any city in the world, by far.
posted by kadonoishi at 1:34 PM on August 26, 2014


See, the thing is, no.
posted by Room 641-A at 1:40 PM on August 26, 2014 [5 favorites]


I'm fine with people doing stupid things that get them killed as long as they do so knowingly and willingly. We all spend our entire lives selecting the death we're hoping for. Some of us even get it.
posted by cjorgensen at 1:46 PM on August 26, 2014 [3 favorites]


I have these competing feelings regarding high ledges: first, the fear of falling, and second, the strong desire to simply leap into the open.

Because of the second, I cling to buildings and rocks, fearing it will some day overpower the first, and I won't have a parachute on my back.
posted by filthy light thief at 1:52 PM on August 26, 2014


No way in hell. I struggle to think of the price point you'd have to hit to get me to even consider climbing up there. You'd have to get to 8 figures before I'd move beyond an instant no.

I couldn't look closely at the video; I could only look quickly to orient myself to what was going on. But just in my click glance the thing that jumped out to me is why they looked like they were hanging out in the mall. Baseball caps, sun glasses, bags, t-shirts. Why are these people not in like serious climbing/rapelling gear? How is a baseball cap staying on the climb up there or even up there.

Now excuse me, I'll be in my bunk hugging my toilet.
posted by dios at 3:01 PM on August 26, 2014 [1 favorite]


Damn kids. Get off my lawn skyscraper.
posted by StephenF at 4:02 PM on August 26, 2014 [3 favorites]


Am I the only one who wondered what they'd do with the banana peels, and hoped they wouldn't leave them for some other climber to slip on?
posted by peppermind at 4:36 PM on August 26, 2014 [5 favorites]


I meant to say Kids these days !
posted by OHenryPacey at 5:22 PM on August 26, 2014 [1 favorite]



Um, I'm a little curious how the guy climbed up there w/o anyone stopping him or his friends? I know HK is a busy city but surely some security guard would've noticed someone in the progress of climbing a skyscraper?


Nope! Lots of these skyscrapers have "alarmed" doors which really don't trigger any sort of alarm. Yes, there are security guards for these types of buildings, but for the most part, their cameras are focused on elevators. So far, Hong Kong is one of the easiest cities to go rooftopping in since there's a stupid amount of tall buildings and lax security.

The guy who did this, Andrew Tso actually takes lots of photos while being in ridiculously high places.

I asked him once to take me rooftopping, but he never got back to me haha
posted by astapasta24 at 6:23 PM on August 26, 2014 [1 favorite]


The loops below them look like FM antenna elements. Climbing up through the full power RF field is not good for ones cancer risk outlook. While climbing and working on a tower 100' away from an active antenna we were required to wear RF detectors and protective suits. While on a tower with a reduced power antenna, we couldn't get closer than 20' without setting off the detectors. If that is an FM, these three are essentially sitting in a big RF oven.

I was told of a teenager who climbed a water tower, had a few beers, then passed out in front of a 2' microwave dish. The climber who told me this story was involved in the removal of his dead body from the tower.

I can understand the appeal of this sort of thrill seeking, but falling isn't the only risk and not all hazards are immediately apparent. I would strongly discourage anyone without knowledge of the equipment found on these installations from this type of activity.
posted by calamari kid at 6:44 PM on August 26, 2014 [6 favorites]


Hell of a view. Now I'm dizzy.
posted by MissySedai at 9:26 PM on August 26, 2014


I really dug on that here we go sensation I felt when he raised the boom and did that twirlie-pan.
Posted while crouched beneath my desk.
posted by Pudhoho at 9:52 PM on August 26, 2014 [1 favorite]


Goddamn you crazy youngsters!
posted by Mister_A at 9:55 AM on August 27, 2014


"Snuff Selfies;" is that a thing?

Snufflies?
posted by nevercalm at 2:26 PM on August 27, 2014


If I had put a piece of coal up my butt before viewing that, it would now be a diamond.
posted by lumpenprole at 5:02 PM on August 27, 2014 [3 favorites]


« Older "Guns. Lots of Guns" Multiple Internet Movie...   |   Two Ancient Mayan Cities Found in Mexican Jungle Newer »


This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments