Irrationality. Good/Bad

[lawtonfogle]

I remember a story (true) of a space (or was it sky) needle up in Canada. The thing over a 1000ft. in the air. Well, you know how space needles look. Something like this:

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and so on as it gets closer to the ground.

Anyways, you see that up top, there is a part hanging over the ground. Now a sick twisted designed decided to make part of the floor on that hang-out see-though. It is made up of 18in. bullet proof safety material, a tank salvo would have a problem getting though it. Now, this area of floor is a few feet by a few feet, big enough for a person to lay down on it and be completely on the glass.

Now, this glass is actually safer than the concrete which the rest of the floor is made up of, yet people avoid the glass as if it was paper thin. While the root fear of falling causes one to be wary of it, upon presentation that it will not break when they walk out upon it, shouldn't people cease being scared of it?

But what actually happens is most people avoid, walking around it, and almost no one dares steps on it, and those who do almost certainly have to get on their hands and feet.

So, it is clear people have a very irrational fear of falling here. But is that a good thing or a bad thing, be it in this case or others?
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[flicka]

I remember hearing that a babies first instinct is fear of falling. I don't know why. I don't like heights, I have a physical reaction to it beyond the fear of falling. I don't even like being up high on a regular floor much less a see through one. I hate those glass elevators too...I always stay by the door! I hate stairs and only have lived in single story houses. Whatever it is, good or bad, runs deep in me.

 

[yasic]

You know whats funny: If the whole thing were made of glass, less people would be afraid and would walk on it as if there is no big deal. But by having it only be a small window pointing down, more people are afraid to step on it.

 

[gengwall]

Must...quote...Star Trek....

Kirk - "Now Mr. Spock, there's really something about all this that I don't understand, so maybe you could explain it to me, logically of course... Now, when you jettisoned the fuel, and ignited it, you knew that there was virtually no chance of it being seen and yet you did it anyway. Now that seems to me like an act of desperation."

Spock - "Quite correct, Captain."

Kirk - "Now we all know, and I'm sure the doctor would agree with me, that desperation is a highly emotional state of mind. So how does your well known logic explain that?"

Spock - "Quite simply captain, I examined the problem from all angles, and it was plainly hopeless. Logic informed me that under the circumstances, the only logical action would have to be one of desperation. Logical decision, logically arrived at."

Kirk - "Ah-huh, I see... So you reasoned that it was time for an emotional outburst."

Spock - "Well I... Wouldn't exactly put it in those terms captain, but those are essentially the facts."

 

[wanderingone]

Oh man I can't step on the glass floors anywhere... of course it's irrational but until it interferes with my ability to function I'll spare the visit to the therapist to cope with it.

I don't have a particular fear of heights, but there's something about certain things - when the kids were little we used to go to trade center a lot, my littlest one adored getting right up against the windows... there is this little step down all around and she liked to sit on the step and lean her little head on the window... completely freaked me out... I knew she was relatively safe (granted she was born after the first trade center attack...) but I still couldn't bear it.. and I couldn't bear sitting next to her as she demanded. I'd last all of 5 minutes before I'd say "honey lets go back and see the movie again" LOL.

I think irrationality can be pretty neutral (as in I can't stand certain tourist spots) and pretty bad... depends on what they prevent you from doing and how much it hampers other people around you. I don't know if it's ever "good" ....

 

[wanderingone]

You know whats funny: If the whole thing were made of glass, less people would be afraid and would walk on it as if there is no big deal. But by having it only be a small window pointing down, more people are afraid to step on it.

That is funny... I would go around it myself.. but I also wouldn't walk on that walkway in the Grand Canyon... which is all clear (of course it also apparently sways a bit) I also can't deal with glass bottom boats. On the other hand I stomp across the steam vents in city sidewalks and the cellar doors without a second thought.. and they are far more likely to give way --- --- it's irrational I know.

 

[Paulos23]

For the record (sorry I have to correct you, city pride) the Space Needle is in Seattle, Washingtion, not Canada. You might be thinking of the CN Tower in Toronto, Ortario, though I didn't find anything about a glass floor. And I know there is no glass floor in the Space Needle, so I am wondering where this story comes from?

 

[wanderingone]

For the record (sorry I have to correct you, city pride) the Space Needle is in Seattle, Washingtion, not Canada. You might be thinking of the CN Tower in Toronto, Ortario, though I didn't find anything about a glass floor. And I know there is no glass floor in the Space Needle, so I am wondering where this story comes from?

There is a glass floor in the CN Tower sky pod-- I'll go find a link

 

[wanderingone]

For the record (sorry I have to correct you, city pride) the Space Needle is in Seattle, Washingtion, not Canada. You might be thinking of the CN Tower in Toronto, Ortario, though I didn't find anything about a glass floor. And I know there is no glass floor in the Space Needle, so I am wondering where this story comes from?

Your own link mentions the glass floor Paulos-

The Glass Floor and Outdoor Observation Deck are at 342 metres (1,122.0 ft). The glass floor has an area of 24 square metres (258 sq ft) and can withstand a pressure of 4,100 kPa (595 psi). The floor's thermal glass units are 64 millimetres (2.5 in) thick, consisting of a pane of 25-millimetre (1.0 in) laminated glass, 25 millimetres (1.0 in) airspace and a pane of 13-millimetre (0.5 in) laminated glass. Some people experience acrophobia by standing on the glass floor and looking down at the ground 342 metres (1,122.0 ft) below

 

[Paulos23]

Your own link mentions the glass floor Paulos-

Do'h Missed that. That is what I get for rush reading during lunch.

Cool pics though. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass_floor

 

[wanderingone]

Do'h Missed that. That is what I get for rush reading during lunch.

Cool pics though. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass_floor

I missed it the first read too... but I decided it HAD to be there cause my google link said it was ... the pic made me nauseous-- irrational.. I know.

 

[Beanieboy]

I live in Toronto, and while you are told to trust it, there are a few things against you:

Glass isn't known for being strong. Glass breaks, so being told "go step on the glass - it will hold you" doesn't sound convincing. You are then looking down (I feel like I am falling simply when I look down from high places), so it adds to the fear of Vertigo.

It's true - people walk around it, then step with only one foot to test it, and eventually, lie down (it's scary). Eventually, after 10 or 15 minutes, you will see people walk around it, realizing that there is nothing to fear.

The first time I was there, I missed a golden video op. There was a little boy that was two or so, was being held by his mother. When she tried to put him down, he wrapped his legs around her in fear. Finally, she set him down, to get him to walk to her, and he was going, "ooooooo ooooooooo....." It was pretty funny, but exactly what everyone feels.

There is a similar thing that I have seen with cats where they are afraid to walk on glass, because they can see how far they will fall.

While it is irrational, there is some rationale: There aren't many glass planes that will hold a person. If it were to break, you would fall to your death.

But there are similar phenomenons: people who are afraid of gardner snakes (that are nonpoisinous, and nonagressive), being afraid of mice, who are far smaller than you are, house spiders, etc.

I think it is a good thing because like a rollercoaster, it allows you to look fear in the face and conquer it safely, and that is an important thing to do from time to time. It builds confidence.

It also reminds me of what I was taught from Christianity. Usually, we walk in and sit down on a chair, rather than test it for its stability. I was taught that we should trust God in the same way.

Unfortunately, God is like the Glass Floor of the CN Tower. You can't see God, touch God, hear God, smell God, or taste God. You aren't even sure if God exists, and then told, "Ah, don't worry. It will hold you" when you aren't even sure if God exists.

It's a lot to ask.