Mission: Disaster

[lil_wyked]

I just had to mention something about this article I just recently read another article regarding the dangers of certain Disney theme-park rides and now I’m just flabbergasted that, less then three months later, someone else has been rendered unconscious from exposure to a ride at Walt Disney World. That makes a total of two deaths, not to mention

Comments

Waking up everyday is a risk.

[djopm]

Does that mean that we should not get out of bed either? For the purposes of argument, you would probably agree. But research has revealed that this is by far not even close to the most "dangerous" ride out there.

Astronauts are enduring 3.2Gs at liftoff. That is about the most that any human can take. There are some exceptions to this of course -- Fighter pilots have bee known to take in excess of 4Gs during flight maneuvers, but of course they are trained to do so without blacking out.

High G rides are nothing new. They have been around for decades. And truthfully, most of the rides I have been researching have been listing G forces in the range of 2.4 - 3.6Gs with the highest (so far) being Desperado at Buffalo Bills, which slings you into a 5+G right turn after just experiencing 2.6G of downward force.

The difference between then and now is that we don't treat our bodies like we used to. Kids don't get as much exercise and are more sedentary than we ever were. I have 3 nephews that are downstairs right now playing video games. And we all know that a sedentary lifestyle can lead to heart disease. Granted, it is tragic that parents should find out how bad that lifestyle is by the death of their child, but it happens. It could happen while the child tries to play sports as well. Should we outlaw basketball?

We have to remember that the ride makers are not at fault for this child's death. It was simply an accident. Lots of things that provide amusement kill people. All accidentally. Bungee cords snap, parachutes fail, people crash their vehicles. They, like the people that frequent the amusement parks, assume a certain amount of risk associated with the activity.

Disney's ride only exerts 2G. There are much more viscious things out there. And I understand why this issue is so close to your *ahem* heart, but the issue here is not scaling back the rides. It's taking better care of one's self.

Re: Waking up everyday is a risk.

[lil_wyked]

So you would tell all those people with "silent" heart conditions, when they are standing before the pearlie gates, that they should have taken better care of themselves? To be honest, I like a good rollar coaster, I've been on several even with me *ahem* bum ticker. I'm still walking today and I have never had to be carried off of a ride. so the fault for those that have died lie with the person? Or does it lie with a culture that has completely thrown caution to the wind in the hopes of a good scare that will literally scare the death out of them?

Yes, kids don't take that good a care of themselves. No, we don't walk fifteen miles to school, uphill, both ways like our forefathers. Are you trying to say, dear DJOPM, that our forefathers would have been better equipped to deal with these G Forces? Are you saying that any Tom, Dick, and Harry, not specially trained, is ready to face the rigors of shuttle lift off?

Why, what an interesting notion?

Re: Waking up everyday is a risk.

[djopm]

No, what I am saying is that we are a nation that is subject to more internal systems failures than we were 10 years ago. High intensity rides have been around for years and they have never had the media attention that they have now when something goes awry. In fact, I would doubt that there are any more deaths per capita due to rides than there were 20 years ago.

I think that the problem lies with our lack of concern for our health along with expanded media attention. That's not saying that anyone's at fault, just that we know how we live, and we know what risks we assume when we purchase that amusement park ticket and decide to get on Giant Drop. That's not a fault that needs to be placed with anyone. Sometimes bad things happen for no reason.