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floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
 Posted - 05/05/2005 : 14:38:09
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i don't know if i agree with Ray on his theroy that if you're afraid of flying you're just afraid of yourself.
when i'm flying, i start thinking about the logistics of it, and how high in the air i am. and how i'm just sitting in a piece of metal. and how many moving parts there are in an airplane. it's all very literal
i'm afraid of the plane crashing and being sent to a terrifying, miserable death.
thank god for the airport bar |
Edited by - floop on 05/05/2005 14:45:04 |
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BLT
> Teenager of the Year <
South Sandwich Islands
4204 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2005 : 14:55:07
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I remind myself of the odds, i.e. it's statistically safer than being in a car.
I don't think the death would be all that miserable. It would be too quick for that.
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floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2005 : 14:57:22
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it would be terrifying though.
i remind myself of the odds too. and i'm not always afraid. i never was when i was younger, but i am more so now for some reason. but only on a turbulent flight.
turbulent flight: me no like
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BLT
> Teenager of the Year <
South Sandwich Islands
4204 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2005 : 15:03:51
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We had an unusually turbulent flight coming back from Oakland in February. That was the weekend of the storm that dumped 7 or 8 inches of rain. Kinda frightening. Still, it probably doesn't compare to the days of travel in a DC3 where they couldn't even get above most of the weather.
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whoreatthedoor
> Teenager of the Year <
Spain
2873 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2005 : 15:05:44
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Being eaten by sharks looks like a worse way to die.
Being buried alive, that's a terrible one. Ask Beatrix Kiddo.
El amor es la distancia más larga entre un punto y otro |
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n/a
deleted
4109 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2005 : 15:06:46
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Well, I don't know that theory, but the more I fly, the more I'm affraid. I even think that I must fly a lot while I still can do it, because it won't last long.
When you free yourself from the chance of a lifetime
You can be anyone they told you to
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PixieSteve
> Teenager of the Year <
Poland
4698 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2005 : 15:12:44
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i tend to shit myself a bit on flights. i know the odds.. but with car crashes you usually only know you're about to be hit seconds before it happens. with planes, if it's gonna crash, you have a considerably longer time to shit yourself.
last flight probably had the worst turbulance i've ever experienced (which probably compared to extremes wasn't that bad), and i seriously thought i was gonna die.. said i loved my brother who i was sitting next to me and everything. haha, i'm a pussy.
 Oh let it linger |
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floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2005 : 15:24:24
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quote:
Originally posted by PixieSteve
i tend to shit myself a bit on flights. i know the odds.. but with car crashes you usually only know you're about to be hit seconds before it happens. with planes, if it's gonna crash, you have a considerably longer time to shit yourself.
last flight probably had the worst turbulance i've ever experienced (which probably compared to extremes wasn't that bad), and i seriously thought i was gonna die.. said i loved my brother who i was sitting next to me and everything. haha, i'm a pussy.
Oh let it linger
yeah, it's just the anticipation of death that's worth than death itself.
if you're in bad weather, and it's turbulent, you know you're going to die, but it's just a matter when. and that's the scary part.
i try to be zen and think, "well, if it's my time then it's my time." also, dying in a plane crash definitely more cool than other ways to die. more sexy..
but i still get scared sometimes ('cuz of the death thing) |
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fbc
-= Modulator =-
United Kingdom
4903 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2005 : 15:28:05
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i'm a flight shitter too, steve. i hate that feeling in my gut when the plane drops in turbulance.
for most of the flight, i'm happy staring out the window at the world, but a big part of it is mental torture. thinking about what it would feel like if the plane suddenly nosedived, what those seconds would feel like. sheer panic. but i bet one of the most exhilarating experiences ever.
i'd love to ride the vomit comet though. |
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floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2005 : 15:29:04
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quote:
Originally posted by whoreatthedoor
Being eaten by sharks looks like a worse way to die.
if you crash over the ocean you have the possibility of surviving just long enough to finally be eaten by sharks. |
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Sir Rockabye
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1158 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2005 : 15:47:20
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I guess I'm the odd man out. I love flying. Once in a blue moon, I'll think about the possible death, but it doesn't seem to phase me. I think I've just got it worked into my head that it is virtually impossible for me to die in a plane crash. I don't know how accurate those statistics are, but I'd rather not know. This is a good example where my ignorance to their accuracy is bliss.
Some brains just work that way, that's what chemicals can do. |
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whoreatthedoor
> Teenager of the Year <
Spain
2873 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2005 : 16:01:21
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quote:
Originally posted by floop
quote:
Originally posted by whoreatthedoor
Being eaten by sharks looks like a worse way to die.
if you crash over the ocean you have the possibility of surviving just long enough to finally be eaten by sharks.
Things can always go worse.
El amor es la distancia más larga entre un punto y otro |
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floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2005 : 16:03:15
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quote:
Originally posted by Sir Rockabye
I think I've just got it worked into my head that it is virtually impossible for me to die in a plane crash.
that's what everyone thinks, until it happens to them |
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starmekitten
-= Forum Pistolera =-
United Kingdom
6370 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2005 : 16:05:17
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I've never been on a plane
 when there's no more room in hell, the dead will walk the earth |
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mosleyk
= Cult of Ray =
USA
607 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2005 : 16:18:04
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I only fly when I have to.
I love Ray, but the statement "afraid of yourself" surprises me. It is too easy justification of fear itself. I would think he would come up with something a bit more creative and insightful.
Personally I think that all fears are basically a lack of faith. Whether that be faith in yourself, God or whatever mechanical device you are flying around in. |
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Sir Rockabye
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1158 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2005 : 16:33:48
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quote:
Originally posted by floop
quote:
Originally posted by Sir Rockabye
I think I've just got it worked into my head that it is virtually impossible for me to die in a plane crash.
that's what everyone thinks, until it happens to them
Right, because when it happens to you, you cease to think.
Some brains just work that way, that's what chemicals can do. |
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floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2005 : 16:34:59
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quote:
Originally posted by Sir Rockabye
quote:
Originally posted by floop
quote:
Originally posted by Sir Rockabye
I think I've just got it worked into my head that it is virtually impossible for me to die in a plane crash.
that's what everyone thinks, until it happens to them
Right, because when it happens to you, you cease to think.
Some brains just work that way, that's what chemicals can do.
unless you're lucky to survive (long enough to be eaten alive by sharks) |
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Sir Rockabye
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1158 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2005 : 16:52:34
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quote:
Originally posted by floop
quote:
Originally posted by Sir Rockabye
quote:
Originally posted by floop
quote:
Originally posted by Sir Rockabye
I think I've just got it worked into my head that it is virtually impossible for me to die in a plane crash.
that's what everyone thinks, until it happens to them
Right, because when it happens to you, you cease to think.
Some brains just work that way, that's what chemicals can do.
unless you're lucky to survive (long enough to be eaten alive by sharks)
Lucky enough to survive a death in a plane crash? You explain that one to me.
Some brains just work that way, that's what chemicals can do. |
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Carl
- A 'Fifth' Catholic -
Ireland
11546 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2005 : 17:34:28
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| If your the pilot and your afraid of yourself, that might be a different matter.... |
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VoVat
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
USA
9168 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2005 : 17:41:30
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I've only flown a few times, but I never found it scary so much as dreadfully boring.
I was all out of luck, like a duck that died. I was all out of juice, like a moose denied. |
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Cult_Of_Frank
= Black Noise Maker =
Canada
11687 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2005 : 17:54:18
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I'd say as a pilot that if my plane had to go down, I'd have my fingers crossed we were in reach of land. You can't land on water, gear or not. If all engines fail, the fuel is gone, etc etc, you probably won't suffer more than a little bump on the landing or maybe a few bruises if there's nowhere to go. I've shut off my engines and landed successfully many times, and I'm no commercial pilot by any stretch. Most planes fly high enough that if that were to happen they can glide quite a distance before landing.
Of course, if a wing or tail section snaps (I don't think there are many cases of this happening, but it could) you're a goner no matter what. And that would be a terrible death, I'm sure. You'd be screaming in horror with hundreds of other people for a loooooong time before you hit the ground. Or water.
But 98% of all crashes are pilot error. Things like them misreading x and y and then assuming z without checking redundancies a, b.
I think the only time I've felt nervous flying was once when I looked out the window (this was on an Athens->London trip actually) and saw we were flying into something that I wouldn't have flown into if you paid me a million bucks. And it got quite bumpy, let me tell you.
Anyway, flying is pretty darned safe, or at least I hope so, given the massive amounts of hours I'll be on one next week. Now I'm getting nervous...
 "Joined the Cult of Frank / And you'll be enlightened" |
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shineoftheever
> Teenager of the Year <
Canada
4307 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2005 : 18:30:53
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quote:
Originally posted by starmekitten
I've never been on a plane
i've never come on a plane. 
the mile-high club awaits my arrival.
the only thing i get nervous about is the take-off and landing, other than that it's all cool.
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Chris Knight
= Cult of Ray =
USA
899 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2005 : 18:55:21
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I think what Bradbury meant by being "afraid of yourself" is that you're afraid of fate and of progress in human travel. There are many, many roads to death and an airplane crash is just one of them. Another one is an all-encompassing fear that prevents people from fully appreciating their time on Earth.
That said, I haven't been on a plane since I was very young. |
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floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2005 : 19:29:13
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quote:
Originally posted by Cult_Of_Frank
And that would be a terrible death, I'm sure. You'd be screaming in horror with hundreds of other people for a loooooong time before you hit the ground. Or water.
weeeeeeeeeeeeee! |
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Scarla O
= Cult of Ray =
United Kingdom
947 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2005 : 01:12:32
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There's a website with transcripts from the cockpit voice recorders of crashed planes.
"Captain: Tell'em to put the runway lights bright.
1st Officer: <radio communication> Please put the runway lights bright.
Radio Tower: Right on.
1st Officer: Three hundred feet.
Captain: <Expletive>
1st Officer: Two hundred feet
Captain: Okay MDA.
Captain: I'll level it out here right here.
1st Officer: One fifty.
Flight Engineer: Pull up
- (sound of first impact)
- (sound of momentary power interruption to the CVR)
- (sound of stick shacker starts and continues unill the end of the recording)
Flight Engineer: Pull up.
Flight Engineer: That's it I'm dead.
- (end of recording)"
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shineoftheever
> Teenager of the Year <
Canada
4307 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2005 : 01:20:27
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post link please scarla.
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Scarla O
= Cult of Ray =
United Kingdom
947 Posts |
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Monsieur
* Dog in the Sand *
France
1688 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2005 : 02:02:28
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I am not really afraid of death. It's funny, I had this conversation with my ex girlfriend already, and she couldn't believe I was not afraid of dying.
Last summer I had a very turbulent flight with a bunch of friends, and I was the only one not to panic. I thought about death, I clearly saw the possibility of us dying, and I was not afraid, I just thought, well, if it is time to go, it is time to go.
I will show you fear in a handful of dust |
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whoreatthedoor
> Teenager of the Year <
Spain
2873 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2005 : 02:36:22
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When I've been closer to smash my car against another driver, I'm more scared to survive and have to run all the legal actions that follow a car accident rather than a quick, painful death.
I'm the laziest man on earth.
El amor es la distancia más larga entre un punto y otro |
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n/a
deleted
4109 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2005 : 02:51:16
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I'm also not affraid of death, I'm affraid of suffering while dying.
I had almost a panic attack when I went to Azores, it seemed like the plane was going to land on the sea.
Some times I cry for the sane |
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zub_the_goat
= Cult of Ray =
United Kingdom
639 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2005 : 06:40:40
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Im ok, as long as im sitting in an aisle seat so i feel i can escape if i need to, i know if the plane was about to crash, being able to run up and down secreaming wont help but it makes me feel better, and last time i was on a plane next to a crazy lady who kept telling me she'd had a dream the palne was going to crash....then we hit the turbulance lots of fun
I wish i had a wooden heart that i could set on fire... |
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Carolynanna
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Canada
6556 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2005 : 07:39:50
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Call me naive but I'm still amazed that planes can be up in the air flying. They're so freaking big and heavy it just seems like it shouldn't be possible. Another one of those things that I don't want to learn about because it will cease to be like magic to me.
__________
This is the war and not the warning. |
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Erebus
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1834 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2005 : 08:46:28
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| The only way I can fly is to actively hope that the plane crashes, all the while imagining it being ripped to shreds all around me upon impact. For me flying is possible only as attempted suicide. |
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Carolynanna
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Canada
6556 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2005 : 08:57:42
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See Erebus, thats how you kill a thread...;)
__________
This is the war and not the warning. |
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floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2005 : 10:29:20
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quote:
Originally posted by rita
I'm also not affraid of death, I'm affraid of suffering while dying.
i bet you're afraid of sharks though |
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n/a
deleted
4109 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2005 : 10:48:51
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floop, I'm affraid of meat eaters in general!
Some times I cry for the sane |
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Topic |
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Ray Bradbury's fear of flying theory
