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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 20 of 20. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Deneb on December 24, 2005, at 23:07:04
Does anyone else think of jumping off bridges, cliffs and towers whenever they look down from one?
Is this one of those natural attractions?
I remember when I was little and walked across the Golden Gate Bridge with my class, I thought of jumping. Same thing when I went to the top of the CN tower.
Am I just disturbed or does everyone think about jumping?
Deneb
Posted by Susan47 on December 25, 2005, at 1:03:57
In reply to Are humans naturally attracted to jump off cliffs?, posted by Deneb on December 24, 2005, at 23:07:04
Well, lemmings do that, but usually they're following a leader. Question is, what makes the first one jump off?
And if you decide to jump, who'll follow you? People do that, too. But maybe you're just physically drawn to whatever's below, maybe there's a drawing-in sensation that's pulling you to jump ... maybe ... just maybe ... a kind of brain illusion, the same sort of thing that happens when the sky's dark and full of stars, and you're lying on the ground staring straight up at all of them, and there's nothing to distract you, and ZAP! suddenly it feels like you're being drawn into space ...
Posted by Deneb on December 25, 2005, at 15:06:49
In reply to Re: Are humans naturally attracted to jump off cliffs?, posted by Susan47 on December 25, 2005, at 1:03:57
Posted by jammerlich on December 25, 2005, at 21:44:42
In reply to Are humans naturally attracted to jump off cliffs?, posted by Deneb on December 24, 2005, at 23:07:04
I think about it. Or it might be more accurate to say I worry about it. Whenever I'm on a tall building, a cliff, a bridge, or even a boat, I'm literally afraid that I won't be able to stop myself and will just jump right on over - almost like it would be beyond my control. Granted, I don't think I obsess over it and it doesn't keeping me from going to those kinds of places, but it's this little voice that I have to continually work to push out of my mind. I've been that way ever since I was little and I have no idea what it's about.
Interesting question. I'm glad you asked.
Posted by LegWarmers on December 25, 2005, at 22:59:56
In reply to Are humans naturally attracted to jump off cliffs?, posted by Deneb on December 24, 2005, at 23:07:04
some people are, bungi jumpers, skydivers, parachuters....they all do it. There is something about free falling that is exhillerating! But we also have an inate fear of falling as well. I love the feeling of falling in a well contained amusement park contraption, I prefer not to jump though :)
Posted by Deneb on December 25, 2005, at 23:44:14
In reply to Re: Are humans naturally attracted to jump off cliffs?, posted by LegWarmers on December 25, 2005, at 22:59:56
:-)
I'm so glad I'm not the only person who thinks about this!
I think people can think about jumping off of things without thinking about dying.
I love my dreams where I can fly with my body.
Deneb
Posted by Susan47 on December 26, 2005, at 17:54:43
In reply to Re: Are humans naturally attracted to jump off cliffs?, posted by Deneb on December 25, 2005, at 23:44:14
You didn't have to feel sorry about posting this if you think you triggered me, it's okay you didn't Deneb. I was having a bit of fun and I probably shouldn't have. Because I can see where some people might take it seriously, but the thing is that when that physical sensation strikes, it IS so overpowering, I think that's all I was really trying to communicate. Like something drawing you in ... it's hypnotic. But the results of jumping are very real, no matter what someone's mind might tell them. Ever been to www.rotten.com? I don't know if it still exists, I haven't been there in a year or so, but when we were taking medical terminology it was a hit. Don't go there if you're sqeamish. If you're really interested in results (haahaha if you're results-oriented!), i.e. if you want to see what happens to a body when a helicopter takes its head off, or what the head looks like afterwards, or what mass bodies dug up after a few weeks or months or years look like, then by all means have a look.
The fascinations of your mind have real results. Including those that portray violence against not only yourself, but others as well.. every hate thought has a result unless you can control what was meant to be controlled. Our minds are powerful, more powerful than we'll ever ever be aware of. Every destructive thought has a result, unless you know how to process them. Learn how.
Posted by alexandra_k on December 27, 2005, at 3:39:58
In reply to Re: Are humans naturally attracted to jump off cliffs?, posted by Susan47 on December 25, 2005, at 1:03:57
> Well, lemmings do that...
do they?
i heard... that was one giant hoax (they were hearding them off with four wheel drives)
Posted by alexandra_k on December 27, 2005, at 3:41:04
In reply to Are humans naturally attracted to jump off cliffs?, posted by Deneb on December 24, 2005, at 23:07:04
been there done that
shattered my feet
broke both my legs
broke my spine
my pelvisvery lucky to be able to walk
and now i am well and truely over that...
and i get this sick falling sensation when i'm near an edge...
Posted by AuntieMel on December 27, 2005, at 12:34:39
In reply to Are humans naturally attracted to jump off cliffs?, posted by Deneb on December 24, 2005, at 23:07:04
Posted by Susan47 on December 27, 2005, at 13:12:15
In reply to Re: my best friend's sister was (nm) » Deneb, posted by AuntieMel on December 27, 2005, at 12:34:39
Posted by Susan47 on December 27, 2005, at 13:30:43
In reply to Re: Are humans naturally attracted to jump off cliffs? » Susan47, posted by alexandra_k on December 27, 2005, at 3:39:58
I know nothing about this alleged hoax. And not much about lemmings, either. But my dictionary, which is the extent of my investigation into the matter at this point, tells me that the meaning of lemming is Norwegian in origin, and "refers to any of several small short-tailed Arctic rodents of the genus..." etc., "...noted for their fluctuating populations and, esp in the Norway lemming..." "...periodic mass migrations." Also, "a person bent on a headlong rush, esp. towards disaster; a person unthinkingly joining a mass migration; an unthinking person..." then, further on, "lemming-like.. resembling (that of) a lemming; headlong, suicidal, unthinking..."
So, as far as I'm aware, myth is an attempt to explain fact in a way that helps us make sense or order out of the world, and the myth here would be in the way in which we describe lemming-like behaviour as being suicidal, and the second definition of lemming being that it's a person bent on a headlong rush..towards disaster... then the word "unthinking" kind of all ties it together, and you have to wonder what it is about the actual genus lemming that caused us to relate this human behaviour to a lemming.. and whichever came first, the chicken or the egg, the result is the same. Or, I could be full of hot air.. or maybe not. Anybody in the house, know for sure?
Posted by Susan47 on December 27, 2005, at 14:21:57
In reply to Re: Are humans naturally attracted to jump off cliffs? » Deneb, posted by alexandra_k on December 27, 2005, at 3:41:04
Posted by alexandra_k on December 27, 2005, at 15:21:08
In reply to Hoax » alexandra_k, posted by Susan47 on December 27, 2005, at 13:30:43
Posted by Susan47 on December 28, 2005, at 12:28:59
In reply to Re: Hoax, posted by alexandra_k on December 27, 2005, at 15:21:08
Yes, but I still prefer my dictionary and I don't think this article negates the fact that lemmings have this happen to them. I mean, I don't think migrating unexpectedly with sometimes disastrous results, means that lemmings don't sometimes follow each other over the edge of a cliff ... granted that the film people manipulated nature, once again, to give us a caricature of what is true ...
Posted by JenStar on December 29, 2005, at 0:20:18
In reply to Are humans naturally attracted to jump off cliffs?, posted by Deneb on December 24, 2005, at 23:07:04
hi Deneb,
yes, I almost always have thought about jumping or falling when I'm someplace high. The thoughts are not that I WANT to do it, though -- it's more of a (somewhat) irrational fear that I might accidentally fall, or be pushed, or trip. I have a bit of a fear of heights b/c I'm afraid of falling.But there's always the thought in the back of my mind that SOME poeple do jump off things for real, and then I wonder what it feels like, and why they might do it, and I get almost panicky feelings.
There's also vertigo -- a loss of balance when you're up high, looking down. If you get that, it almost feels like you're GOING to fall. You feel drawn to the edge.
Thank god for guard rails!!!
What do you think, and why?
JenStar
Posted by Maynerd on December 29, 2005, at 3:33:13
In reply to Are humans naturally attracted to jump off cliffs?, posted by Deneb on December 24, 2005, at 23:07:04
I think we are all attracted to the chance to 'fly' whenever we are at the edge of anything open and high. My sky diving friend tells me there is nothing that feels quite like soaring through the air, but he says the landing isn't as much fun. I find myself feeling the flying urge by cliffs and tall bridges myself, which is why I avoid them when I feel down.
Posted by gardenergirl on December 29, 2005, at 8:36:56
In reply to Re: Are humans naturally attracted to jump off cliffs? » Deneb, posted by JenStar on December 29, 2005, at 0:20:18
I'm with you, JenStar. I have the a flash of a thought of "what if I fell?" It's most like a start or just a flash of "ugh, that would be very bad." I get this on stairs, even. They don't have to be particularly high up.
But then, I'm a clutz, and I've fallen down stairs before, so the risk is not neglible in my case.
gg
Posted by Dinah on December 29, 2005, at 23:46:00
In reply to Re: Are humans naturally attracted to jump off cliffs? » Deneb, posted by JenStar on December 29, 2005, at 0:20:18
My mother gets the urge to jump from heights. She's DEFINITELY got no suicidal tendencies at all. But she describes it as an urge, not a fear.
Posted by AuntieMel on December 30, 2005, at 8:53:00
In reply to Disturbed, or thinking about jumping? (nm) » AuntieMel, posted by Susan47 on December 27, 2005, at 13:12:15
This is the end of the thread.
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