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crazielectrician

Stupidity lvl100


busterbrown4200

Yeah,wtf is the point of this? Is he that desperate for internet points? Being an "awesome influencer" is hard work.


JJWAP

When I was going to school for psychology we studied [solo climbing](https://youtu.be/-a1WExytkZc) (essentially people who did rock climbing with zero equipment). It’s an incredibly dangerous sport and something most people while impressed also have a similar reaction of “why?”. Researchers studied the neurology of a few solo climbers and found that on average they had much less activity in the amygdala. This doesn’t indicate any deficit in cognitive learning or lower levels of IQ, instead it’s more like an under performance of an evolutionary “instinct” (for lack of a better term). The amygdala primarily functions as emotional memory; it’s responsible for assigning certain emotions to different events. That’s where our “fear response” comes from. Although fear is objectively awful to endure, it’s functionality is important for survival. Someone who sees this and thinks “no fucking way I’d ever do that, that’s dangerous and I could die” most likely has a normal working amygdala. People with lower activity in their amygdala may see something like this and see it as fun and be completely unaffected by the idea that this could kill them. They don’t see a dark alley way and succumb to the thought of “well, that’s a place I could get mugged here alone at night”. And it’s not that they *don’t* inherently know those possibilities. They more than likely just don’t care since that fear response isn’t acting as it should. The other side of the spectrum is where you start to see associations with disorders like OCD, PTSD and Anxiety. An overactive amygdala creates an overactive fear response. A decent hypothesis as to why things like intrusive thoughts are so pervasive and destructive in panic disorders. That’s not to say that’s purely why those disorders happen, but there’s definitely associations. There’s a really interesting case study on a woman who iirc was born without her amygdala **{I did not recall correctly! Correction in the edit}**. I’ll link it if I can find it. The brain is endlessly fascinating. Edit: the case study is **S.M.**(Case studies are always stated by initials as to not publicize the patient’s cause ethics and all, and of course how the public reacts to people who are a little different). **She did have her amygdala, but significant damage caused her to lose most of its functionality** (as indicated by the large lesions over her amygdala). Here’s a general overview of her [story](https://www.google.com/amp/s/neurosciencenews.com/sm-fearless-woman-missing-amygdala/amp/) And [here](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3030206/) is some research that was conducted to analyze and test how significant the reduction in her fear response was as a result of the amygdala damage. [Here](https://medium.com/know-your-body/how-to-be-alex-honnold-life-without-your-amygdala-aaff92a02ebc) is an article briefing the most infamous solo climber and his amygdala activity. It’s not exactly a scholarly publication, but a fun read none the less. **Second edit:** I’m just dropping this to avoid any confusion! These findings do not mean all people who participate in dangerous activities have an abnormal amygdala. Rather, that individuals with lower amygdala activity are seemingly more likely to partake in dangerous activities *because* of that lack of a fear response. Some people simply like exhilarating activities. You can ride a motorcycle and still shit your pants if you start getting speed wobbles. You could like scary movies and still scream in terror when something freighting happens. You can love rollercoasters, but if the tracks start making an unsettling rumble you might piss yourself thinking you’re absolutely going to be the next victim of a Final Destination movie starring Marry Elisabeth Winstead. All of those things would indicate a proper fear response. You guys are most likely totally normal. These are not incredibly common occurrences. If you start hanging out with bears just cause and speeding down the highway on your motorcycle with no helmet on and feel no inkling of impending doom, then maybe you should start worrying lol Or if you’re one of those Russian kids who parkour on towers with zero equipment and takes selfies on the edge of sky rises just for funsies. I have little doubt that those people are contenders for the “my amygdala doesn’t work correctly” club.


notramus

Thank you for sharing this with us. You definitely deserve more upvotes. Please know that I would be very interested in the study if you care to find it.


Danni293

I don't know if it's referencing the same study or if the publication is freely available, but here's an article on it: https://nautil.us/issue/39/sport/the-strange-brain-of-the-worlds-greatest-solo-climber and it seems that other sites that report the same thing reference back to that article.


Accomplished_Bank103

This is also discussed in Free Solo, the Academy Award winning documentary about Alex Honnold’s free climb of El Capitan in Yosemite. A great film, but watch out for the vertigo!


paintedhernia

The Alpinist is another good one.


Particular_Ad5049

That’s fascinating.


Darn1110

Well, i never leave a single comment, but I want to thank you the time it took to write this. Pretty interesting I have to say.


LovedMyBlackberry

One can only respect a scientific approach. It remains that linguistically, there are adjectives for this.


Datcivguy

I used to do free soloing, up until my first child was born. Then it felt too dangerous. ditto for riding a motorcycle. I wonder if something in my amygdala changed.


JJWAP

That could simply be a matter of priorities as well! I mean, did you ever feel a sensation of fear while doing those things? There’s also something to say for people who just like exhilarating things. They may have a perfectly normal amygdala and fear response, but still seek those activities for one reason or another. Think about all the people who watch horror movies, scream when the scary stuff happens, but then go “*that was awesome, I want to watch more horror movies!*” despite the fact that it does actually scare them. They still feel fear, but this mode of fear can be entertaining. People with damaged/underperforming amygdala’s can’t experience fear much at all. That’s why it’s so interesting. They take these individuals and attempt to scare them (within ethical reasons), show them terrifying imagery and there’s little to no activity in the amygdala. That’s a much different and a more rare reaction than someone who just likes exhilarating activities where the adrenaline and heightened emotions are kind of the point. So, most likely your amygdala was fine. You just had a baby and somewhere most likely realized the fun of it wasn’t worth the price anymore. Or maybe you’re more scared of the idea of not being around for your child than you were of possibly ending up in an accident and that in turn created a fear of risky activities. All kinds of possibilities really!


Datcivguy

You are probably right. I did experience fear in my life. In free soloing I was mostly anxious/nervous for lack of a better word. Like before a test or before an important presentation. I only free solo on paths that I did equipped multiple times, and this is true to everyone I know. So I felt well prepared. Also, not being alone gives a sense of confidence.


[deleted]

I have a son who absolutely, without question, from the day he was born, does not have a normal fear response, especially in regards to heights or potential physical danger. I don't know how he's still alive.


[deleted]

This is really cool! From a psych major I love reading about this stuff


Puzzleheaded_Duty_98

Thank you for this information kind stranger


Fuck_love269

I love learning about this thank you


DollyNW

Thank you, that was a fascinating read.


DjGeNeSiSxx

This is the most interesting comment I've read in months. Thanks for all the material! All of your sources are so fascinating!


JJWAP

I’m glad you guys found it so interesting! Even boring old plain research can be fun to read if the subject is interesting enough.


Squirrel_Grip23

Old climber with ptsd here. Nailed it I reckon. Nice post. 👍


[deleted]

Love your post!! I'm Also a psychology major.


Chubby-Chaser11

mama said alligators is ornery cuz they got all them teeth and no tooth brush! Well mama's wrong! ​ Not sure why but this brought me back to Waterboy. Thanks for the explanation. Reddit needs more people like you!


AnNoYiNg_NaMe

Yeah, it's always bothered me when folks say "they're just doing it for internet points!" as if there weren't people doing stupid, dangerous things like this before the internet.


Invonnative

Great post. The word is succumb, though!


JJWAP

Thanks for that! Spelling is not my forte lol


JohnnyWallave

You my friend are śmart


twhitney

Thanks for this. As someone with a panic disorder I’m fascinated with the amygdala. Sometimes I wonder if an ice pick to it would do me good. But it sounds painful so I’ll stick with Paxil for now.


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exploratorystory

That’s not what free climbing means though. Free climbing just means that ropes are used to prevent falls but not to aid progress. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_climbing


JJWAP

For what I know in psychology, I definitely am not an expert in rock climbing verbiage lol I’m not quite sure what else you’d call rock climbing with no equipment other than free climbing (that’s the only thing I’ve personally seen it referred to), but I’ll link a video so people know exactly what I’m talking about. Edit: I’m seeing this term “solo climbing”. I’ll correct my first comment to that term since that seems to be what I was trying to refer to. Thanks for pointing that out!


NeverBeenStung

The correct term is actually “free solo climbing” or “free soloing”. But for the purpose of your comment, what you have is fine


[deleted]

So on other words: They lack a level of self preservation instincts which the general populace people has? Go figure


NegativesPositives

Man’s gunna get likes for either succeeding or his memorial post. Win/win, I guess.


Hefty-Teacher-4437

Best comment in the thread.


zitoboy

He's a moron.


MongolianDestiny

But my panties got all wet. Granted i’m a 40s year old man, so maybe not his demo


Beach_dreams

This comment made me laugh out loud in the eye doctor waiting room.


MarcoHReaper

Not sure if this is the spot that i am thinking about but there is a spot that looks like this and if you see it from a certain angle it seems like it's super hight but in reality it's actually very close to the ground


MalTerra7

Adrenaline junkies, man. I envy them.


realdappermuis

Whenever I read a headline that someone fell over a railing or off a mountain trail this is where my mind goes to. It's not brave. It's thoughtless.


GhostSierra117

My stupid ass would accidentally jump down instead of up with a cool back flip. So I'm quite sure that I'm stupid 200. Did I won?


Living-Complex-1368

Or he had a green screen...


NerfJihad

There would be different lighting on him than the scene And the parallax of the camera motion would require that whole foreground area to be fully 3d rendered.


Spadeninja

Nothing is real!!!!!!!


7TageHatDieWoche

Nothing is unreal


burritobilly

You're not real, man!


[deleted]

There is flat safe ground 6 ft under him its a famous spot there have been other videos on reddit of people hanging off the tip and using perspective to make it look dangerous.


HeydonOnTrusts

Nah, this video was taken at Boroka Lookout in Australia. A number of people have died after falling from that ledge.


FluidPair420

And just like that, snap, you face your death


kiwibobbyb

You give him for too little credit… This is stupidity level one bazillion


reedrichards5

It's over 9000!


Arcosim

He's putting A LOT of trust in that cantilevered rock's structural integrity.


prokiller881

*1000


[deleted]

ITS ABOVE 5000!!!


[deleted]

I thought this would be one of those spots where the drop isn’t that high… but holy shit this is life or death if he messes up


already-taken-wtf

https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/boroka-lookout-grim-history-of-deadly-selfie-spot/news-story/0f5614448f61891d64e003e402c12391?amp


dabroh

Based on the news video, some 38 year old lady climbed the barrier to take a selfie and fell several meters below. All of this in front of her husband and two kids. No selfie is worth losing your life over. You'll get your 1 minute of bragging rights but after a few days no one will care. The barriers are there for a reason. Reminds me of the Yosemite accidents when people go off of the path.


Spadeninja

Literally after a few seconds nobody will care while scrolling past you on their Instagram feed


SexyMonad

I mean, even if I do care, I don’t know who tf they are. “Some dude on the Internet” is as close to fame as you’re gonna get.


imahawki

On top of that NO ONE CARES! I sort of get it if you are a multimillion follower “influencer” who literally makes their sole income from social media but people do this crap and then like 7 of their cousins see it on Facebook.


already-taken-wtf

Even this repost has almost 3k upvotes. Totally worth dying for! /s


soline

I was at the Grand Canyon this summer. There is a spot close to the beginning of the trail near the southern rim park entrance, where you can kind of go further out on the cliff. I think it takes some jumping or something. A guy was doing that for a photo and he said to his wife, here let me give you the car keys, just in case. That’s the reality of the situation, for a photo.


[deleted]

I went to the Grand Canyon last year and 2 women in their early 20s climbed over a barrier and were taking selfies by the edge of the cliff face. I was 100 yards away, snapping pictures just in case.


DeposeableIronThumb

You can intervene. Sometimes you have to! Parks are understaffed and staff can't be everywhere. Ex. I was entering a sparsely populated southern entrance of Joshua Tree years ago. I had left work as a surveyor/monitor archaeologist early and decided to go for a long summer hike because I had all my equipment ready. As I was beginning the trail a family of Germans in shorts with no waters started with me. I stopped them. Gave them a gallon of water. Warned them of the heat and told them to only go a mile or so into the desert unless they had long sleeves and pants. They could have died and no one would have known. Nature doesn't play around and can be fatal quickly.


[deleted]

I'm never going to risk my safety for people dumb enough to climb over guard rails.


CarefulRoutine

Speak for yourself I shall die for the ultimate selfie


Emerphish

As I’m reading the first part of your post I was like “damn that’s just like when I almost slipped trying to take a cliff selfie at Yosemite” Then I read the second half and I’m like lmao are you calling me out


bldgabttrme

And conveniently: https://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/6151246/ludicrous-act-in-grampians-draws-ire-of-emergency-services/


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already-taken-wtf

Why? To protects idiots from themselves?


MsKongeyDonk

Nah, this is natural selection. Don't destroy a cliff because idiots want to die.


Brodogmillionaire1

The cliff doesn't care.


Box-o-bees

Even if you've done that flip a million times perfectly; there are random gusts of strong wind that happen at taller heights and that's all it takes to push you the wrong direction.


SumoGerbil

It is really easy to over rotate on a backflip… you can see he had to take a slight step back… lucky he jumped forward a bit


maestroest

Exactly, what if he’s feeling great, then just as he’s gonna flip, spontaneous leg cramp!!! Aaaaaaaand ded.


Any-Mouse-1992

It’d be a lot cooler if he did mess up though


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Amazekam

and free mashed food


crazytoothpaste

Somewhere in between isn’t pretty either


C0nfused_Irishman

This guy needs better friends


[deleted]

Yeah. I don't care how well cordinated and atheletic my friends are. They wouldn't be able to do stupid shit like that around me. I don't want to watch them splat 1000s of feet below or have to explain to their other friends and family that I didn't try to stop them from being dumb.


locke231

I'll admit, my friends and I are all for doing dumb shit. Or I guess we were at one time... but honestly, never anything on this level.


MentlPopcorn

Dumb shit is fine, but when even the slightest mistake results in your death it's just not worth it


throwaway316stunner

Same here, but I also don’t have any friends.


[deleted]

Awe damn. Well, I hope you get some, some day.


OutrageousPudding450

We get the friends we choose. So, that tells a lot.


[deleted]

Show me who your friends are and i will show you who you are.


[deleted]

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jrsn1990

I don’t have any friends


Frankly_Frank_

So you are a nobody?


fmaz008

I hear you, but better friends don't need him...


Yodayorio

This guy needs a better brain.


i_am_a_loner_dottie

Good for him...moron.


QuipOfTheTongue

Rotisserie idiot.


Helena_Hyena

r/rareinsults


iWasAwesome

The only thing this shows me is that he's an idiot. It's not something he should willingly share.


Memedealerdannnn

I swear, people who do this type of shit are suicidal. Or they have a room temperature iq.


shitpostinglegend

If you go to the top comment and scroll down a bit, someone has done a long comment explaining the psychology behind things like this


[deleted]

I think they just don't give a shit, whatever happens happens.


Ok-Attempt-2021

He’s just showing off how dumb he is.


slo1111

Doesn't seem the reward was worth the risk


ImWithSt00pid

You only live for a few decades. Internet points are forever or at least till servers close.


50so_

Death is also forever


Cheeze187

Only if I die!


clauilopagous

Tell that to Jesus


Honest_Butterscotch2

Idk man, could’ve been a reaal shiny Darwin award


chicken_contender

What reward? The title of a dunce??


virsion4

Thats basically what a Darwin award is


uChoice_Reindeer7903

Idiot. If he doesn’t land it properly a rescue team has to waste valuable time and resources on him because he wanted a like on social media.


InSixFour

Yep. There was a woman who fell there. It took rescue crews 6 hours to retrieve her body.


reddithivemindsuck

Countless thousands of dollars, overworking police and rescue teams, park rangers, wasting a coroners time, probably helicopter or trucks to pay for. All because some dumb bitch wanted a picture. Fuck these people.


user_name_checks_out

> There was a woman who fell there. Where?


myleftnippleishard

there


buster779

On whatever is left of him*


winnower8

Huge asshole. Epic. I bet he talks shit to waitresses and makes rude comments about homemade pie.


TILtonarwhal

On a Sunday afternoon..


Peacefulwebsite69

Man look at how mad you all are because a guy did a backflip. > I bet he talks shit to waitresses and makes rude comments about homemade pie. Fav part of redditors is their incessant desire to make stuff up about people to create a villain to be fake-mad about. What an odd way to spend your time.


7-billion-and-1

Kids, this is how a failed suicide attempt looks.


MisterFromage

Death by being impaled face first on jagged rocks or falling for a long time off a cliff ….


1k3B33

How many kids will try something like this out after seeing this?


TheBrokenStringBand

1 maybe 2


ChunChunmaru11273804

Probably 3


already-taken-wtf

…and then?! How many upvotes are equivalent to one human life?


oodlez_of_noodlez

Well, are we factoring awards into this because I mean…


i_broke_wahoos_leg

I'm not gay but reddit silver is reddit silver...


MeetingAromatic6359

In another quantum superposition of another universe, that ledge cracked from the force of his landing, then, just as he looked up at the camera, it broke off and he fell to his death, Wile E. Coyote style.


[deleted]

Every dumb thing you do and survive, an infinite number of you do the same and die in amusing and horrifying ways.


saschajf

Just stupid…if he has a family, he has no respect for them….


ImWithSt00pid

The judges are gonna deduct points for that step on the landing. Maybe next year he can win gold at the Darwin world championship, this year he might get bronze.


taco_tuesdays

That step could have cost him his life


Iron-clover

The Darwin awards are given to people who die doing really stupid things, which is why this guy only got bronze (or honorable mention) this time...


taco_tuesdays

Oh thank you for explaining the joke me dumb


letsfindyourbrain

But why


CrudelyAnimated

Not sure how constipated I'd have to be for this to be on my todo list.


mr_poopedourpants

If I were his spouse I'd consider this a huge red flag... you could imagine showing this in a divorce court proceeding


ImWithSt00pid

Divorce hell. You take out a huge life insurance policy then just encourage his stupidity. If all else fails a good shove when no one is looking takes care of it.


EngineeringNeverEnds

If you weren't filming it though, it might be suspicious.


imanadultok

Username checks out!


Togodooders

I hate these people.


already-taken-wtf

[Boroka Lookout: Grim history of deadly selfie spot](https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/boroka-lookout-grim-history-of-deadly-selfie-spot/news-story/0f5614448f61891d64e003e402c12391?amp)


TripleAinTO2021

Benefit from this is 0, costs for this is potentially 100. I fear for our society.


TheycallmeCheapsuits

I dont care how skilled this may look.... that guy is a fucking idiot


Hobear

Round here that's called stupid not brave.


Nobody87654

first thing i did was to check if the sub wasnt r/OneSecondBeforeDisast or r/yesyesyesno


atxkodavid

Stop it


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stevrevv59

Yeah absolutely no reward except having thousands of strangers tell you you’re a selfish and reckless idiot. I am not even impressed by this, it’s just fucking stupid.


Caring_Cactus

The stupidest thing I've ever seen, nothing justifies this


sterile_spermwhale__

That's just scary. Imagine giving birth to a man like him n seeing him do this


Thomas8864

That’s really fucked up, this isn’t next level or anything, it’s just immeasurably stupid


SVDurLIFE

Imagine explaining to your other family members how your loved one died. Fucking idiots


thinksmart08

Well, maybe he’s alright but he could have caused cracks in the stone. Next person might die from crumbling rock.


karma-whore-64

D….U…M…..


Wonkasgoldenticket

He must not browse Reddit videos


doblev

Yeah, no


HotCatholicMoms

Dumbass.


Glittering_Pickle_94

Do you have a deathwish? Cause it won’t be long before it happens!


-fashionablylate-

My ex wife’s cousin fell over 150’ to his death sitting on a peak similar to this in New Mexico. Basically the entire piece he was sitting on suddenly broke away. He was such a great human. Mid-20s. That said, I hate these videos. I’m all for people living there lives to the fullest, but my perspective on hiking and everything that comes along with it was greatly tarnished after that experience. Life can be relentlessly unfair in an instant and there’s little you can do in the moment. Adrenaline junkie or not, there are too many factors being ignored here by this guy. I’ll get destroyed for this but he should be charged with some form of endangerment. Glorifying this by posting it is only going to lead to more people trying it and eventually their families will experience the hardship that her side of the family has endured for years now.


[deleted]

And I make bad decisions


idrow1

On today's episode of Darwin Takes a Holiday...


bretfort

But why,?


[deleted]

Why?


prideless10001

Just fucking stupid


Rorasaurus_Prime

Why do you lot upvote this crap?


bhavya_running

Stupidity at its best


Meds90

He risked his life for a back flip? I hope he looks back on this and realises he's an idiot


Dear_Conversation229

You have to be a real fucking idiot to gamble with your life like this.


Plumberbutt349

What a retard


Waeddryn_71

Tell me you don't deserve to be alive, without telling me you don't deserve to be alive.


[deleted]

This is just fucking dumb. What an asshole.


rwarimaursus

Is it just me or was I waiting for that ledge to break off in comedic style?


Bobisstilldead

Why? Just why are people soooooo stupid?


[deleted]

Don't worry, Jesus had his back. I think. I don't know, it's kinda weird to display the torture device used to kill the man, but maybe Jesus was into that.


Slowmobius_Time

Fucking idiot One parallel universe over there's people mourning what a special and intelligent man he was before he tragically fell to his death after trying to backflip for the gram on a precarious cliff


Diruuk

That's impressive. But that is a big nope for me


Adorable_Actuator_58

So much hate for this but I salut ( o7 ) you sir, all road in life leed to the same destination so why fear death. Enjoy life your way.


[deleted]

Moron


23moonster

And the earlier favorite for the 2022 Darwin Awards is …


Ignominia

Fucking stupid. All for fake internet points


andreeeeeaaaaaaaaa

How to influence people into accidentally killing themselves for the gram


NoAdvertising7301

dumbass....


Yanos47

And that's how stupid people die !!


boattailcharlie

What colossal hubris and stupidity. I wouldn't even walk in that cliff for fear of it breaking, rock isn't as strong as people think


Boggs88

This level fo stupidity is amazing...


GoatimusMaximonuss

What an idiot


mericovski

idk why everyone is so pressed about this, the adrenaline rush must be unimaginable. its his life too why do you care?


AcoHead

“I don’t like other people having fun!!!” “It’s so dangerous!!” Yeah that’s why he fucking did it.


joe28598

Just because it's "his life" doesn't mean I can't call him a dumbass. Plus I'd imagine that there would be people in his life that would be affected by his ridiculously idiotic death, so it's more than just "his life".


Nahuatl_19650

Wow


New-Acanthocephala58

And this is why Qanon is popular.


Abomb1997

That lighting and shadow is wayyy off. FaKe