If you’ve ever been to a place like the Grand Canyon, you know what it’s like to look faaaaaar down at something. Perhaps you’re a hiker, or maybe you’ve ridden in a lot of small planes. If so, we bet you’re not as afraid as those who stay far away from those things!
When you’re standing on the edge looking down, do you get nervous butterflies? Maybe some vertigo kicks in and you get a bit dizzy. Or, maybe you love it! Doesn’t scare you one bit.
Please tell us in today’s poll. Thanks!
When I worked construction in my younger days as a certified pipe welder, I was asked if heights bothered me. My reply was, “It’s not the height that bothers me, it’s the depth.”
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As a retired High Rise Structural Ironworker I can safely say that after working in the sky anywhere from 30 ft to almost 1,000 ft. that after awhile you get more comfortable with looking down. But I have always maintained a serious respect for what that sudden stop at the bottom of a fall can do.
But the View up there is AWESOME
Sounds like my dad, Mark. He was an ironworker in the ’40s and ’50s in Seattle. He worked on several of the buildings downtown, as well as the TV towers up on Queen Anne Hill. I think he might have had some close calls that we didn’t hear about. One day he called it quits, after an I-beam fell on his car that he was standing right next to. But once when he was working on a building north of Seattle, he took our family up there and took my older sister and me up to about the 3rd floor to “experience” walking across an I-beam. My mom was down on the ground level about having a panic attack, I’m sure! I still remember he was a member of Local 86, and I would read the magazine that he received from them. BTW – I’m not afraid of heights. Have a great day! 🙂 –Diane
Ok just as long as I have a firm surface under my feet if more than 10 or 12 feet.
My fear is of deep water/drowning.
No fear of heights, just uncontrolled falls – it’s the sudden stop that gets you.
Only when up high 🤔. No I not fearful of heights, just careful and know my limits.
As a child I climbed trees and crawled around on cliffs. The older I got, the less willing I was to climb and work on roofs. Now, as a senior citizen I don’t even like changing the air filter in the ceiling.
Climbing up ladders has never been an issue for me. I like flying in a small plane at 3,000 feet and looking down at the area. Just wouldn’t want to be near the edge of a cliff without a railing.
Grand Canyon, walk slowly to edge with arm/hand out to grab rail, they move closer. I’ve been in small planes. Love window seat on any plane looking down. Not an issue. Ask about claustrophobia😬.
when i was younger suspension bridges like the Mackinaw Bridge would give the willies. no longer. and i hold a light sport pilot certificate so, no, no fear of heights.
I attribute my fear after falling out of a second story window when I was about 3.
I don’t have a fear of heights. I have a fear of depths. I can stand and look up at a tall building and I’m fine. Looking down scares the hell out of me. Even watching a video now that is taken from great heights makes me pucker.
Haha. Just looking at that picture made my legs go weak.
60 years ago I helped my father build wood stave silos without scaffolding by standing on the ends of 2×6 staves and walking the circle installing the next round then move up and do the next round. Those 2×6’s did a lot of moving because they could not be pulled together to tight or the next one would not slide into place. After that experience heights did not bother me one bit but like others have said at this age have to be a lot more careful
Only the fall…
I answered “can get by” but honestly I’d never be able to get on my roof as its all good as long as i have something waist -high to feel steady!
Never did have a problem until I had cataracts and the new lenses make me a little more cautious.
I’ve always told people I’m not sacred, my mother was frightened by a monkey.
I made 10 parachute jumps back in the early 1970’s. I LOVED every one and, if I can get back to 220 pounds, I’d jump again!
A wise old friend of mine once said “Watch out for Gravity”. True words of wisdom for those attempting to defy it.
I don’t have a fear of heights but I do have a fear of falling. Glass elevators–no problem. Garage roof–legs may shake.
No fear of heights but it’s a fact of nature, the higher you go, the tighter you hold on!
Years ago I was servicing the 100 foot Aerial ladder truck at work, the Snap-On guy came along. I gave him a ride up in the air. I think his fingerprints are still on it…
I just have a fear of that sudden stop at the bottom. I have slight vertigo now so no heights for me.
Those darn high rise hotels with full wall window… I have to crawl up to the edge and then I can enjoy the view or stand ten (10’+) feet back… open glass elevators on the building…
I respect heights but do not have a fear of them. My husband, on the other hand, is a very different story.
Back in the day, in my US Air Force years, I used to climb 90 foot poles and towers to work on radio antennas. Heights still don’t bother me but in my old age I have more respect for the situation. Stay safe, Stay well
I have a problem with the high sweeping flyovers. Always route around.
Some flyovers make me nervous, although I just pay close attention to staying in my lane. The Coronado Bridge between Coronado and San Diego is the main one that comes to mind!
One of my first jobs involved installing television antennas. This was before cable tv. Yes I’m old.
There were times that a 40 foot ladder would not reach all the way to the roofs, plus some of the roofs were slate. Getting on the roofs was not the problem, getting off the roof and onto the ladder was a little unnerving. There were times that I had to climb 50-70 free standing towers. Those things MOVE!
After the first few weeks, no more fear. Even though I’m now 72, I still do not have fear of heights.
That is my exact story also Bob. This was my hi-school job for about 3 years. You mentioned the slate roof – yes, I had to put an antenna on the local jail – 3 stories, slate roof – raining! Also onto a telephone tower. This was in the 50’s when Tv first arrived in eastern ND/w. Mn. While I don’t fear heights now – I do have a fear of moving from edge to ladder and vice-versa – never have the confidence the ladder will stay in one place! Travel safe and don’t look down!
The only time I had a fear of heights was when I was in the Navy and was told to paint the Mast. I only had to paint the lower 7 feet.
Starting my apprenticeship as a Machine Repairman at GM I had a fear of climbing on top of the big presses and press brakes as they were always covered in oil and slippery. My supervisor talked with me about my fear and told me that was part of the job description and if I couldn’t overcome my fear then I would have to return to production. I wanted that apprenticeship so I overcame my fear of heights.
Back in the day I worked on the masts of Navy ships at times. Hung over the side on a bosun chair and even climbed trees to knock a possum out. Then, I had a work accident and fell 23 feet to a concrete floor. Since then I avoid heights and get butterflies in my stomach just seeing heights etc on TV.
Spouse has a major fear of heights.
Only when someone is standing behind me
“We have nothing to fear but fear itself.” Great quote! After 2 years in Vietnam, I don’t have fear of fear. as so many, I have looked death in his eyes and pushed him aside, for if the Lord wanted me and didn’t have future plans for me, I would have gladly went along. I came back to teach juvenile offenders that they too could change their lives.
True! After Vietnam and only getting a severe cut while shaving when an enemy rocket landed close to the shower building. I developed a theory about life that when you are born your name is entered into the book of life, along side your birth date is your death date. Barring your doing something stupid like suicide you will live until that date, you may come close to dying but I believe God is in control of what happens in our life. That was 1968-1969 and I’m still around and very healthy, I may be gone tomorrow but He has awakened me to another glorious day.