# Anti-hot air balloon website...insane! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 7, 2009, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-hot-air-balloon-website-insane/520338 "2009-12-07T18:24:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-hot-air-balloon-website-insane/520338/1 "2009-12-07T18:24:23Z")
Talk about holding a grudge. This woman, Marci Cook, was injured in a hot air balloon accident. She therefore made it her life’s work to speak out against the evils of ballooning. [hotairballoonaccidents.com](http://www.hotairballoonaccidents.com/) is a site she set up which is entirely devoted to exposing the “hot air balloon propaganda” which she apparently believes is brainwashing so many people. Furthermore she also shills a book on how to “succeed” in Multi-Level Marketing. The book is called [High Voltage Success](http://www.hotairballoonaccidents.com/HIGHVOLTAGE.html) (she was zapped by a powerline - talk about a dignified title) and promises “shockingly simple secrets to building your MLM business.” Somehow her hatred of hot air balloons is tied in with her “secrets,” I take it. The rest of the site is devoted to bashing the FAA and talking about how evil hot air balloons are. “HOT AIR BALLON KILLS WOMAN IN ALBUQUREQUE,” screams one of the headlines. (Reminds me of “man killed by gun” articles which I, unfortunately, see everywhere.) :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-hot-air-balloon-website-insane/520338/2 "2009-12-07T18:34:32Z")
So, one injury makes for a “ **deadly hot air balloon ride!** ”, huh? Someone needs to explain the definition of the word “deadly” to her. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-hot-air-balloon-website-insane/520338/3 "2009-12-07T18:42:26Z")
Wow. The only thing worse than a nutjob is a nutjob who writes on a 3rd grade level. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-hot-air-balloon-website-insane/520338/4 "2009-12-07T18:54:17Z")
Funny stuff. January 12, 2002 – started out uneventful as far as day for hot hair balloon rides… … …This was a deadly hot air balloon ride! ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-hot-air-balloon-website-insane/520338/5 "2009-12-07T18:58:35Z")
Isn’t the internet great? ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-hot-air-balloon-website-insane/520338/6 "2009-12-07T19:10:28Z")
_“The electrified metal of the hot air balloon sent 9000 volts through both sides of my head.”_ In this day and age she really should take a greener approach to the wanton use of our energy resources. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-hot-air-balloon-website-insane/520338/7 "2009-12-07T19:23:53Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > _“The electrified metal of the hot air balloon sent 9000 volts through both sides of my head.”_ Too easy. An a different note… can I ask how you found this site, **Argent Towers**? You don’t have to answer, but I’m imagining you googled “hot air balloon accidents” and I’m wondering why anybody would do that. ---
**Author:** ![Bootis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e8c25b/32.png) [@Bootis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootis)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-hot-air-balloon-website-insane/520338/8 "2009-12-07T19:28:27Z")
Interesting, I came to the realization earlier this morning that every single accident, misfortune, and tragedy in my life so far has been non-balloon related, as good a reason as any to call for mandatory balloon-only travel for all. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-hot-air-balloon-website-insane/520338/9 "2009-12-07T19:32:18Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Too easy. > > An a different note… can I ask how you found this site, **Argent Towers**? You don’t have to answer, but I’m imagining you googled “hot air balloon accidents” and I’m wondering why anybody would do that. I was just wondering what could possibly go wrong on a hot air balloon, which is why I started [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=541926&highlight=balloon) some time ago. It seems like running into power lines is the greatest risk. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-hot-air-balloon-website-insane/520338/10 "2009-12-07T19:36:18Z")
Her book looks scintillating though. One will learn: > [@](#): > > - Can a person come in contact with 7,900 volts and live to tell about it? > > - Is it possible to go from keypunch operator to Human Resource Director with one of the most powerful corporations in the world? > > - Is franchising the answer to overnight success? > > - Did MLM Watchdog, Rod Cook really sell Marcie $145 worth of skin care products on their 5th date? ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-hot-air-balloon-website-insane/520338/11 "2009-12-07T19:41:50Z")
Hot air balloons still have nothing on blimps. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-hot-air-balloon-website-insane/520338/12 "2009-12-07T19:52:18Z")
Hook her up with [Larry Walters.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Walters) He’ll explain that hot air isn’t all that. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Weird\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@The\_Weird\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Weird_One)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-hot-air-balloon-website-insane/520338/13 "2009-12-07T19:56:45Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > Hot air balloons still have nothing on blimps. Bunkum and balderdash! I tell you, good sir, the dirigible is the only way to fly for the discerning gentleman or lady! ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-hot-air-balloon-website-insane/520338/14 "2009-12-07T19:57:06Z")
She may be a bit of a whack job, but in the middle of her OMG HOT AIR BALLOONS ARE THE SPAWN OF SATAN stuff she does actually have a valid point. There are on average about 20 hot air balloon accidents per year, and there are also about 1900 general aviation accidents per year (note - an accident doesn’t necessarily mean a fatality - fatality statistics are much lower), which initially might make you think that balloons are much safer. However, there are a lot less balloons than fixed wing aircraft being used. If you average up the statistics per hour of flight, hot air balloons are actually much more dangerous than fixed wing aircraft. Ms. Whack Job says 4 times more dangerous, but the statistics I’ve seen put it closer to 5. She may be a whacko, but she does at least appear to be using accurate statistics. She even quotes the 20/1900 statistics on her web site. This site presents the same statistics without the OMG HOT AIR BALLOONS ARE TEH EVIL rhetoric. This site shows that if you lose the crazy lady attitude there is actually a reasonable point to be made. [http://www.facworld.com/FACWORLD.nsf/Doc/Hotairballoon](http://www.facworld.com/FACWORLD.nsf/Doc/Hotairballoon) Also, while you are comparing statistics, it is interesting to note that about 1 out of every 3 general aviation accidents results in fatality, where the ratio for balloons is closer to 1 in 10. This means that while hot air balloons may have a higher accident rate, the fatality rate isn’t that much different than general aviation. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-hot-air-balloon-website-insane/520338/15 "2009-12-07T20:26:01Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Hook her up with [Larry Walters.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Walters) He’ll explain that hot air isn’t all that. She’ll need to arrange a séance for that hook up. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-hot-air-balloon-website-insane/520338/16 "2009-12-07T20:39:12Z")
Tough year for balloons. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-hot-air-balloon-website-insane/520338/17 "2009-12-07T20:40:39Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > She’ll need to arrange a séance for that hook up. 😛 Ah, but she reads like the type who would be into that type of thing.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-hot-air-balloon-website-insane/520338/18 "2009-12-07T20:41:26Z")
Wow, because of her efforts, I hope **someday** no one is ever forced to ride in a hot air balloon **ever again**! She’s got a point. If my kids are going to be taken to school in hot air balloons, then they need to be safe or **banned**! Also, when I am heading to and from work every day, do I really need to be dodging hot air balloons at every turn? I’ve had enough. My police department and fire company are routinely late, and now I realize through her website expose that it’s because they insist on using hot air balloons that are slow and (apparently) dangerous! ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-hot-air-balloon-website-insane/520338/19 "2009-12-07T20:50:59Z")
This thread brings to mind the BeBop Deluxe song “Life in the Air Age”: _Life in the Air Age isn’t all the brochures say Life in the Air Age it’s too dangerous to stay Life in the Air Age airships crashing every day into the bay_ ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-hot-air-balloon-website-insane/520338/20 "2009-12-07T22:46:36Z")
She got a balloon ride AND a helicopter ride. What a frickin complainer. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-hot-air-balloon-website-insane/520338.md?page=2)