# can he stand up there that long? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 21, 2002, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-he-stand-up-there-that-long/110200 "2002-05-21T23:42:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2002, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-he-stand-up-there-that-long/110200/1 "2002-05-21T23:42:47Z")
I tried a search, but nothing came up. Am I the first to ask this? David Blaine is going to be standing on a 9 story pole with a small standing area, so he must stand. Til tomorrow evening. Then, he’s supposed to jump off into a bunch of cardboard boxes. Safe? Stupid? ---
**Author:** ![SCSimmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@SCSimmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCSimmons)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-he-stand-up-there-that-long/110200/2 "2002-05-22T03:33:09Z")
Can’t tell you about the ‘standing’ part, but the ‘jumping’ should be fine, if he can still move at that point. 🙂 Cardboard boxes (in multiple layers) work well for breaking falls in that distance range, as they are fairly elastic in the associated range of impact speeds. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-he-stand-up-there-that-long/110200/3 "2002-05-22T03:37:22Z")
Reuters never makes links for me. ☹ > **[Breaking International News & Views](https://www.reuters.com?edition-redirect=uk)** > [@](#): > > NEW YORK (Reuters) - Magician David Blaine…has been hoisted to the top of an 80-foot (24-meter) pillar in midtown Manhattan, where he intends for stand for 35 hours. > > “See you guys in about 35 hours,” Blaine told reporters on Tuesday as he was lifted by a crane to the top of the pillar behind the Fifth Avenue branch of the New York Public Library. > > Amid cheers from a few hundred fans and curious passersby, Blaine stepped onto the pillar, which at its peak has a width of about 22 inches (56 centimetres). Event organisers said Blaine is not harnessed to the column and the only concession made to safety is two handles on either side of Blaine, which he can clutch onto in the event of intense winds. > > The stunt will culminate on Wednesday night when Blaine, who models himself on the legendary Harry Houdini, dives from the platform onto corrugated cardboard boxes. Also at [http://abc.abcnews.go.com/primetime/specials/blaine/index.html](http://abc.abcnews.go.com/primetime/specials/blaine/index.html) > [@](#): > > SHOW PREVIEW > > David Blaine, known for his headline-making daring and his death-defying feats of physical and emotional endurance, will again put his life on the line. He will attempt to balance on a circular platform, only 22 inches in diameter, atop a free-standing 100-foot pillar — without the benefit of any safety net or airbag — for 35 hours in mid-town Manhattan’s Bryant Park. He will exit by plunging from the summit of the tower to street level with only cardboard boxes to break his fall — live — on David Blaine’s Vertigo. Safe? No. Stupid? Yes. He can stay awake for 35 hours easy, and even easier if he takes pills. The leap into the cardboard boxes is more problematical, but remember, he’s an “illusionist”, so I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a stuntman’s landing pad under the boxes. I notice that whereas the Reuters article specifies that it’s an 80 foot pillar, all of Blaine’s official press releases (ABC, etc.) say it’s 100 feet high. :rolleyes: Also, 80 feet is not that high. The Norman Keep of Kenilworth Castle, in England, is 80 feet high. Scroll down about 1/4 of the way, to where it says “This is the Norman Keep”. [http://www.cv81pl.freeserve.co.uk/kenilworth.htm](http://www.cv81pl.freeserve.co.uk/kenilworth.htm) Alternate picture. [http://www.btinternet.com/~timeref/hpl300.htm](http://www.btinternet.com/~timeref/hpl300.htm) ---
**Author:** ![sirjamesp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@sirjamesp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sirjamesp)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-he-stand-up-there-that-long/110200/4 "2002-05-22T07:32:09Z")
Spoiler coming up: [spoiler]According to the UK press, he was planning to “accidentally” mess up the crash landing and fake his own death (he said by lowering his heartbeat through meditation, though I suspect a fake doctor would be easier). After a few days of free hype, he would appear alive and well. His agent was pretty pissed about the revelation, and said that there might be another surpise up Blaine’s sleeve - so perhaps this won’t happen after all. Or maybe the UK press were just well off, which wouldn’t be a first.[/spoiler] ---
**Author:** ![LolaBaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@LolaBaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaBaby)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-he-stand-up-there-that-long/110200/5 "2002-05-22T07:35:50Z")
35 hours? What about bowel/bladder relief? Don’t stand within a 50 ft radius of the pole, farther if it’s windy. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-he-stand-up-there-that-long/110200/6 "2002-05-22T07:49:24Z")
I’d be more impressed if he jumped down from the top of his massive ego. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-he-stand-up-there-that-long/110200/7 "2002-05-22T07:57:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Duck Duck Goose \* > \*\*Also, 80 feet is not that high. The Norman Keep of Kenilworth Castle, in England, is 80 feet high. \*\* Have you ever looked down from 80 feet? I’ve repelled off of an 80-foot tower and I thought it seemed pretty damn high. Also, I used to jump off of these 35-40 foot cliffs and that was a damn long fall - definately enough to kill a person had there not been water at the bottom. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-he-stand-up-there-that-long/110200/8 "2002-05-22T08:00:34Z")
Sorry, my last post was not meant to be in defense of David Blaine, I don’t really care for the guy and I know he uses camera tricks. I just wanted to say that an 80-foot drop is nothing to scoff at and I seriously doubt he would live if he were to fall. Just wanted to clear that up. ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-he-stand-up-there-that-long/110200/9 "2002-05-22T09:40:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Duck Duck Goose \* > The leap into the cardboard boxes is more problematical, but remember, he’s an “illusionist”, so I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a stuntman’s landing pad under the boxes. Stuntmen actually use cardboard boxes as landing pads. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-he-stand-up-there-that-long/110200/10 "2002-05-22T10:02:02Z")
St Simeon Stylites stayed on top of his pillar for 36 years, ate the maggots pulled from his own sores for sustenance, and only came down as a corpse. Now that`s what I call entertainment! [http://www.syriauk.com/st%20simeon.htm](http://www.syriauk.com/st%20simeon.htm) ---
**Author:** ![grimpixie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@grimpixie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grimpixie)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-he-stand-up-there-that-long/110200/11 "2002-05-22T10:14:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by LolaBaby \* > **35 hours? What about bowel/bladder relief?** He’s apparantly using a catheter… Gp ---
**Author:** ![sirjamesp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@sirjamesp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sirjamesp)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-he-stand-up-there-that-long/110200/12 "2002-05-22T10:24:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by LolaBaby \* > **35 hours? What about bowel/bladder relief?** > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by grimpixie \* > > **He’s apparantly using a catheter…** Well, getting down will be easy then - the full catheter should cushion his landing. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_great_unwashed/32/4791_2.png) [@The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-he-stand-up-there-that-long/110200/13 "2002-05-22T13:04:15Z")
REMEMBER… He’s a bloody illusionist for Christssake! Nobody is standing up an 80/100ft pole unsurported for 35 hours – just don’t ask me what is really going on – I could tell you but then I’d have to kill you. ---
**Author:** ![Vaioman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ecccb3/32.png) [@Vaioman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vaioman)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-he-stand-up-there-that-long/110200/14 "2002-05-22T14:45:15Z")
He’s got magnet shoes! heheh ---
**Author:** ![chula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a4c791/32.png) [@chula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chula)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-he-stand-up-there-that-long/110200/15 "2002-05-22T15:37:27Z")
I have the impression that he is not an illusionist. He’s like Houdini or tight-rope walkers. He’ll probably end up getting himself killed at some point. Maybe I’ll go check it out. I’m going to be in Midtown this evening. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-he-stand-up-there-that-long/110200/16 "2002-05-22T16:08:33Z")
> [@](#): > > ate the maggots pulled from his own sores for sustenance, since the maggots were feeding from him I can’t see how this would help. Also He might have some hidden device in his pants to help hold him up ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-he-stand-up-there-that-long/110200/17 "2002-05-22T16:14:28Z")
Not if I have anything to do with it. [Packs a good strong rubber band, a paper clip and a pea-shooter into her purse and heads West toward Bryant Park] ---
**Author:** ![shelbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@shelbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shelbo)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-he-stand-up-there-that-long/110200/18 "2002-05-22T16:17:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by chula \* > \*\*I have the impression that he is not an illusionist. He’s like Houdini or tight-rope walkers. He’ll probably end up getting himself killed at some point. > > Maybe I’ll go check it out. I’m going to be in Midtown this evening. \*\* Bring a BB gun . . . 😃 ---
**Author:** ![SCSimmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@SCSimmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCSimmons)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-he-stand-up-there-that-long/110200/19 "2002-05-22T16:19:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Floater \* > \*\*Stuntmen actually use cardboard boxes as landing pads. \*\* I suppose I should amplify on my post above (the first response) since we seem to have a skeptic. A cardboard box can’t collapse as quite as quickly as you’re moving when you hit it from that high. It’s collapse rate is such that it slows the faller down fairly rapidly but not dangerously so-very much like hitting a pad. One box won’t do it, but three or four stacked up will work pretty well … Now, from much higher than Blaine’s talking about, the collapse of the box is a _lot_ slower than your impact speed, and it’ll be more like landing on concrete. From 80 feet, this method will be painful but (presuming good landing technique) probably not injurious. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_great_unwashed/32/4791_2.png) [@The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-he-stand-up-there-that-long/110200/20 "2002-05-22T16:38:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by chula \* > \*\*I have the impression that he is not an illusionist. He’s like Houdini or tight-rope walkers. \*\* ?!?!? Cecil (and everyone else for that matter) considers Houdini to have been an illusionist. [Cecil’s Column](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_041.html) And you can see tight-rope walkers practice, they do it very near the ground. Take it from me (as an amateur presdigitator and card-sharp of many years) Mr Blain performs illusions not miracles. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-he-stand-up-there-that-long/110200.md?page=2)