# Flashforward - What if everyone passed out? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 29, 2009, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashforward-what-if-everyone-passed-out/511943 "2009-09-29T03:28:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashforward-what-if-everyone-passed-out/511943/21 "2009-09-29T11:32:17Z")
> [@constanze](#): > > But does the autopilot / automatic system jump in once the pilot stops reacting; is it set automatically nowadays as soon as things are running normal, or would the pilot/ operator need a one-minute warning to activate it? Because in the 80s TV movies, the autopilot would need to be explicitly engaged, but then, they have apparently improved the software a lot since then. It is rare for the pilots of a commercial airliner to be hand-flying at any time other than take-off and landing. So, no the autopilot won’t jump in once the pilot stops reacting but the autopilot will already be engaged and the pilot might spill his coffee or neglect to make a radio call. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashforward-what-if-everyone-passed-out/511943/22 "2009-09-29T12:50:24Z")
> [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > If even one crashes on the airstrip, then that airstrip can’t be landed on. Several difficulties with this: - Airliners can divert to airfields that remain clear. - Not all crashes would result in wreckage blocking the runway - many would wind up elsewhere on or near the airfield. - Airliners carry enough fuel to reach an alternate field and then fly for 45 minutes. That’s long enough for ground personnel to clear a lot of wreckage. - Aircraft can land on other runways, or un-blocked sections of runway, or on taxiways, or at other airfields, or on the grass - all are better options than giving up hope and simply plunging into the ground. > [@](#): > > And the crash might take out more than one runway. Possible, but most unlikely. Many sizable airports have parallel, non-intersecting runways. ---
**Author:** ![Kingspades](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecae2f/32.png) [@Kingspades](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kingspades)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashforward-what-if-everyone-passed-out/511943/23 "2009-09-29T13:13:40Z")
Can someone help me understand what all would catch fire in the space of two and a half minutes? There’s going to be the odd situation where someone knocks a candle off a table as they pass out, but most things on stoves and ovens can be left unattended for that short a time without disaster. Having never used a blowtorch before, do they generally have kill switches on them? ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashforward-what-if-everyone-passed-out/511943/24 "2009-09-29T13:16:48Z")
I think the primary airliner disasters would be those who are circling the airport or in line to land. I used to live under one of the approaches to IAD, and I can tell you that’s a lot of airplanes. A lot of really big airplanes. Two minutes, I’m guessing was at least three planes passing over head in a direct line approach, not to mention the ones circling at a higher altitude. I agree that the planes int he air would have a terrible time finding a safe place to land. But I also agree that the number one casualty cause would be traffic accidents, and the subsequent inabilityt o move them to the hospital. So, it sounds like the passing-out is not in itself the “flashforward”. So what is the “flashforward”? ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashforward-what-if-everyone-passed-out/511943/25 "2009-09-29T13:24:07Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I wonder how many people worldwide are swimming, surfing, diving, snorkeling, etc. at any given time. The TV show did show most of the surfers off Santa Monica Pier (?; some LA area pier anyway) drowning. It wasn’t deaths but one thing I’d expect more of that weren’t shown in the premiere episode would be serious joint sprains, bruising, and head injuries from completely unrestrained falls from a standing position. A lot of heads would have bounced off a lot of cement. ---
**Author:** ![xnylder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bbce88/32.png) [@xnylder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xnylder)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashforward-what-if-everyone-passed-out/511943/26 "2009-09-29T14:11:00Z")
> [@Kingspades](#): > > Can someone help me understand what all would catch fire in the space of two and a half minutes? There’s going to be the odd situation where someone knocks a candle off a table as they pass out, but most things on stoves and ovens can be left unattended for that short a time without disaster. Having never used a blowtorch before, do they generally have kill switches on them? I think fires would be a huge problem in poor, densely populated areas. For example, at any given moment in the slums of India, Bangladesh, or Brazil there must be thousands of people cooking with hot oil or over open flames. I’ve seen cooks’ clothing catch fire in a few seconds of inattention, let alone two minutes. Then consider that these neighborhoods aren’t built to any fire code and therefore don’t have the clear alleys and heavy concrete walls we’d expect to act as firebreaks. For example, [this fire](http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/12/2137230.htm)in an Indian market took 13 hours to put out. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashforward-what-if-everyone-passed-out/511943/27 "2009-09-29T14:42:46Z")
> [@xnylder](#): > > I think fires would be a huge problem in poor, densely populated areas. That’s understandable, but in the TV show, they were in downtown LA, and showed fires in several high-rises; some had several fires burning. I was wondering the same thing as **Kingspades**. What would catch fire and spread so quickly in an office building or apartment building? Even if someone had just put a Hot Pocket in the toaster oven, it wouldn’t cause a huge fire with black smoke pouring out of the windows in just 2 minutes. ---
**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:** [September 29, 2009, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashforward-what-if-everyone-passed-out/511943/28 "2009-09-29T15:01:29Z")
If, by chance, I’m “busy” with my gf and we both pass out, will I maintain my erection? Just curious. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashforward-what-if-everyone-passed-out/511943/29 "2009-09-29T15:10:57Z")
I could definitely see car/semi truck fires spreading, but office fires? I don’t see that happening. You get that after, like, earthquakes. Or an airplane flying into a building. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashforward-what-if-everyone-passed-out/511943/30 "2009-09-29T15:41:36Z")
Yeah, I forgot that most planes run on auto-pilot these days, and that many even land on auto-pilot. Good thing we don’t have a fleet of piloted nuclear-armed B-52s in the air 24/7 these days. Or do we? Car crashes would be the major problem. And of course in Hollywood, every car that crashes bursts into flames. So that’s where you get all your fires from. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashforward-what-if-everyone-passed-out/511943/31 "2009-09-29T15:43:27Z")
Well, there are certainly a lot of trucks carrying flammable materials on the road - fires on and near highways would probably be a huge problem. And tunnels… I don’t want to think about the tunnels. Very bad. But if I passed out here at my computer at work for two minutes I don’t think I would wake up to a major fire. In fact, I think we’d all be fine unless some of us were standing up and hit our heads. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashforward-what-if-everyone-passed-out/511943/32 "2009-09-29T15:52:51Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > …So, it sounds like the passing-out is not in itself the “flashforward”. So what is the “flashforward”? Based on the ads, people see a vision of their future when passed out. They then wake up with the vision. For example, one woman sees herself cheating on her husband. From the ads, it seems the question is whether these are “true” visions or some sort of warning from above. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashforward-what-if-everyone-passed-out/511943/33 "2009-09-29T16:06:35Z")
I’m pretty sure that more people would drown in their bathtubs than would die from being involved in a plane crash. But in the industrilaized nations, by far the biggest casualties would be due to out of control behicles vehicles on the highways and interstates. Followed up by slower speed traffic in the cities running up on sidewalks taking out pedestrians. Those numbers will then be compounded by the inability of emergency personnel to get anywhere due to the miles of wrecked and disabled vehicles. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashforward-what-if-everyone-passed-out/511943/34 "2009-09-29T16:09:20Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > If, by chance, I’m “busy” with my gf and we both pass out, will I maintain my erection? Just curious. Well you can have an erection in your sleep… ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashforward-what-if-everyone-passed-out/511943/35 "2009-09-29T16:13:42Z")
Did they show all the people who amended their flashforwards to make themselves sound more important, or to get in a gibe at someone? Did is show people who’s stories changed slightly every time they talked about it? ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashforward-what-if-everyone-passed-out/511943/36 "2009-09-29T16:31:24Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > Did they show all the people who amended their flashforwards to make themselves sound more important, or to get in a gibe at someone? Did is show people who’s stories changed slightly every time they talked about it? I laughed when I read this. You’re right, because most people’s futures are probably going to be pretty basic. If all I saw was myself doing pretty much what I’m doing now, I might be tempted to embellish my vision a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashforward-what-if-everyone-passed-out/511943/37 "2009-09-29T16:40:46Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Good thing we don’t have a fleet of piloted nuclear-armed B-52s in the air … Nuclear bombs must undergo an elaborate arming process in order to actually “go nuclear” - if any of those B-52s crashed you’d have a cleanup problem, but no mushroom cloud. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashforward-what-if-everyone-passed-out/511943/38 "2009-09-29T16:50:21Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > I laughed when I read this. You’re right, because most people’s futures are probably going to be pretty basic. If all I saw was myself doing pretty much what I’m doing now, I might be tempted to embellish my vision a bit. I probably wouldn’t even know it was the future. ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashforward-what-if-everyone-passed-out/511943/39 "2009-09-29T17:10:34Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > This is based on the book by Robert J Sawyer, isn’t it? In that book, IIRC, people who flashforward while asleep simply think that they have really vivid dreams. Until they wake up and start to compare notes. Thank you! I watched the whole show thinking I had Deja Vu and kept telling my wife what was going to happen next. I knew I’d read the same premise in a book but couldn’t remember. I magine my surprise when I realized it was by a fellow Canadian, I’d assumed it was Dean Koontz or someone similar. ---
**Author:** ![Clark\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c77e96/32.png) [@Clark\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clark_K)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashforward-what-if-everyone-passed-out/511943/40 "2009-09-29T17:11:50Z")
I wonder if anyone has halfway-reliable statistics for the number of planes landing or taking off at any given moment and the number of automobile passengers. I think those are the two big categories. I hadn’t thought about the danger of fires in huge slums. I could easily see that being a major killer. I wonder about trains. Do they need regular input from the engineer to avoid crashing or are they more like planes on autopilot? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashforward-what-if-everyone-passed-out/511943.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashforward-what-if-everyone-passed-out/511943.md?page=3)