# If you HAD to jump out of a skyscraper would you look up or down? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 11, 2024, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-jump-out-of-a-skyscraper-would-you-look-up-or-down/1007142 "2024-09-11T23:53:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dougrb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@dougrb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougrb)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2024, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-jump-out-of-a-skyscraper-would-you-look-up-or-down/1007142/1 "2024-09-11T23:53:49Z")
Ignoring that you may not be able to control which way you’re looking. Would you want to see it coming or not? I think I’d rather have it be a surprise. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2024, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-jump-out-of-a-skyscraper-would-you-look-up-or-down/1007142/2 "2024-09-11T23:56:56Z")
I have jumped out of a skyscraper, and I was looking down. Granted, it was a tourist attraction in Las Vegas and I was attached to a tether to control the fall so there was very little actual danger, but it was still the scariest thing I’ve ever experienced. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/oG0uRp4Z3cA/maxresdefault.jpg "Smapti does the Stratosphere Skyjump") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oG0uRp4Z3cA) ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2024, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-jump-out-of-a-skyscraper-would-you-look-up-or-down/1007142/3 "2024-09-11T23:59:11Z")
Eyes squeezed shut. Mouth open, screaming. Not gonna look. Also, I don’t think I’d _fly_, as in arms spread out. I think I’d ball up as tight as I could. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2024, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-jump-out-of-a-skyscraper-would-you-look-up-or-down/1007142/4 "2024-09-12T00:55:09Z")
One of my daydreams is that, with 24 hours left to live, I invite my wife and kids to the top of a skyscraper\* (oh sure, okay, you can all come if you bring BBQ and margarita-makings). \*Or a mountain/oceanside cliff, if I decide to take it easy on the cleanup crew. Then I say a short goodbye (ending with _WooHOOO!!!),_ and fall backwards into oblivion. So my answer is looking upward, so that I can ham it up… pretend I’m doing the backstroke, do a flip or two, maybe some jumping jacks, get people chuckling. (And maybe my lack of fear of death will rub off on my kids…) . Looking forward to stepping off as cooly as Smapti did… that was impressive. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2024, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-jump-out-of-a-skyscraper-would-you-look-up-or-down/1007142/5 "2024-09-12T01:07:29Z")
If I had no expectation of surviving, I would just close my eyes. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2024, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-jump-out-of-a-skyscraper-would-you-look-up-or-down/1007142/6 "2024-09-12T01:08:29Z")
Somewhat like @Elmer_J.Fudd, if I have no expectation of survival, I want to make sure it’s a surprise AND as instantaneous as possible, so I’m going to be looking up and trying to angle for a head first impact. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2024, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-jump-out-of-a-skyscraper-would-you-look-up-or-down/1007142/7 "2024-09-12T01:44:15Z")
I think I’d look down. If I’m looking up, I’m going to clenched up the entire way down, expecting to hit any time. If I look down, I can relax until the last second. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2024, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-jump-out-of-a-skyscraper-would-you-look-up-or-down/1007142/8 "2024-09-12T02:27:28Z")
I’d stay inside and breathe as much smoke and fumes as I could. ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![dougrb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@dougrb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougrb)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2024, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-jump-out-of-a-skyscraper-would-you-look-up-or-down/1007142/9 "2024-09-12T02:36:23Z")
That sounds slow and painfull. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2024, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-jump-out-of-a-skyscraper-would-you-look-up-or-down/1007142/10 "2024-09-12T02:40:02Z")
Yeah. I’m finding it hard to come up with reason, other than fire that would make think “beck, you gotta jump”. Death is death. I don’t see how either way would make any difference. I think I would stay in, hope for nice fire persons. And take the heat(heh). What else is there to make you jump from a skyscraper? But, not looking if I did jump. Eyes shut. 100% ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2024, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-jump-out-of-a-skyscraper-would-you-look-up-or-down/1007142/11 "2024-09-12T02:43:36Z")
That seems to ignore the hypothetical totally. I would be looking up. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2024, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-jump-out-of-a-skyscraper-would-you-look-up-or-down/1007142/12 "2024-09-12T02:55:39Z")
Flawed hypothetical, IMO. I have no cites, most people that jump are dead. Can’t ask, but I believe most peoples eyes would be clenched tightly closed. IMHO ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2024, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-jump-out-of-a-skyscraper-would-you-look-up-or-down/1007142/13 "2024-09-12T03:01:49Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > If I look down, I can relax until the last second. Your ability to relax in that situation is most impressive. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2024, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-jump-out-of-a-skyscraper-would-you-look-up-or-down/1007142/14 "2024-09-12T04:28:47Z")
Not asking about cites and/or other people. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2024, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-jump-out-of-a-skyscraper-would-you-look-up-or-down/1007142/15 "2024-09-12T04:38:11Z")
That’s nice…just sayin’ ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2024, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-jump-out-of-a-skyscraper-would-you-look-up-or-down/1007142/16 "2024-09-12T04:40:42Z")
It would never occur to me to look up. I am looking towards my inevitable future which is the ground. ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2024, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-jump-out-of-a-skyscraper-would-you-look-up-or-down/1007142/17 "2024-09-12T04:47:17Z")
No way, no how, not on this earth, in this life. F nooo! You are crazy and or really brave…maybe both. 😱 ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2024, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-jump-out-of-a-skyscraper-would-you-look-up-or-down/1007142/18 "2024-09-12T04:52:56Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > I am looking towards my inevitable future That’s the spirit! ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2024, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-jump-out-of-a-skyscraper-would-you-look-up-or-down/1007142/19 "2024-09-12T05:28:43Z")
> [@Sylvanz](#): > > No way, no how, not on this earth, in this life. F nooo! > > You are crazy and or really brave…maybe both. Both, yes. I first saw it when I was vacationing there in 2014, and I thought to myself “I don’t have time for that right now, but next time I come here I’m doing it whether I want to or not.” And when I went the next year, I practically forced myself to ride the bus to the Stratosphere and pay the $140 for the jump and the video package via a GoPro strapped to my wrist. I remember just before going out onto the ledge this French guy gave me a thumbs-up and said “Bon chance”. FWIW, once I was falling I don’t think I really had much ability to control my posture. I stepped off of the ledge and spent the rest of the fall in a standing pose with my arms stretched out. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2024, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-jump-out-of-a-skyscraper-would-you-look-up-or-down/1007142/20 "2024-09-12T05:33:30Z")
Looking down isn’t going to make the giant bouncy house appear or disappear, but looking up may give me a chance to grab a random parachute accidentally tossed out a window. Fate favors the ridiculously optimistic. 😄 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-jump-out-of-a-skyscraper-would-you-look-up-or-down/1007142.md?page=2)