# Jumping overboard.... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 6, 2000, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jumping-overboard/24782 "2000-07-06T20:38:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2000, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jumping-overboard/24782/1 "2000-07-06T20:38:38Z")
I found this little bit of trivia while wading through some sailing related websites. Never heard of this before and I’ve been sailing since I was 16. Then again, a sailboat is not a cruise ship… > [@](#): > > "A strange experience: > > The desire to jump off the stern of a ship, especially at night, is a common experience. It was several weeks into my first voyage before I got up the nerve to mention this to the captain. He sort of smiled and went on to tell me that this feeling was quite common. This “feeling” was so strong that I made it a point of never going aft on the main deck at night. During the day, there was no problem. What the…? Who in his/her right mind contemplates this kind of thing?.. \ Live and learn, live and learn… ---
**Author:** ![Eggs\_a\_la\_Ted](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c68b51/32.png) [@Eggs\_a\_la\_Ted](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eggs_a_la_Ted)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2000, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jumping-overboard/24782/2 "2000-07-06T23:43:39Z")
> [@](#): > > **What the…? Who in his/her right mind contemplates this kind of thing?..** ::hangs head in shame:: ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2000, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jumping-overboard/24782/3 "2000-07-07T00:59:29Z")
Who _doesn’t_ contemplate it? Same thing happens with water falls. The draw of the water… calling… peaceful floating… to eternity… … … ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2000, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jumping-overboard/24782/4 "2000-07-07T02:18:27Z")
Due to a traffic wteck further up the Keys I was once stopped for half an hour or so on the Seven Mile Bridge. The waves sounded so wonderful smashing against the pierings…the urge to jump and go for a swim was so overwhelming I had to go back to the car. ---
**Author:** ![Osip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4491bb/32.png) [@Osip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Osip)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2000, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jumping-overboard/24782/5 "2000-07-07T02:32:38Z")
I get that urge to jump whenever I am somewhere high up. Water or no water below. Osip ---
**Author:** ![Niggle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Niggle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Niggle)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2000, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jumping-overboard/24782/6 "2000-07-07T03:33:25Z")
Seems like a totaly normal thing. Who doesn’t think “I wonder what would happen if I…” - Jumped off a building/boat - just put my little finger into that fan blade… - Just push this guy a little bit over the edge… - etc Now, what IS abnormal is to act all these things out. 🙂 -niggle ---
**Author:** ![Anti\_Pro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Anti\_Pro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anti_Pro)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2000, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jumping-overboard/24782/7 "2000-07-07T03:39:09Z")
\*\* Quicksilver, \*\* I’m embarrassed to admit I’m one of the weirdo’s too! I have no guess as to why though, is there a Jumpers Anonymous that I can join?? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2000, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jumping-overboard/24782/8 "2000-07-07T03:41:33Z")
Sorry. Meant “wreck”, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Gunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gunslinger)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2000, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jumping-overboard/24782/9 "2000-07-07T03:44:52Z")
I’ve never had the urge to…to…ummm… :sploosh!: ---
**Author:** ![Tisme](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f0a364/32.png) [@Tisme](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tisme)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2000, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jumping-overboard/24782/10 "2000-07-07T10:01:03Z")
I’ve been on a ship at night. Alone and standing at the rear with nothing but the drone of the motors, the roar of the generators and the motion of the ship to keep you company. You start feeling a bit green… MAN OVERBOARD… ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2000, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jumping-overboard/24782/11 "2000-07-07T13:04:02Z")
Honestly, I never expected this kind of turnout. Let me just say, I’ve been to Niagara Falls and admired it from many angles. Not only did I not get the urge to “float to eternity” a damn well knew that the ride would be less than pleasant - to say nothing of the end result. Same deal with jumping off a building, ship, bridge or edge of the Grand Canyon. I’ve no doubt you folks have a clear grasp on the end result of such an action, but I still can’t get my head around the compulsions you experience. 😕 If you ask me, you’re all wackos! 😛 (…running away now…)