# Perhaps this lady should diet? What a day she had. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 12, 2013, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perhaps-this-lady-should-diet-what-a-day-she-had/646991 "2013-01-12T20:50:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perhaps-this-lady-should-diet-what-a-day-she-had/646991/21 "2013-01-13T00:50:15Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Yeah, I’m sure none of the EMTs wanted to risk a back injury pulling her out. > > This whole story has a cartoonist or even Three Stooges feel to it. It’s the situation thats hilarious. Like an anvil dropping on Wile E Coyote’s head. Or all the weird things that happened to the Three Stooges. Falling through a sidewalk could come right from their scripts. > > It’s only funny of course if no one is seriously hurt. The Stooges taught us that. BTW, that’s an accident that happens in less wealthy countries fairly often. In Colombia, I nearly stepped into a sidewalk elevator shaft, because theives had stolen the metal doors. It’s a serious, often deadly accident. ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perhaps-this-lady-should-diet-what-a-day-she-had/646991/22 "2013-01-13T00:50:56Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > Portable tripods with body harnesses and winches are pretty standard EMT equipment, for extracting people injured while working in confined spaces. It reduced back injuries to the responders as much as gets the injured party out quickly. That makes a lot of sense. Ignorance fought, thank you. The way it played out in my mind was that the lady told the EMT’s that her shoulder hurt and they instantly strapped her to a back board. Looking at that small hole, mech help would be needed. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perhaps-this-lady-should-diet-what-a-day-she-had/646991/23 "2013-01-13T01:17:17Z")
My mother was killed when a fat person fell on her. ---
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perhaps-this-lady-should-diet-what-a-day-she-had/646991/24 "2013-01-13T01:31:40Z")
It’s moderately funny, although the OP ruined it. But, has anyone looked at the pictures in the linked article? It looks like someone built a sidewalk over what used to be a below-ground-level entrance - you can see what looks like an old window in the space under the sidewalk that she fell into. The edge of the broken sidewalk looks incredibly thin, and unsupported. It’s no wonder she fell. I can’t imagine that is compliant with the building code. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perhaps-this-lady-should-diet-what-a-day-she-had/646991/25 "2013-01-13T02:18:08Z")
> [@Absolute](#): > > But, has anyone looked at the pictures in the linked article? It looks like someone built a sidewalk over what used to be a below-ground-level entrance - you can see what looks like an old window in the space under the sidewalk that she fell into. The edge of the broken sidewalk looks incredibly thin, and unsupported. It’s no wonder she fell. I can’t imagine that is compliant with the building code. Yeah, I was thinking there must’ve been something wrong with the sidewalk. Many obese people have walked down sidewalks before and not fallen through. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perhaps-this-lady-should-diet-what-a-day-she-had/646991/26 "2013-01-13T02:37:27Z")
The other day I saw some black person choking on a chicken bone. Isn’t that funny? Hahaha… :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perhaps-this-lady-should-diet-what-a-day-she-had/646991/27 "2013-01-13T02:41:30Z")
Definitely a sidewalk should support more that 300 pounds. No question. Two people walking together could’ve suffered the same accident. Not to minimize the victim’s perdicament. And no, not a funny story either. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perhaps-this-lady-should-diet-what-a-day-she-had/646991/28 "2013-01-13T02:45:25Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > The other day I saw some black person choking on a chicken bone. > > Isn’t that funny? > > Hahaha… > > :rolleyes: What if it was a naked black guy unconcious in a coal mine and they couldn’t find him? Or a naked white guy in a snowstorm? ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perhaps-this-lady-should-diet-what-a-day-she-had/646991/29 "2013-01-13T02:45:44Z")
Some people here seem to have forgotten the difference between tragedy and comedy. Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when you fall through a sidewalk. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perhaps-this-lady-should-diet-what-a-day-she-had/646991/30 "2013-01-13T02:46:35Z")
300 pounds \*is \*very heavy (pushing that much myself), but that doesn’t even begin to tap into the realm of “so freakishly rare that she can’t leave her house because a reasonable sidewalk wouldn’t be able to accommodate her.” I have had friends and full-time coworkers who are heavier than that and still quite mobile. ---
**Author:** ![colander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@colander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colander)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perhaps-this-lady-should-diet-what-a-day-she-had/646991/31 "2013-01-13T03:25:20Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > What if it was a naked black guy unconcious in a coal mine and they couldn’t find him? > > Or a naked white guy in a snowstorm? Truly you are the James Thurber of the new millenium. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perhaps-this-lady-should-diet-what-a-day-she-had/646991/32 "2013-01-13T03:35:24Z")
And to think my high school shop teacher said I would never amount to anything! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perhaps-this-lady-should-diet-what-a-day-she-had/646991/33 "2013-01-13T03:50:05Z")
There is a series of commercials on right now, for subway (heh) - we’re they have moderately obese people popping buttons, breaking bycicles, tailgates of truckes when they “take one more bite” (don’t get me started on teh fact that the net mass on those items did not change just by virtue of the bite of food)… Are those not meant to be humorous ‘reminders’ that we need to lose wieght less we bust something? maybe she was getting ready to try out for the commercial? One of the series is [here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsZFsZw5jtU) I find our world far from funny these days - if its a commercail, its funny and stuff - if we laugh when it happens “in real life” - shame on us - sheesh - too many fuckin’ rules. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perhaps-this-lady-should-diet-what-a-day-she-had/646991/34 "2013-01-13T04:02:51Z")
> [@picunurse](#): > > So, what would your reaction be if it had been a famous, wealthy line-backer who weighted the same amount? Can’t speak for the OP, but mine would be “should’ve just filled in the hole.” ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perhaps-this-lady-should-diet-what-a-day-she-had/646991/35 "2013-01-13T04:22:26Z")
The article said that the hole appeared to connect to the restaurant’s basement, and the pictures certainly seem consistent with that. I wonder why she (or the EMTs helping her) didn’t try getting out that way? It seems like that would be both easier and safer. And what was the crane-tripod mounted on? If it was just the intact portion of the sidewalk around the hole, I’d be worried that it wasn’t any stronger than the section that gave way, and might even be weaker due to being already compromised. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perhaps-this-lady-should-diet-what-a-day-she-had/646991/36 "2013-01-13T04:28:01Z")
…and bear in mind it was a witness who claimed she was over 300 pounds. An of course the article is in the New York Post. She may very well have been half the size and she could have hurt her back: we don’t really know. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perhaps-this-lady-should-diet-what-a-day-she-had/646991/37 "2013-01-13T05:00:16Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > What if it was a naked black guy unconcious in a coal mine and they couldn’t find him? > > Or a naked white guy in a snowstorm? Obscure pop culture riff: Bullwinkle: “I call this one ‘Man Eating a Sandwich in a White Room.’” Rocky: “Where’s the sandwich?” Bullwinkle: “He ate it.” Rocky: “Where’s the man?” Bullwinkle: “You don’t expect him to hang around once he’s done eating?” ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perhaps-this-lady-should-diet-what-a-day-she-had/646991/38 "2013-01-13T05:41:46Z")
Stuff like that is bound to happen when you eat Atomic Wings. ---
**Author:** ![Arrendajo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arrendajo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrendajo)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perhaps-this-lady-should-diet-what-a-day-she-had/646991/39 "2013-01-13T05:50:40Z")
> [@ducati](#): > > I rolled 312 at the doctor’s office this week.☹ > > I’m a big guy, but not point and laugh big. Not Dolly Dimples big. More like, “what a lardass. Do some situps” big. > > I would see the irony and humor of falling through a fucking sidewalk. 'tis no one’s fault but mine. > > Still, I run pretty fast for a fat guy, so you may not want to hang around until I get out.😃 Oh hell, ducati, I’d laugh _ **and** _ help you get out. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perhaps-this-lady-should-diet-what-a-day-she-had/646991/40 "2013-01-13T05:53:37Z")
> [@Absolute](#): > > The edge of the broken sidewalk looks incredibly thin, and unsupported. It’s no wonder she fell. I can’t imagine that is compliant with the building code. Infrastructure longevity… it ain’t over until the fat lady sinks? I’m surprised this hadn’t happened earlier with a number of pedestrians impacted. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perhaps-this-lady-should-diet-what-a-day-she-had/646991.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perhaps-this-lady-should-diet-what-a-day-she-had/646991.md?page=3)