# What a bad First Date. Maybe the worst ever? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 2, 2013, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-bad-first-date-maybe-the-worst-ever/665153 "2013-08-02T14:40:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2013, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-bad-first-date-maybe-the-worst-ever/665153/1 "2013-08-02T14:40:44Z")
It was her apartment and deck railing. I’d bet that she sat out there every night having a smoke. That railing was probably just tack welded. I hope they warn everyone in that building. The welds on those balcony railings need to be inspected ASAP. > **[Ad exec, 35, on first date plummets to her death when 16th-floor balcony...](https://www.nydailynews.com/2013/08/02/ad-exec-35-on-first-date-plummets-to-her-death-when-16th-floor-balcony-collapses-in-midtown/)** > > A first date ended in unimaginable horror Thursday when an ad exec plunged to her death after the railing of her narrow 16th-floor balcony suddenly buckled. Jennifer Rosoff, 35, brought Stephen Clo… > [@](#): > > A first date ended in unimaginable horror Thursday when an ad exec plunged to her death after the railing of her narrow 16th-floor balcony suddenly buckled. > > Jennifer Rosoff, 35, brought Stephen Close back to her apartment on E. 57th St. near First Ave. after they chowed down at Maya, a Mexican restaurant about eight blocks away. > > They walked through a set of French doors that open to the balcony. Rosoff was smoking a cigarette and had a drink. She sat on the metal railing about 12:45 a.m., which instantly made Close nervous. > > “He advised her not to sit on the rail,” said Paul Browne, the NYPD’s chief spokesman. “She said that she had done it before and wasn’t worried. She didn’t think it was a problem.” > > Close, who lives nearby, told detectives that he heard “two cracks or pops.” > > The metal railing at Stonehenge 57 bent, sending her falling backward 140 feet. She landed on construction scaffolding outside the first story of a building in front of the Sofrito restaurant and died instantly. > > Police questioned Close, who works in real estate, but cops don’t suspect foul play. ---
**Author:** ![JerrySTL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@JerrySTL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerrySTL)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2013, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-bad-first-date-maybe-the-worst-ever/665153/2 "2013-08-02T15:04:53Z")
Na. I’ve had worse. Dying would have been a better option on one first date. ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2013, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-bad-first-date-maybe-the-worst-ever/665153/3 "2013-08-02T15:08:33Z")
I heard of one date where the guy did pull-ups on the outside of the balcony railing, didn’t have the strength to get back up, then fell to his death. Has anyone heard of that? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2013, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-bad-first-date-maybe-the-worst-ever/665153/4 "2013-08-02T15:40:25Z")
I read about falls from balcony railings pretty often. Usually alcohol is a factor. They try to stand on it, do pull ups maybe even hump their partner against the rail. I noticed the article indicated alcohol might not be a factor in this lady’s death. That railing looked really sturdy. I can understand why she felt safe sitting on it. People don’t realize how easily a bad weld can crack. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2013, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-bad-first-date-maybe-the-worst-ever/665153/5 "2013-08-02T16:34:50Z")
Yike. I’m on the fourth floor, so I would only be maimed. But my balcony railing is glass and metal and comes up to my shoulders as I stand at it, so there’s no casual sitting on it; that would take deliberation and work. Poor woman. Poor guy… ($3600/month for a one bedroom? Crazy.) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2013, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-bad-first-date-maybe-the-worst-ever/665153/6 "2013-08-02T16:52:16Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > Yike. > > I’m on the fourth floor, so I would only be maimed. I think a fourth floor fall could pretty easily kill you. My dad damned near killed himself falling off a ladder at the second floor. Gravity is a bitch. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2013, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-bad-first-date-maybe-the-worst-ever/665153/7 "2013-08-02T16:55:58Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Gravity is a bitch. And always wins. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2013, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-bad-first-date-maybe-the-worst-ever/665153/8 "2013-08-02T16:56:08Z")
Actually, there was a thread [about falls.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=361878) I only skimmed, but of the cited studies, I see median lethal fall at four stories or 48 feet, depending on the study. So you’d be about 50-50. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2013, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-bad-first-date-maybe-the-worst-ever/665153/9 "2013-08-02T16:58:26Z")
I thought I had been on bad first dates until I read that. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2013, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-bad-first-date-maybe-the-worst-ever/665153/10 "2013-08-02T16:59:28Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I think a fourth floor fall could pretty easily kill you. My dad damned near killed himself falling off a ladder at the second floor. Gravity is a bitch. Bumper sticker: “Obey Gravity: It’s not just a theory, it’s the LAW!” ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2013, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-bad-first-date-maybe-the-worst-ever/665153/11 "2013-08-02T17:00:31Z")
Should have skipped the flan. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2013, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-bad-first-date-maybe-the-worst-ever/665153/12 "2013-08-02T17:35:20Z")
But think about this guy’s future dates: suppose he hits a dead spot in the conversation–this subject would interest any date. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2013, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-bad-first-date-maybe-the-worst-ever/665153/13 "2013-08-02T17:40:59Z")
In positive news, there is a job opening and an apartment available in New York. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2013, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-bad-first-date-maybe-the-worst-ever/665153/14 "2013-08-02T17:43:04Z")
Next day at office: “Hey Stephen - how was that date with the hottie yesterday? Did she fall for ya?” I am not a great fan of heights and doubt seriously I could even sit on a balcony with someone sitting on the edge like that…I am SURE I would have asked her to sit elsewhere, even if she felt safe, just so I wouldn’t be a nervous wreck watching her sit there. Then again - might have made me look like a wimp - but don’t care. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2013, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-bad-first-date-maybe-the-worst-ever/665153/15 "2013-08-02T18:00:39Z")
Nice to have met you! ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2013, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-bad-first-date-maybe-the-worst-ever/665153/16 "2013-08-02T18:32:31Z")
And smoking takes another life. ---
**Author:** ![SpeedwayRyan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@SpeedwayRyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpeedwayRyan)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2013, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-bad-first-date-maybe-the-worst-ever/665153/17 "2013-08-02T21:11:36Z")
In college I had a friend that was afraid of heights, and when we’d hang out on his balcony (second or third floor) I’d climb over the railing, facing the door, and lean backwards, holding onto the rail…just to make him freak out. It was a new building with very sturdy rails, so I was never all that concerned…although I don’t know that I’d do it now. Maybe after a few beers. It’s far from the most death-defying thing I’ve ever done. Usually when you hear of a balcony collapse, it’s at a party where dozens of drunk college kids cram onto a balcony and it gives way. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2013, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-bad-first-date-maybe-the-worst-ever/665153/18 "2013-08-02T21:19:41Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I think a fourth floor fall could pretty easily kill you. My dad damned near killed himself falling off a ladder at the second floor. Gravity is a bitch. I learned, today actually, that a fall from three stories is considered survivable, four generally isn’t. Thanks to the Fire Marshall for that bit of trivia. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2013, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-bad-first-date-maybe-the-worst-ever/665153/19 "2013-08-02T21:40:30Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > Nice to have met you! “I… guess I’ll just let myself out, then…” ---
**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:** [August 2, 2013, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-bad-first-date-maybe-the-worst-ever/665153/20 "2013-08-02T21:41:58Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > But think about this guy’s future dates: suppose he hits a dead spot in the conversation–this subject would interest any date. What if he’s wearing a yachting costume and doing a Cary Grant voice? (OK, that’s probably too obscure). > [@](#): > > “He advised her not to sit on the rail,” Damn, and then it broke. This kind of shit just encourages mansplaining. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-bad-first-date-maybe-the-worst-ever/665153.md?page=2)