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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Help settle a rather strange debate.

55 replies

CircusDebate · 12/08/2023 16:09

Please help to settle a rather odd and slightly morbid debate.

I attended a circus recently as did a friend. She complained that she could see nets when the acrobats, trapeze and other high flying acts performed and that it'd be more exciting without them.

Personally I'd hope to see nets. The performance would not be improved imo by potentially seeing someone severely injured or killed. It'd be ruined. She thinks that it spoiled the performance. I think their skills are impressive enough without the likely risk of someone falling to the ground.

So AIBU to think that safety measures don't ruin a performance?

OP posts:
FictionalCharacter · 12/08/2023 17:42

This reminds me of my ex, who said quite seriously that people go to flying displays because it’s exciting thinking there might be a crash.
Hopefully your friend is just a bit thick, and hasn’t quite got it into her head that if someone falls from a great height they are invariably either killed or very seriously injured. A performer might die right in front of her. If she does understand this, she’s simply a horrible person.

squashyhat · 12/08/2023 17:39

Ugh. She would have been right at home in the Roman Empire. Hundreds of ways to witness animals and humans dying for entertainment.

PastTheGin · 12/08/2023 17:34

Your friend is a halfwit. I recommend she goes to the cinema next time, where you can’t see the nets etc.

Sunsnet · 12/08/2023 17:31

What does your friend do for a living, because it would be much more interesting for her colleagues/boss/clients if she did it from an alligator pit while people threw knives at her.

cosmosy · 12/08/2023 17:11

This is not a debate, in the same way watching people get maimed and die is not actually a mainstream hobby

YesIReallyDoLikeRootBeer · 12/08/2023 17:06

Does you friend have a loose grasp on reality? Does she not realize if they fall they can die? I've seen a trapeze artist fall, luckily there was a net. I also remember being at the beach once where there was a high wire walker performing, with no net. It was NOT enjoyable, my anxiety was sky high watching. I ended up leaving. Who wants to see someone killed in front of them.

avocadotofu · 12/08/2023 17:04

Your friend is definitely odd!

LauderSyme · 12/08/2023 17:02

Gosh I would be sick with nerves watching high flying acts without a safety net! I wouldn't be able to enjoy the show at all. I can't relate to your friend here, she seems somewhat sadistic.

painochocolate · 12/08/2023 16:52

ntmdino · 12/08/2023 16:35

I take my steer from Penn and Teller on this one - it's irresponsible and downright unfair to make the audience complicit in the potential maiming or death of a performer.

Motor racing is somewhat different, in that the whole point is that they're out there on the very edge of what's possible, and risk is part of the definition of the competition.

For circuses and apparently death-defying magic acts etc, the risk is not part of the show; it's the skill and spectacle. Therefore...I'd very much rather the nets were there, not least in case of an equipment failure.

The outcry over the halo was ridiculous though. HOW DARE THEY TRY AND REDUCE THE RISK.

Anyway OP your friend is sick.

JanieEyre · 12/08/2023 16:50

I wouldn't enjoy a performance without nets, it would stress me out worrying the performers could get killed or maimed in front of me.

DojaPhat · 12/08/2023 16:36

What did you expect when you befriended Suella Braverman?

ntmdino · 12/08/2023 16:35

I take my steer from Penn and Teller on this one - it's irresponsible and downright unfair to make the audience complicit in the potential maiming or death of a performer.

Motor racing is somewhat different, in that the whole point is that they're out there on the very edge of what's possible, and risk is part of the definition of the competition.

For circuses and apparently death-defying magic acts etc, the risk is not part of the show; it's the skill and spectacle. Therefore...I'd very much rather the nets were there, not least in case of an equipment failure.

Fuckitydoodah · 12/08/2023 16:33

Your friend is wierd. I wouldn't be able to watch if there weren't nets or safety wires. As you say, their skills are amazing regardless of the safety features.

Greenfishy · 12/08/2023 16:31

I think she might be a sociopath

painochocolate · 12/08/2023 16:31

Clefable · 12/08/2023 16:29

Pretty sure someone breaking their neck and dying would 'ruin the performance' for her. Or maybe not, as she sounds like that's what she wants!

Like sickos who enjoy F1 crashes

painochocolate · 12/08/2023 16:30

They can do riskier performances with the safety net of a safety net

Mothership4two · 12/08/2023 16:30

It's your friend who is rather odd and slightly morbid. I expect the nets are their because of health and safety regulations. I am not a regular circus goer but in the handful I have been to, in the last 50 odd years, they all had safety nets. Does she complain about safety equipment in other areas of entertainment like sports and would like that removed to?

Clefable · 12/08/2023 16:29

Pretty sure someone breaking their neck and dying would 'ruin the performance' for her. Or maybe not, as she sounds like that's what she wants!

BasiliskStare · 12/08/2023 16:27

FFS - these trapeze artists aren't going to need the nets etc 90 odd % of the time but for the 1 % wouldn't you hope they were safe, - I think your friend is nuts 😊

Chickenkeev · 12/08/2023 16:27

Eek! I don't get her.

SidekickSylvia · 12/08/2023 16:26

I don't think people should risk their lives, every day/performance, just for your friend to be slightly more entertained. Is she a psychopath op?

eosmum · 12/08/2023 16:25

Having recently seen some amazing acrobats two of whom fell during the act I’m am 100% with you. I’d say they do more exciting displays when they have a safety net.

dramoy · 12/08/2023 16:23

your friend is a bit twisted.

Even if someone falls off into a net you do gasp a bit - well a non sociopath does.

TregunaMekoides · 12/08/2023 16:16

Wow. So people should put their lives even more at risk for her entertainment??

Maybe she should try watching dog fighting instead.

DudeItsPrawns · 12/08/2023 16:16

I bet your friend also complains that it's not fair she can't see the animals when zoos have large enclosures with shelters appropriate for their animals.

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