Help settle a rather strange debate.

[CircusDebate]

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?

That was to fullbloom87

Well if the nets weren't there MOST people wouldn't be able to watch through fear!

Your friend is a psycho.

Don't go down a dark alley with her. She's nuts.

You know the outcome if they fall and it's that they'll bounce nicely and carry on with the act. So whilst I agree it's wise they use a net and obviously I wouldn't want to see anyone fall to their death your friend does have a point.

No, the outcome if they fall is that they feel horrible professional embarrassment, maybe also personal shame; knowing that they have failed on this occasion in full view of the whole paying audience who were relying on them to be able to do it and wow them, and who could now tell all their friends about 'the rubbish acrobat' (like any of them could ever do it themselves) - they may well have taken photos/footage and upload it online for all to see their moment of failure.

An actual risk of death or serious lifelong disability should never be at stake for the sake of people's entertainment, though - I would hate to visit the mind of anybody who genuinely believed that it should.

Does she stop and gawk at road traffic accidents too?