Sunday, October 21, 2012

A Preoccupation With Records!

    Since Felix Baumgartner made his historic jump the other day, it  has got me wondering about our preoccupation with records... the biggest, the fastest, the heaviest, the tallest, the oldest. You get what I mean.

     Baumgartner went to tremendous planning and expense to set up his record breaking jump. He carefully picked the best place on the planet to make the jump. All kinds of technology was  used. How many cameras were set up to record the event? A balloon made of plastic close to saran wrap thickness carried him to the outer edges of the atmosphere. The balloon...15 stories high! The tiny capsule he traveled in? One small mistake and it was over for Mr. Baumgartner. A small rip in his suit would be automatic disaster. A small rip in the plastic balloon? There were many things where there was no backup. 

    I had not been paying attention to this stunt. On the day of the jump twitter was full of "Felix" and then I realized what they were talking about.

   So the Guinness book of records gets another entry. As an aside, when I taught I tried to have one period a week for reading. Some little guy always got the Guinness book of records and would be mesmerized for the whole period.

    So I have to question the value of setting so many different records. Yes, I know this one had a certain amount of scientific value, but many records are pointless. Example: 150 combines in one field, a hockey game which is played for 72 hours. Aren't we wasting time and making spectacles of ourselves? 

    I for one can do without such records and can get myself cranked up to live a fulfilling life without all the hype cluttering my head.

 

24 comments:

  1. so true. a record just to set a record seems like of silly to me (like # of hours spent bouncing a basketball or something like that). :)

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    1. Yes, there are too many that are as frivolous as bouncing a basketball.

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  2. Red we live in an "est" society, the fastest, richest, prettiest, smartest, and so on. I no longer buy into what society taught me in my younger days, seriously why do we have to be a part of the "est" crowd when we're alright being exactly who we are.

    I have a son I tease all the time, he is full of what I dub useless knowledge, he hears it once and it sticks with him. It intrigues him reading about these things you and I most likely would never bother even looking up. He thinks it's pretty cool knowing all of this useless information... why is beyond me, this part of my amazing son must come from his fathers side! lol

    I hope you have a wonderful week Red!

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    1. I like the term "est." that you use.
      As for your son, some people's brains are wired that way. It's just the way they are and that's fine.

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    2. Red I couldn't agree more and I'm extremely blessed to have the children I do. I love each of them for exactly who they are!

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  3. There was a guy crying on Tv a few weeks ago..he was doing pulls ups on NBC and could not continue..I felt sad for him because he was falling apart on Tv..but really what are they thinking:(

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    1. Too much pressure on TV! Pull ups? Darn good exercise. I can't do them anymore.

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  4. You sound almost as irritated as if Felix had broken YOUR record.

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    1. Well, I wanted to rant a little. But I don't think I own any record except for leaving clothes on the floor or something like that.

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  5. I agree that many entries for records are silly but I suspect that it won't stop someone making the biggest Jam Doughnut.

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    1. Anything for a moment of fame! On the other hand I like doughnuts!

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  6. I watched Felix's jump live, and it was truly scary. I wondered if he would survive, and my palms were sweaty as he was getting ready to go. He broke the sound barrier and lived. And he had a nice landing after all that. I found it amazing, but you aren't seeing ME trying to set any records like that! :-)

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    1. I knew you'd be watching every second of that jump. You probably knew much more about what was going on than the average viewer.

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  7. I like to see records of lives saved, either medically or from accidents. Records of successful teachers of successful graduates. Longest married couples. ETC.

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  8. I agree with you about the Guinness records, Red, it's often waste of time. I only see in them effort to become sort of famous.

    My husband was watching the live broadcast of Felix's try and couldn't understand why I wasn't interested in it. I found it rather silly, a dangerous risk and didn't want to pay attention to it. But I see, other people found it extraordinary, an attempt to achieve something unbelievable.

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    1. People get suckered into the hype and find themselves watching.

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  9. Interesting to see what starts up ones ambitions.My record might be an eating feat nowdays.

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    1. Heh, the older I get the less appetite I have so no chance for me in the eating dept.

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  10. My son-in-law was fascinated with the whole thing...I decided that it was because he was 30 years younger than I and saw the value in it.


    Linda
    http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
    http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com

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    1. I think some people wee genuinely interested in the technological aspect of the jump. The danger was certainly played up. There was a 20 sec delay in the picture in case something happened.

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  11. When I taught I too saw kids who would grab that book and look for something they thought they could do.
    I remember being young and wanting to be in the book myself. :)

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    1. There certainly is a fascination with records and Guinness.

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