Falling Danger Joke

This cluster features repeated variations of the classic joke that it's not the fall that kills you, but the sudden stop or landing at the end, often referenced in discussions of skydiving, jumping, climbing, or fall-protection devices.

📉 Falling 0.3x Other
4,262
Comments
20
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#8609
Topic ID

Activity Over Time

2007
2
2008
17
2009
36
2010
109
2011
50
2012
103
2013
133
2014
142
2015
183
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2017
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2018
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2026
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Keywords

avalung.html alpineinstitute.com BASE NEED youtu.be youtube.com USA NYC wikipedia.org falling fall jumping attached jump dangerous land descent stop legs

Sample Comments

jonkho Nov 8, 2024 View on HN

It’s not the jumping out of the plane that’s dangerous, it’s the landing!

hinkley Jul 25, 2023 View on HN

It’s not the falling that kills you, it’s the sudden stop at the bottom.

rspeele Mar 10, 2021 View on HN

This is kind of like the old joke that falling from a great height is perfectly safe, it's only landing that's dangerous.

sp332 Aug 14, 2015 View on HN

It's easy to fall some distance when the next lift is below your level.

grayrest Jun 8, 2010 View on HN

As you fall, be sure to miss the ground.

LarryMullins Jan 6, 2023 View on HN

I'm not sure about falling for these, but falling from these does seem likely.

alliao Sep 6, 2022 View on HN

I thought falling out of buildings were easier?

scott_karana May 16, 2014 View on HN

Falling in wouldn't be very pleasant, I suppose. :-)

Absolutely, it could fall through. Don't be prepared to jump until you know you're going to land softly.

idlewords Jun 7, 2017 View on HN

It's like having sex without falling three thousand feet to your death.