Smiler rollercoaster at Alton Towers - carriage collision

Third Opinion · 6 Jun 2015 at 10:55

FerrariEnzo said:
Can you mention which this other Merlin Park is you are talking about? Thorpe Park? Colossus is the main one I think needs to either be replaced or shut down, I swear they've put duct tape on some of the track! Such an old ride now.

The park was Chessington. The claimed structural engineer said he had noticed stress fractures or something on the Sky train.

I know that is one of the original rides in the park and must be 30 years old. Other rides their are prone to breaking down.

Obviously the guy might be making it up. However looking at the park overall I would describe it as quite run down and looking its age.

I am not suggesting safety is compromised but it does look like it has been under invested in and well overdue a make over.

JBuk · 6 Jun 2015 at 11:04

balky12 said:
Also thrill seeking and risk go hand in hand. Not saying that these rollercoasters are 'unsafe' or need to be 'unsafe' (their safety records speak for themselves). But to get a thrill there has to be an element of risk imo. No matter how small.

I love going on rides but I don't get the thrill from the chance I could be severely injured or die

MooMoo444 · 6 Jun 2015 at 11:21

Just watched that interview. Silly bint should be sacked. "Let me interrupt you for a second" and just keeps talking over him, while dropping loaded questions and accusations. He handled it amazingly, especially the questions about the loss of limbs.

SexyGreyFox · 6 Jun 2015 at 11:22

balky12 said:
Also thrill seeking and risk go hand in hand. Not saying that these rollercoasters are 'unsafe' or need to be 'unsafe' (their safety records speak for themselves). But to get a thrill there has to be an element of risk imo. No matter how small.

And this is why I don't like Theme Parks because (except in this one case) there is zero risk.
You get strapped in and computers deal with the rest.
If you want proper thrill seeking risk go and do a parachute jump, sitting on the back seat of Guy Martins bike or even cycling around a city.

Jono8 · 6 Jun 2015 at 12:32

JBuk said:
I don't get the thrill from the chance I could be severely injured or die

Yes you do, that is how your body works. :confused:

balky12 · 6 Jun 2015 at 12:45

JBuk said:
I love going on rides but I don't get the thrill from the chance I could be severely injured or die

You are put under an illusion of greater danger than there actually is. There is always an element of danger... just a tiny tiny percentage that something bad might happen.

If there was no risk, health and safety wouldn't play a part at these parks.

So next time you go, remember, there is a tiny chance you might die.

MattU · 6 Jun 2015 at 12:45

I don't agree with that, the thrill comes from the speed, acceleration, g force, inversions... Not the chance of something going wrong.

JBuk · 6 Jun 2015 at 12:46

Jono8 said:
Yes you do, that is how your body works.

I enjoy the adrenaline rush from the feeling of the G forces involved , not because there could be a chance of dying lol

Jono8 · 6 Jun 2015 at 12:47

JBuk said:
I enjoy the adrenaline rush from the feeling of the G forces involved , not because there could be a chance of dying lol

Why do you think you get that adrenaline rush then?

The whole reason we get the adrenaline rush is because our body senses it is doing something out of the ordinary/dangerous.

No danger perceived by your body = no adrenaline rush = no fun.

balky12 · 6 Jun 2015 at 12:51

MattU said:
I don't agree with that, the thrill comes from the speed, acceleration, g force, inversions... Not the chance of something going wrong.

JBuk said:
I enjoy the adrenaline rush from the feeling of the G forces involved , not because there could be a chance of dying lol

All I said is that thrill and risk are related.

Never claimed that to get a thrill you have to be doing something that could potentially kill you.

Whether you accept it or not, there is always an element of risk getting on a roller coaster that could prove fatal.

Thankfully it is so well managed that these incidents are almost unheard of.

jamoor · 6 Jun 2015 at 12:51

TonyTurbo78 said:
I hate her with a passion, she's been interviewing and news reading in this manner on sky for years. One of the worst news readers I've ever watched, how the bosses think she's good at her job is beyond me. Been making my blood boil for as long as I can remember. Disgusting human being, typical scum ridden journalist looking for an angle everytime she sits in front of the camera.

I think it's common with sky news

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EezOOC-8NFk

Except o'leary knows how to respond as he does it all the time.

Sky and Fox news is a joke.

JBuk · 6 Jun 2015 at 12:53

balky12 said:
You are put under an illusion of greater danger than there actually is. There is always an element of danger... just a tiny tiny percentage that something bad might happen.

If there was no risk, health and safety wouldn't play a part at these parks.

So next time you go, remember, there is a tiny chance you might die.

I'm not saying there isn't any risk as there's risk with everything in life, but
the chance of being involved in an incident is so minute it isn't worth considering imo

JBuk · 6 Jun 2015 at 13:00

Jono8 said:
Why do you think you get that adrenaline rush then?

The whole reason we get the adrenaline rush is because our body senses it is doing something out of the ordinary/dangerous.

No danger perceived by your body = no adrenaline rush = no fun.

I get the adrenaline rush because of the forces acting on my body and mind, they're out of the ordinary but I personally don't see them as dangerous, sure some people may get their kicks because the ride and risks frightens them but I don't feel scared of the ride or perceive it as risky , more elated at being flung around at high speed

balky12 · 6 Jun 2015 at 13:00

JBuk said:
I'm not saying there isn't any risk as there's risk with everything in life, but
the chance of being involved in an incident is so minute it isn't worth considering imo

Yes, but the way your body is actually wired it still thinks you are at risk.

Jono8 · 6 Jun 2015 at 13:03

JBuk said:
I get the adrenaline rush because of the forces acting on my body and mind, they're out of the ordinary but I personally don't see them as dangerous, sure some people may get their kicks because the ride and risks frightens them but I don't feel scared of the ride or perceive it as risky , more elated at being flung around at high speed

Nope.

JBuk · 6 Jun 2015 at 13:09

balky12 said:
Yes, but the way your body is actually wired it still thinks you are at risk.

Ok , I'm no medical expert so I can't argue a case all I can say is that I'm not consciously thinking of any risks or dangers when going on a ride , just the buzz from the forces on my body

SexyGreyFox · 6 Jun 2015 at 14:02

Get it signed if you feel strongly about her -

https://www.change.org/p/sky-news-s...m=mob-xs-share_petition-no_msg&fb_ref=Default

Rroff · 6 Jun 2015 at 14:09

wesley said:
Im in Thorpe Park now. The stealth ride is closed

Surprised if its closed as a reaction to AT - Stealth (atleast used to be) was maintained and tested pretty rigorously and only ran one lot at a time.

Elixir · 6 Jun 2015 at 14:29

Dimple said:
Get it signed if you feel strongly about her -

https://www.change.org/p/sky-news-s...m=mob-xs-share_petition-no_msg&fb_ref=Default

Has an online petition ever achieved anything? Genuinely curious.

Locky · 6 Jun 2015 at 14:32

I expect nothing less from anything owned buy Rupert Murdoch..