CA - 21 treated for burns as Tony Robbins' 2,000-degree hot coals firewalk goes awry

[Herding Cats]

I admit I'm not an expert, but I think the problem is that there are tricks involved. Walking on broken glass may cut you or not depending on the type of glass used; whether your mental state makes a difference is scientifically debatable.

No, of course there are "tricks", inasmuch as it's not thin glass (which is far likelier to slice). But it's also glass...it does cut. Other folks got bits and nicks, and he demonstrated the cutting power of the glass with paper and other stuff.

Mental state makes a huge difference. Perhaps not in the actual makeup of the item being walked on, but in being able to walk on it. For the glass walk, it was about commitment. If you stopped in the middle of the glass path, you were more likely to get cut than if you just went for it at a fast but steady pace. Some folks froze...and they had to get help getting off the glass path. I know one person got slightly cut, too, when he froze.

But those of us who were "fully committed" and went at a steady, rapid pace came through unscathed.

Likewise, different substances burn at different temperatures and not all will harm human skin. (Anybody who has touched a marijuana flame v. a tobacco flame can testify to this. The former burns at much lower temperatures.)

Never done pot, so can't answer to that. But yes, different substances do burn at different heats, and there are a lot of variables - the amount of oxygen, breeze present, et cetera which contributes to the heat of something burning, as well. Many different variables.

Something went horribly wrong here and, to me, the real question is why didn't anybody notice until 21 people were hurt seriously enough to require a trip to the hospital?!

Yes, something indeed went wrong.

I'm not defending TR. Trust me on that. But I'm also saying that facing fear, and committing 100% to something, be it in a group therapy or motivational setting, and then doing it...well, there is something really freeing about being able to walk over 100 feet of glass.

It's not a new method, and TR has been doing this a while. So something really went badly...and I am very sorry for all those who are suffering right now.

Best-
Herding Cats

 

[Fairy1]

No, of course there are "tricks", inasmuch as it's not thin glass (which is far likelier to slice). But it's also glass...it does cut. Other folks got bits and nicks, and he demonstrated the cutting power of the glass with paper and other stuff.

Mental state makes a huge difference. Perhaps not in the actual makeup of the item being walked on, but in being able to walk on it. For the glass walk, it was about commitment. If you stopped in the middle of the glass path, you were more likely to get cut than if you just went for it at a fast but steady pace. Some folks froze...and they had to get help getting off the glass path. I know one person got slightly cut, too, when he froze.

But those of us who were "fully committed" and went at a steady, rapid pace came through unscathed.


Never done pot, so can't answer to that. But yes, different substances do burn at different heats, and there are a lot of variables - the amount of oxygen, breeze present, et cetera which contributes to the heat of something burning, as well. Many different variables.


Yes, something indeed went wrong.

I'm not defending TR. Trust me on that. But I'm also saying that facing fear, and committing 100% to something, be it in a group therapy or motivational setting, and then doing it...well, there is something really freeing about being able to walk over 100 feet of glass.

It's not a new method, and TR has been doing this a while. So something really went badly...and I am very sorry for all those who are suffering right now.

Best-
Herding Cats

Sorry, but I believe that's a bunch of malarkey. I am committed to NOT harming myself or allowing others to hurt me. That's my mental state every, single day and I'm good with that.

Wanting to better oneself does not mean abandoning common sense. For crying out loud - who the HEL* thinks up this garbage? And why are so many people willing to fall for it?

Really, I don't understand it.

 

[Herding Cats]

Sorry, but I believe that's a bunch of malarkey. I am committed to NOT harming myself. I'm good with that.

Wanting to better oneself does not mean abandoning common sense. For crying out loud - who the HEL* thinks up this garbage?

LOL, that's fine. I also skydive (120+ jumps to my name), so I'm a risk taker. That's my mental makeup, and not everyone is like me.

All good...

Best-
Herding Cats

 

[Fairy1]

LOL, that's fine. I also skydive (120+ jumps to my name), so I'm a risk taker. That's my mental makeup, and not everyone is like me.

All good...

Best-
Herding Cats

That is so awesome, HC. But it's not the same thing at all, IMO. Skydiving is your own personal risk and the odds are in your favor. Attempting to walk across hot coals while attending a motivational conference is someone else's idea.

And therein lies the problem......for me. We should all set our own personal goals and our own limits. We really shouldn't need others to do that for us.

JMOHO.

 

[Herding Cats]

Fairy, iirc, it was not a mandatory thing for me to walk on glass, but an option. I suspect the same for TRs stuff. And yes, skydiving is a personal choice, and the odds are in your favor...but still, I had a malfunction on my third jump (primary parachute failed). I managed the emergency...obviously, lol...

I don't think it's a mandatory event...not for what I did, not for TR, not for any of those groups. Thus, it makes it a choice.

Debating whether or not someone should make that choice is a different matter, but I won't condemn anyone for trying to break through from personal limits...as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else, I say make your choice and go for it...

(And again, as I said earlier, I think something went wrong with this particular event...and that should be identified and dealt with).

Best-
Herding Cats

 

[Nova]

No, of course there are "tricks", inasmuch as it's not thin glass (which is far likelier to slice). But it's also glass...it does cut. Other folks got bits and nicks, and he demonstrated the cutting power of the glass with paper and other stuff.

Mental state makes a huge difference. Perhaps not in the actual makeup of the item being walked on, but in being able to walk on it. For the glass walk, it was about commitment. If you stopped in the middle of the glass path, you were more likely to get cut than if you just went for it at a fast but steady pace. Some folks froze...and they had to get help getting off the glass path. I know one person got slightly cut, too, when he froze.

But those of us who were "fully committed" and went at a steady, rapid pace came through unscathed.


Never done pot, so can't answer to that. But yes, different substances do burn at different heats, and there are a lot of variables - the amount of oxygen, breeze present, et cetera which contributes to the heat of something burning, as well. Many different variables.


Yes, something indeed went wrong.

I'm not defending TR. Trust me on that. But I'm also saying that facing fear, and committing 100% to something, be it in a group therapy or motivational setting, and then doing it...well, there is something really freeing about being able to walk over 100 feet of glass.

It's not a new method, and TR has been doing this a while. So something really went badly...and I am very sorry for all those who are suffering right now.

Best-
Herding Cats

HC, I'm sorry, I should have been clearer. I did not mean to dismiss your experiences.

Regardless of the sharpness of the glass or the heat of the burning coals, the point, I assume, is that it still requires mental effort to overcome one's innate fears to do the walk.

I didn't mean to suggest there is no benefit, particularly not when you yourself have the personal experience.

 

[sorrell skye]

Walking on fire is a rite of passage that requires extensive mental and spiritual preparation. I know people who have walked across a bed of burning coals and haven't been burned. It is definitely possible.

The thing is, too many new-agey morons think they can pay a fee & attend a workshop and gain powers or abilities simply by getting goosebumps. I have no sympathy for them if they get burned.