WATCH > Man Walks Tightrope Across Niagara Falls: Admirable or Insane?

by SodaHead News Posted 2012/06/18 13:00:00

Related Topics: Niagara Falls, Nik Wallenda, Tightrope, Watch, Live

365 votes
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	Admirable	218 votes	60%
	Insane	147 votes	40%

On Friday night, 33-year-old Nik Wallenda became the first person to walk across Niagara Falls on a tightrope in over 100 years, and he did it on live television. The event aired between 10 and 11 p.m. on ABC, and the ratings smashed other networks, with more than 10 million viewers watching for the entire hour. The actual crossing took less than 30 minutes.

The first successful attempt at crossing the Falls via tightrope was by Charles Blondin in 1859, but crossings were outlawing in 1896, and no one on record has accomplished it since. After the event, Wallenda announced that he'd secured a permit to walk across the Grand Canyon -- something that's never been done. He also wants to try the Eurasian continental divide, and Inca ruins at Macchu Picchu. Is this guy admirable, or just crazy?

+27

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lolitalovely 2012/06/18 14:40:02

Admirable

+6
He's wearing a safety harness. Even if he falls he won't get hurt aside from a possible wedgie. It is admirable that he has the skill to complete it without falling, though. It's also quite admirable that he can stand that many people watching his every move. I'd lose concentration and fall.
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Flamingolady 2012/06/19 02:39:49

Admirable

+1
Admirable and insane. Of course, 2 years ago when I went on a zip line, it took 10 years off my life. Scared me sh^%$#%$%, but my brother did actually crap himself. Zip line $190.00, time 2 hours, brother crapping himself, PRICELESS!!

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JERSEYDUDE 2012/06/19 02:11:01

Insane

mind as well play russian roulette too while hes walkin on the wire

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Ambassador II 2012/06/19 02:08:36 (edited)

Admirable

I think he is the perfect V.P. candidate for Romney - able to walk across troubled waters, not get wet, and "balance" over all sides of the turmoil while claiming that Saints and "Jesus" kept him safe. He's da man.

Congratulations to him, insane, but entertaining. Did you see the film of his Grandfather falling ten stories in New York? Splat...

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Alexis82 2012/06/19 01:59:52

Insane

+1
Amazing what is done for attention

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MarinerFH 2012/06/19 01:48:35

Admirable

He's an entertainer. Good show.

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holly go lightly 2012/06/19 01:47:46

Insane

I think it's a little nutty,but that is what wallendas do.

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Tyler Hutchens 2012/06/19 01:43:24

Admirable

Hey props to him. I'll go look at Niagara falls but I wouldn't walk across it on a tightrope.

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Dyonus 2012/06/19 01:36:04

Admirable

+1
Dude's got cajones.

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Alethia 2012/06/19 01:29:26

Insane

+1

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Corsair to Alethia 2012/06/19 08:56:18

I love this song. And I to this day Cypress Hill can rap like they're still in their prime. They never lost it.

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brittany 2012/06/19 01:28:41

Admirable

i will have to say. very well man.

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Azrael-In GOD we trust 2012/06/19 01:26:55

Admirable

+1
This was absolutely magnificent. Maybe a little insane for us, but it's what Nik does for a living.
I've always been a fan of the Wallendas and this young man definitely made history. It was very exciting to watch.

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Sebastian 2012/06/19 01:25:50

Admirable

I thought it was admirable, but there was one thing that really bugged me. Everytime you heard the man thank Jesus and praise God, the man's father would break in and ask him some inane question. If my son were on a tightrope gambling his life I sure as heck wouldn't want to come between him and God. Finally, I think Nik himself sold out in the end when the lady asked him who he credited for the courage to get through this ordeal. Even though he was clearly heard praying to God, he dumped all of the credit on the "audience". What a cop-out! He had a glorious opportunity to witness to a stunned but godless nation and he passed it up. Waters of Meribah if you ask me. Tsk tsk.

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Pat 2012/06/19 01:19:35

Admirable

+1
Because this man is from the famous Flying Wallenda Family, it is admirable that he attempted this feat and succeeded.
Now, if I was on that tightrope, that would be insane!

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Al B Thayer 2012/06/19 01:02:05

Admirable

What else would you expect from a Wallenda. They have been doing this for our entertainment for decades.

What a stud.

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Aqua Surf 2012/06/19 00:55:28

Insane

Adrenaline junkie or death wisher or both?

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mr echo 2012/06/19 00:12:41

Admirable

i would do it
no big deal ,i allready ballanced myself on simular objects ,pluss if you start to fall you just grab on to ,on whats you walking on

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Osk The Great Guru 2012/06/18 23:47:37

Admirable

Both actually

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Libertarian Right 2012/06/18 23:44:38

Admirable

To each, his own, I suppose. Kinda defeats the purpose though when you're wearing safety harness! Where's the excitement in that???

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adeenmckenziekennedy 2012/06/18 23:32:32

Admirable

I find it cool anyone has the courage to walk tightrope across the Niagra Falls.

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gocar 2012/06/18 23:31:05

Insane

I have no idea why someone insists on doing something that is very dangerous. I can only assume their need for fame overtakes their senses. A personal friend loved mountain climbing but it eventually got him killed and with so much life left. He died doing what he loved they said. I don't know what he loved about it.

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jacob crim 2012/06/18 23:29:13 (edited)

Admirable

Reminds me of the documentary "man on Wire" amazing stuff to those saying he is strapped in, its because its on live TV. They cant have him falling off and dying.

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FatherLiberty 2012/06/18 23:25:46

Admirable

+1
how about neither. Its not that impressive. He is strapped on with a harness. Sure, he made it across which takes skill in balance, but there is no real risk involved to make it insane or admirable. If he does it without a harness, then I will watch in amazement, whether he succeeds or fails.

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Nam Era Vet #1 DNA TLC 2012/06/18 23:23:41

Admirable

He's a performer. It's neither admirable nor insane. That's what he does for a living. It's his job. With all the people watching, I'd say you'll probably see more.

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Sonny 2012/06/18 23:13:26

Insane

Niagra could chew him alive, I would never do that, not even for a million bucks

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Dave The Canuck 2012/06/18 23:11:16

Insane

Quick! Somebody yell BOO!! up at him while he's walking (lol). No, really, risking life and limb by walking a thin rope over a fierce waterfall, for what exactly?

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k.a.walker 2012/06/18 22:56:49

Admirable

I watched it on TV. Maybe he is a little bit of both, I don't know. I just think its crazy. lol

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veronica 2012/06/18 22:54:09

Insane

Sorry I ment Admirable ,that was pretty coool but scary to.

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Chloey Hamer 2012/06/18 22:48:06

Admirable

That's pretty cool.

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DebraJMSmith 2012/06/18 22:31:15

Admirable

It would have been "crazy" if he had not had a safety line.

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i love the cure!!! 2012/06/18 22:26:30

Admirable

+3
At least he didn't go over in a barrel :D

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Liberta... to i love ... 2012/06/18 23:50:37 (edited)

+1
Yeah, that one's a classic!

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Aingean 2012/06/18 22:24:49

Insane

There is a very thin line between the two, I think this falls on the crazy side of things.

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Lenny 2012/06/18 22:21:32

Admirable

+1
I think it was an amazing feat that he did. I watched almost the full 30 minutes of the walk and held my breath!

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SiennaStarSong 2012/06/18 22:13:06

Admirable

You should always follow ur dreams regardless of what others say

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aibohphobia 2012/06/18 22:05:58

Insane

He's also a moron. One of his relatives, Karl Wallenda, died from walking on a tight rope. I think we give too much spotlight for dumbasses that can do things that no one who cared about life, or were sane would do. If he would be the first person to hit his head with a hammer one million times no one would be celebrating him, they'd just say that he's a dumbass. It's things like this that make me wish that more people won Darwin Awards.

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evangelism_vision 2012/06/18 22:00:00

Admirable

Has more guts than I do and He is a Christian. He was praying the whole time and in an interview for ABC News, they cut out any religious references he made. But then again, ABC, CNN, CBS, MSNBC.... all Media Lap Dogs for Obama

Would never get me up there doing that

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motorlady 2012/06/18 21:45:49

Insane

Insane but I watched it anyway

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Tarika Peck 2012/06/18 21:45:12

Insane

Its hard for me to watch anyone walk on a tightrope after watching that video of Karl Wallenda fall to his death

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Al B Th... to Tarika ... 2012/06/19 01:12:42

+1
Very true. And that's why Nik agreed to use a safety harness. It allows us to enjoy the feat of making the crossing rather than if he will make it.

Nik is Karl's great grandson. They are truly one of the Greats in the world.

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