Sears Tower unveils 103rd floor glass balconies

Yahoo (AP) ^ | 7/1/09 | Karen Hawkins

[DemforBush]

HICAGO – Visitors to the Sears Tower's new glass balconies all seem to agree: The first step is the hardest.

"It's like walking on ice," said Margaret Kemp, of Bishop, California, who said her heart was still pounding even after stepping away from the balcony. "That first step you take — 'am I going down?'"

[DemforBush]

As someone with a hardcore fear of heights, let me just say:

AIEEEEEEEEARRGHH!!!1!

[driftdiver]

Glass floors would make it better.

[hugorand]

Video from Chicago Trib: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ld4Mc9bKths&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fdlisted%2Ecom%2F&feature=player_embedded

[PennsylvaniaMom]

Ok. Now I am nauseous.

[omega4179]

My hands and feet are tingling with fear just thinking about this.

[omega4179]

Read the article.

[max americana]

I went to GhostBar (Palms) in Vegas months ago and they have the same thing. A LOT of people were at the entrance before they enter the ledge which shows you the phobia for heights is common. Only 10 persons were at the ledge drinking heavily. My guess is that 5 were acting cool and needed the liquor to give em some courage..

[PetroniusMaximus]

Never.

[mamelukesabre]

The first time a 500lb fatso falls down with a hard metalic object in his hand, or falls on his pocket full of ball bearings...oh mercy...

[Bahbah]

I could not step out on that thing.

I have a headache thinking about that.

[Cowboy Bob]

I just happen to catch news of this on ABC news tonight. The anchor (can’t think of his name), couldn’t understand why this was done!

[freedumb2003]

>>My hands and feet are tingling with fear just thinking about this.<<

I almost fainted (I have terrible acrophobia)

[umgud]

I love heights, but I’d feel better having a net under that thing.

[Drew68]

Video from Chicago Trib:

Damn. Even that's hard to watch!!!

[DemforBush]

Here’s a link to a slideshow of it. These kids are WAY braver than I am.

http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Chicago/photo//090701/480/9ffd3328812f4de8a2b4e00e351417d9//s:/ap_travel/us_sears_tower_ledge

[freedumb2003]

>>The first time a 500lb fatso falls down with a hard metalic object in his hand, or falls on his pocket full of ball bearings...oh mercy...<<

Probably not a concern — bulletproof glass of that thickness would have a tensile strength equivalent to steel.

The only danger is 100% psychological. But my heart attack would be very real if someone shoved me out onto that.

[DemforBush]

I can’t do the Ghost Bar, either. I prefer my bars to be close to the ground (doesn’t hurt as much when I fall down and pass out :-) )

[hugorand]

Damn. Even that's hard to watch!!!

Yes, and it's funny how kids are so fearless.

[mamelukesabre]

tensile strength of steel eh? I don’t think so. btw, thickness has no bearing on tensile strength whatsoever.

[DemforBush]

I guess I’m not the only one skeeved out about high places.

Funny thing is...about a year ago I had a nightmare eerily similar to this thing. I dreamt I was on a covered glass walkway between two skyscrapers, hundreds of feet up and exactly at the midway point of the walkway. I was too frightened to move either way (as I would be in real life). It was easily one of the most terrifying dreams I’ve ever had - woke up bathed in sweat and couldn’t fall asleep the rest of the night.