Does the Guinness Book of World records encourage dangerous behavior with its records? Should it celebrate/record things that cause harm?

I don't know why people want to be in the guiness book. I mean, who really reads it? Granted there are stats there, and maybe people are able to bounce a ball longer than someone else or whatever stupid and ridiculous thing they are trying to do, but the question is - does anyone else really care?

I certainly don't and that kind of news sort of goes in one ear and out the other. If you are asked on the street if you can name anyone who is in the guiness book of world records, for anything, I would bet that most people cannot. Heck if you watch some of the jay leno skits, half the people don't know who assassinated Lincoln or other such 3rd grade facts.

I suppose that's what that 5th grader show is so popular, people like to pretend they aren't stupid but can't answer 5th grade questions. People have always done dumb things just for the five seconds of notoriety (see the previous question someone asked on going over the falls in a barrel). Should it be celebrated?No.

Will it? Yes. Again, you just have to look at the popularity of that show "Jackass." (I think that is the name of it.

) And, stupid stunts aren't relegated to one culture. Those Chinese or Japanese shows on cable where the people do strange obstacle courses and other weird things that injure them are highly celebrated as well.

I think the reason people do that is the pure competition of it and they want their name in a book. The Guinness Book of World Records got started to make money by keeping these records. I don't think it ever was intended for people to harm themselves or their health in order to get their name in the book.

Human beings are just very competitive beings and as long as they, the records will continue to be made.

I think people do dangerous things and the book started to record them to make a profit. Do people try to outdo one another, yes, but if it wasn't for the book it would be recorded someplace else and people would still do it.

I saw that woman on the Daily Show.. disgusting.. I can understand having a goal but why not shoot for the woman who lost the most weight..in the world. I think while people will always do stupid things encouraging it by acting as if it should be rewarded, should be remembered and praised to be printed for the world to see is counter productive. Achieving immortality in print should be reserved for those that do amazing things for humanity.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.