• Glass and metal-coated kite strings kill several in India
    32 replies, posted
[quote]Three people, including two children, have died after their throats were slit by glass-coated strings used for flying kites on India's Independence Day. Saanchi Goyal, 3, and Harry, 4, were looking out through the sunroof of their cars in different parts of Delhi when sharp strings slit their throats. Zafar Khan, 22, died in the same manner when he was riding his motorbike. Glass-coated strings are used to bring down competitors' kites, but they also end up injuring and killing people. Many Indians fly kites to celebrate festivals and important occasions like the Independence Day, which is celebrated on 15 August. But every year, there are reports of people dying or getting wounded from the kite strings - locally known as manja - treated with powdered glass or metal to sharpen them.[/quote] [url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-37103668[/url]
What the hell
But why.
[QUOTE=Hogie bear;50900358]But why.[/QUOTE] [quote]Glass-coated strings are used to bring down competitors' kites[/quote]
How fucking important are these kite competitions that people are willing to set traps that can kill people, what the fuck.
[QUOTE=Electrocuter;50900416]How fucking important are these kite competitions that people are willing to set traps that can kill people, what the fuck.[/QUOTE] It's a sport called kite-fighting. The entire purpose is to cut other folks' kites with your own sharp string. That's why it's done. That it's still done like this despite people getting cut right up is sort of stupid.
[QUOTE=Electrocuter;50900416]How fucking important are these kite competitions that people are willing to set traps that can kill people, what the fuck.[/QUOTE] Sounds like these were competition style strings used in a crowded celebration, where it is certainly unsafe. In a actual designated competition zone with rules and boundries these strings would be fine to use. That said I nothing about competitive kite flying.
Jesus Christ India, you never cease to amaze me.
my goodness at least do it away from built up areas and roads
Kiterunner?
[QUOTE=Riller;50900468]It's a sport called kite-fighting. The entire purpose is to cut other folks' kites with your own sharp string. That's why it's done. That it's still done like this despite people getting cut right up is sort of stupid.[/QUOTE] Wow, I thought you were joking but it's [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fighter_kite]totally a real thing[/url] they really should have gone into a little more detail than "used to bring down competitors kites" because the article kind of makes it sound like the strings are being used to deliberately kill people
[QUOTE=Riller;50900468]It's a sport called kite-fighting. The entire purpose is to cut other folks' kites with your own sharp string. That's why it's done. That it's still done like this despite people getting cut right up is sort of stupid.[/QUOTE] I'm sorry, but that has to be a boring sport.
How can glass or metal be applied to a string so that it stays both sharp and flexible?
To be honest, kite-fighting sounds rad as fuck, but I wish it was done in a safer environment so that nobody would get murdered
[QUOTE=Hanso;50900710]I'm sorry, but that has to be a boring sport.[/QUOTE] according to Khaled Hosseni's [URL="https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=the+kite+runner"]The Kite Runner[/URL] it's a heckin good time
This also causes a lot of birds to be killed/maimed, pretty dumb sport
[QUOTE=EditOutJ;50900482]Sounds like these were competition style strings used in a crowded celebration, where it is certainly unsafe. In a actual designated competition zone with rules and boundries these strings would be fine to use. That said I nothing about competitive kite flying.[/QUOTE] it's not some kind of recognized sport or anything. there's no such thing "designated competition zones" as far as i know. it's just a thing reckless kids do [img]http://www.provermotos.com.br/produtos/antena_retrov_jojafer.jpg[/img] in brazil, we sell these anti-kite antennas that people can install on their motorcycles
is it a media bias or does india seem like a rediculously dangerous country to live in? i mean everything i see about it shows that they do not really care about simple things that can save lives such as traffic laws or not standing ontop of trains or not building a house ontop of the rails, like they treat life as if its cheap over there
[QUOTE=Zukriuchen;50901260]it's not some kind of recognized sport or anything. there's no such thing "designated competition zones" as far as i know. it's just a thing reckless kids do [img]http://www.provermotos.com.br/produtos/antena_retrov_jojafer.jpg[/img] in brazil, we sell these anti-kite antennas that people can install on their motorcycles[/QUOTE] I don't get it, this seems even more dangerious.. what is the point?
[QUOTE=Sableye;50901267]is it a media bias or does india seem like a rediculously dangerous country to live in? i mean everything i see about it shows that they do not really care about simple things that can save lives such as traffic laws or not standing ontop of trains or not building a house ontop of the rails, like they treat life as if its cheap over there[/QUOTE] I'm an Indian, and I can assure you that your assumption is pretty much on the dot. It's because of an attitude the average Indian has that basically amounts to 'fuck it' or 'who needs to do more than the bare minimum' along with a healthy dose of 'screw the rules.'
[QUOTE=Fourier;50901384]I don't get it, this seems even more dangerious.. what is the point?[/QUOTE] the hook stops the string from hitting the biker's face or neck. why are you saying it sounds dangerous?
[QUOTE=Talishmar;50900835]How can glass or metal be applied to a string so that it stays both sharp and flexible?[/QUOTE] Crushed glass/metal particles into a string coated in glue. Thin, abrasive and sharp. Fucking hell.
[QUOTE=IAreLegend;50900863]according to Khaled Hosseni's [URL="https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=the+kite+runner"]The Kite Runner[/URL] it's a heckin good time[/QUOTE] Yeah, one guy of a team flies the kite while the other runs to collect the ones that are cut down, even those that were taken out by competitors. They have to race the other runners for it so it's sort of a competition on two ends. I also love how practically everyone who knows the (kind of?) sport seems to have learned it from that book/movie. It's a good book though.
[QUOTE=Sableye;50901267]is it a media bias or does india seem like a rediculously dangerous country to live in? i mean everything i see about it shows that they do not really care about simple things that can save lives such as traffic laws or not standing ontop of trains or not building a house ontop of the rails, like they treat life as if its cheap over there[/QUOTE] i assure you its definitely a mix of both india now has the 2nd largest population of any single country in the world -- at 1.297 billion, it's almost up to par with china's 1.378 billion. when you have that many people, it doesn't matter where you live -- people are going to do absurd things and die because of it. india is a beautiful place to be, but you have to know where you're stepping. you wouldn't tell a new visitor to the US to visit the bad side of Detroit. Independence Day is a huge thing in India -- more people have probably died in the US on July 4th due to bootleg fireworks than they have for these fighting kites that they were using. try to see it from the other side; the media's pretty good at swinging things and narrowing your perspective.
This is fucked up. When I saw the thread, though, I thought someone set a Ghost Ship-style trap because I've never heard of this.
[QUOTE=Robman8908;50901441]This is fucked up. When I saw the thread, though, I thought someone set a Ghost Ship-style trap because I've never heard of this.[/QUOTE]Glad I'm not the only one who thought of that scene. Pretty damn scary.
[QUOTE=Hanso;50900710]I'm sorry, but that has to be a boring sport.[/QUOTE] Battlekites sounds more interesting than Sportsball, TBH.
[QUOTE=Zukriuchen;50901417]the hook stops the string from hitting the biker's face or neck. why are you saying it sounds dangerous?[/QUOTE] I don't understand either. So the device is to catch kites? Then what? What does it prevent?
[QUOTE=cyanidem;50901880]I don't understand either. So the device is to catch kites? Then what? What does it prevent?[/QUOTE] it prevents the string slicing up the biker and possibly killing them
[video=youtube;SHhsmtWrjEI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHhsmtWrjEI[/video]
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