Dean Potter's GoPro Footage.

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When there is an airline disaster the black box always survives the crash. It seems that loved and hated GoPro is now soon on its way to becoming the next black box. Authorities are now using the footage to reconstruct the accident.

Here is my question. Should the footage be released to the public? Would you watch it if you had the chance? I personally wouldn't not want to see it, but with that said, I wouldn't judge you if you watched it since it would be like the old saying, "a train wreck is horrible thing, but they are pretty hard not to look at."

I'd love you learn from it but I fear some would get their jollies off with it. I would not enjoy seeing a disrespectful, Internet meme-ish, or public satireish outcome from releasing the video.

I think if you are going to do dangerous things with a go pro (free solo, base jump etc) you should put in your will what you want to be done with the footage.

Personally, i would be all for posting it somewhere so people can learn from my mistake / see how i went out.

Ammon McNeely posted his video of him busting up his leg and i think it was a good learning tool for what you need to be careful of, he didn't die of course so he was alive to decide if he wanted to post his footage. Everyone says base jumping is dangerous and of course tons of people die doing it but i think a video such as his hits home alot more than just random people say hey it is dangerous.

B. Climbin' wrote:Should the footage be released to the public? Would you watch it if you had the chance? I personally wouldn't not want to see it, but with that said, I wouldn't judge you if you watched it since it would be like the old saying, "a train wreck is horrible thing, but they are pretty hard not to look at."

Should be up to next of kin. I would not watch it.

I wouldn't watch it, mainly because I don't BASE jump, so there's nothing I can learn from it. I think it's pretty sick to want to watch it for any other reason.

I really like the suggestion by Viper Scale. It should really be the choice of those doing the jump.

If you want to see that video then you're a sick fuck

I would watch it.

B. Climbin' wrote: It seems that loved and hated GoPro is now soon on its way to becoming the next black box.

I think that the footage should be made available to some, particularly those investigating the accident and those who may want to research what happened from a safety standpoint, for the future of the sport.

Watching it out of morbid curiosity would be pretty dark. I hope it's never released.

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I'm not sure if it would be that bad of a vid. They were jumping near darkness. But in either case 2 things to note.

1st) Whether to release it or not is the family/legal owners business only. It is theirs to do with as they wish assuming that the authorities don't confiscate it as it was filming a crime. It's not mine, it's not yours. It's the survivors to do as they wish. Burn it - release it, bury it. They own it. I believe that Shane McConkies family said he'd have been pissed knowing his last vid wouldn't be released. There is the deceased's viewpoint to consider as well, and again, that is the family's decision to choose their best course of action. At this point, (assuming it is returned to them as they are the rightful owners) only their view counts.

2nd) Released, it could possibly save more than a few impressionable youngsters lives. Instead of high risk folks just mysteriously disappearing in some vague puff of "some kind of accident", it would be a strong visual reminder to anyone considering this kind of thrill seeking what the end might look like. In that regard, it is not "sick" at all, but a very positive and beneficial thing to do.

Feel free to disagree (because I know several will), but this thread was entitled "Dean Potter's GroPro footage". I highly doubt that anyone who clicks on it didn't do so without at least a a little expectation that there might be some video footage on the other end.

It seems silly to condemn that curiosity when it was likely the same curiosity that brought you here in the first place.