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A Trampoline

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Re: A Trampoline

#31

Post by astura »

I had a trampoline as a preteen, they are loads of fun for pretty much all ages. Kids and adults of all ages had fun on them. However, I would never in a million years own one or allow one on my property as an adult, because they are humongous liability and most insurance companies won't cover you if you own one. At some point my parents insurance company did some reconnaissance, saw the trampoline, and immediately cancelled their policy on the spot. They are also considered an attractive nuance, legally, so if someone breaks into your yard and breaks their neck on it you're considered legally liable.

As much as I like them, nothing is worth that kinda risk.

We only had one because my parents were extremely irresponsible people. (In other ways too)

Re: A Trampoline

#32

Post by dbspin »

sublinear wrote: post #14
gryfft wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Almost everyone I knew who broke a bone growing up broke them on a trampoline. As an adult, every story I've heard involving someone's kids and a trampoline ended up involving a cast at best. ... And yet. I wonder. I can remember the feeling of freedom and joy in my body as a child, joy in movement itself that I have never recaptured in any meaningful way no matter how I ever tried to motivate myself to exercise... S…

Have you tried lifting weights? That freedom of movement is what it feels like to have a higher strength-to-weight ratio. You can get there surprisingly quickly and casually if you haven't lifted weights in a long time or ever.

Came here to say something similar.

I'm someone who suffers from major reluctance to exercise. To be more specific - the first thirty minutes of exercise are hell, always. Doesn't matter how long I've been doing an activity. It feels like the first time. Exhaustion, fatigue whatever.

This basically means stuff like jogging is out, since it takes so long to get over the hump each time my motivation to do it can't be maintained.

Recently (in my late forties), inspired by some friends who go regularly, I've started attending a weight lifting centred gym near my house.

The cardio I do at the beginning and end of each workout is still hell. But the weight lifting itself really is quite freeing, and it's wonderful to see your strength go (gradually up). It's great also to discover my legs are much stronger than I'd have expected (after years of riding a fixie), despite my arms being flimsy noodles.

Re: A Trampoline

#33

Post by zzzeek »

eweise wrote: post #22

I sweated the years we had a trampoline. It was visible from the street so anyone could have jumped on it and broke their neck. One of my children's friends did get hurt but fortunately, not enough to become an issue. They're a huge liability and not sure insurance covers them.

Insurance does not cover them and if they find out you have one they are likely to cancel your coverage.

I'm not sure why "you can lose your home insurance for having one of these" isn't being brought up more.

Re: A Trampoline

#34

Post by lbrito »

sublinear wrote: post #26
dnemmers wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the previous comment was more about second hand, and free options compare to running out to buy them new from a store; not if the parent should/shouldn't get them anything.

I knew what I was commenting on. I see that HN continues to be salty about anything that doesn't support their entitled worldview. The broader thread was commenting about the dangers of trampolines and I was simply suggesting how to sidestep an entire category of suffering. If they insist on wanting a trampoline and actually do yard work for it or whatever, then the pain won't be wasted. It may not even be remembered…

That was somewhat my first point - kids, especially younger, want things all the time. Its fine to ignore most of it. Catering to every wish of a toddler is silly. Unfortunately it seems a lot of parents tend to do more of that than seems healthy.

Re: A Trampoline

#35

Post by cortesoft »

culi wrote: post #25
dlcarrier wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My parents dug a hole in the ground for a trampoline, so it was flush with the ground. It was great because you couldn't accidentally fall off, and it was safer than doing any given stunt on regular ground.

How did it not flood?

Maybe they live in a place with little rain?

Re: A Trampoline

#36

Post by cortesoft »

gryfft wrote: post #4
1970-01-01 wrote: post #2

The hidden costs are in the ER visits

Almost everyone I knew who broke a bone growing up broke them on a trampoline. As an adult, every story I've heard involving someone's kids and a trampoline ended up involving a cast at best. ... And yet. I wonder. I can remember the feeling of freedom and joy in my body as a child, joy in movement itself that I have never recaptured in any meaningful way no matter how I ever tried to motivate myself to exercise... S…

Eh, I knew kids (including myself) who broke bones in all sorts of other ways besides trampolines.

However, everyone I know who had a trampoline did break a bone on it.

Some of those ended in permanent, life long injuries. It isn't always just a few months in a cast.

Swimming has more deaths than trampolines do, but not nearly as many serious injuries.

Re: A Trampoline

#37

Post by astura »

gryfft wrote: post #4
1970-01-01 wrote: post #2

The hidden costs are in the ER visits

Almost everyone I knew who broke a bone growing up broke them on a trampoline. As an adult, every story I've heard involving someone's kids and a trampoline ended up involving a cast at best. ... And yet. I wonder. I can remember the feeling of freedom and joy in my body as a child, joy in movement itself that I have never recaptured in any meaningful way no matter how I ever tried to motivate myself to exercise... S…

You can take trampolining lessons and to experience that feeling in a much safer environment. Much more expensive though.

Any sort of gymnastics practice, even without a trampoline, gives you a very similar feeling.

Re: A Trampoline

#38

Post by whoamii »

eweise wrote: post #22

I sweated the years we had a trampoline. It was visible from the street so anyone could have jumped on it and broke their neck. One of my children's friends did get hurt but fortunately, not enough to become an issue. They're a huge liability and not sure insurance covers them.

Insurance… lawyers… No wonder most kids these days are glued to screens: liability free!

Went to an “amusement” park the other day (US). Throughput of people going down a waterslide at about 2 kids per minute. Insane. Wavepool? Cleared out every 15 minutes or so. Non-stop whistling by an army of lifeguards. Insane. A kid got whistled at because they had a kid on their shoulder. Okay… At least the cop walking around the park (in uniform) all day was nice and handed out stickers. That’s right, a cop at an amusement park. No wonder these places are dying and being turned into warehouses or what have you.

I ended up finding an insurance plan which explicitly covers trampolines. I now basically pay for the cost of the trampoline each year. Insane.

What a time to be alive as a kid in America.

Re: A Trampoline

#39

Post by astura »

zzzeek wrote: post #33
eweise wrote: post #22

I sweated the years we had a trampoline. It was visible from the street so anyone could have jumped on it and broke their neck. One of my children's friends did get hurt but fortunately, not enough to become an issue. They're a huge liability and not sure insurance covers them.

Insurance does not cover them and if they find out you have one they are likely to cancel your coverage. I'm not sure why "you can lose your home insurance for having one of these" isn't being brought up more.

It gets worse - if you make an unrelated insurance claim while owning an undisclosed trampoline then insurance company can deny your claim due to having the trampoline even if the claim has nothing to do with the trampoline.

Not sure how common that is, but it's definitely a possibility. My cousin is an insurance adjuster and he said he denies claims for misrepresentation all the time.

So all you trampoline owners I hope you're renters or have disclosed your trampoline to your homeowners insurance.

Re: A Trampoline

#40

Post by ButlerianJihad »

dnemmers wrote: post #18

Somehow, my wife's co-workers managed to sneak a full size trampoline (with netting) into their Rental's living room; somehow the landlord is fine with the arrangement, having seen it in person.

The next lease/rental agreement/insurance they sign will have a Trampoline Addendum
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