I tried caving and found out I'm very bad at caving
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 1 окт 2021
- I was invited to Peak Cavern by caving expert @EliseFreshwaterBlizzard! It sounded like a great adventure, but my body decided otherwise. ■ Elise's channel: / flipe2ne1 ■ / elisefreshwaterblizzard
My main channel: / tomscottgo
I'm at www.tomscott.com
Twitter: / tomscott
Instagram: / tomscottgo
Facebook: / tomscott
Series Producer: Cambria Bailey-Jones
Assistant Producer: Sophie Newton
Editor: Pierre Blanc
Camera Operator: Jamie MacLeod
Executive Producer: Guy Larsen
Safety and instruction provided by Pete at Beth Knight from Peak Instruction: www.peakinstruction.com/
Filmed at Peak Cavern: peakcavern.co.uk/
Special Thanks to Leo Jay
A Pad 26 / Penny4 Production www.penny4.co.uk 
Развлечения
Thanks very much to Elise! And please try to avoid armchair diagnoses in the comments: so far the theories include "panic attack", "some vagus nerve weirdness", "claustrophobia", "thermal shock", "you're just not used to cold water", and "inadequate socks", and there's no way anyone's going to work it out from a RUclips video!
Cool
Ive been here before, mustve been fun to go there!
Sure
I thinks its a panic attack YEP
People who say your just not used to cold water have never been in cold water
As a professional armchair therapist with 0 years of experience, I can say with confidence that you were having a bad time there, Tom.
Totally agree. :-)
Or to translate it to British terms, it was not his most pleasant outing. :D
Lmfao I like you
@@IstasPumaNevada indeed, it appears to have gone sub optimally.
@@TenOfZero1 perhaps it was not his finest hour
Hello, I just wanted to say a big thank you to the camera team and safety team for being so fantastic in helping produce this video.
It was a wonderful experience to work with Tom, and I'm super glad you came out safely !! 🙂
(Also the video looks AMAZING!)
Your name seems somehow very fitting to this video 🤔 You seemed like an excellent person to go caving with for the first time! So much understanding and good communication!
'Ello there!
I'm so, so sorry.
:o its her
You were excellent
All I can imagine now is Tom Scott being in actual grave danger and talking himself through it like:
Oh my goodness, I have been stabbed. Someone has actually come along and impaled me with a sharp implement, and I am bleeding profusely. This is fascinating, I am starting to feel a little light headed. I wonder how my blood cells are going to try and cope with this predicament. This is bizarre sensation. Cameraman, are you getting all this?
As terrible as the situation would be, you had me in stitches by how peeeeerfectly you nailed every word of that! I even read it in Tom's voice, and it sounded 100% believable :D
"what you dont see is all the little specks of macrobacteria and other invaders that are trying to get into the wound just as the blood is rushing out. i'm really amazed how effective that knife was in stabbing me. i mean, wow. i dont think anyone could engineer a more effective tool for the job. i think im going to need a lay down now"
@@jewbearidk "goodnight folks"
this is so accurate it’s a little scary
@@wayababaya "Finally, I have to admit, I'm not liking this. Although it is interesting."
How on EARTH do you land an incredible surname like Freshwater-Blizzard? Incredible stuff.
I'm picturing someone named Freshwater being introduced to someone named Blizzard at a party or similar and saying "Excuse me. I think we should get married. Now, hear me out..."
@@sarar4901 If you meet someone with the surname "wallet" then I am certain you could get a sponsored wedding.
@@sarar4901 You need to meet someone with surname "Sharp"
Life just isn't fair. 🤣
🤣😂
It is rare that we, as consumers, get to see when things don't go right (besides the obvious blooper reel type stuff). I think a lot of media people would have not released this in fear of it showing themselves in a negative light. It is refreshing to see, and important to see the reactions. Both Tom's internal conflict, his positive view of learning about himself, and Elise's perspective stating how important good communication is.
I agree.
Especially for someone like Tom, who's often focused on scripted, thought-out content, this second channel will be a nice outlet for the more human stuff.
I suspect that if this was for Tom's main channel we wouldn't have seen it
How you get 2.8k likes.
The positive attitude to an in the end botched project is a really good approach, really admirable :-)
"I physically can't handle cold water and I'm glad that's something I just found out. How deep is the next bit?" What a fuckin champ
Having grown up disabled, there is a lot of seemingly small things I cannot physically do. Each time I encounter one of these seemingly minor limitations, it is one of the most embarrassing feelings ever. Seeing a content creator I enjoy watching being able to acknowledge their own limitations is really valuable to me because that's not something people often do publicly. Limitations are something everyone has and being able to acknowledge them is crucial part in keeping you, and the people around you, safe.
exactly!!
You would be amazed how much is possible with a bit of creativity! :)
This was not the usual introduction route :-P
Thank you for this! All true. Inspirational 💐
What a great point!
Indeed. I was really glad this wasn't cut out or even worse scrapped. Makes me respect Tom even more :)
I haven't seen Tom lose his composure this bad since he went off about programming and time zones.
Thank you for reminding me of that old classic
I think "buy some [beep]ing subtitles!" is also a high point in the Tom Scott canon
And also about RUclips's situation on subtitles:
"Oh look at me I bought a Lamborghini"
"BUY SOME DAMN SUBTITLES! Also-"
This made me think of the timer toaster
The G Force episode is another
Freshwater-Blizzard has to be one of the most amazing names ever.
@@dlog The mainstream game development industry is a cesspit that needs more than just some fresh water. (greetings to Jim Sterling)
@@vaclav_fejt Don't let yourself get sensationalized by online videos and articles.
It's just cold water.
Freshwater-Blizzard going into freezing water almost seems like a case of nominative determinism.
"That's genuinely embarrassing. I don't know what to do about it." Puts it on the internet for hundred thousands people to see XD
On a more serious note - thank you for putting it out on the internet. It's good to remember that humans have individual limitations and that it's better to be safe and embarrassed than risk more trouble.
Tom is based
@Kimmy Anfo Eh, I thought about it, but I didn't feel like it. I wouldn't say "over the Phone" or "sent by the Post", or even "on a poster Outside" even though I'm more convinced that there is only one outside than I am that there is only one internet.
Agreed. By all means push yourself, but you'll be much more embarrassed having to be rescued than you'd be by simply stating you've found your limits.
Tom's reaction is part of why people can die so quickly if they fall into really cold water like the north sea.
Agreed. The physiological reaction to extreme cold is the reduction of blood flow to the extremities. Unfortunately, if too little blood is reaching the arms & legs, then they literally stop working. Your brain is screaming "swim!" but the muscles -do not- cannot respond. It must be truly terrifying to sink below the surface because your body's automatic responses have betrayed you.
@@guardrailbiter worse, there can be an overwhelming gasp-response, to the sudden cold. If you happen to be underwater at that moment, you can involuntarily inhale water.
@@CineSoar I thought of that sort of thing when I jumped in a super cold swimming hole from a slight height. I felt like I couldn't breathe like my lungs were restricting, so I swam to shore just like, gasping for air the entire way. Everyone else thought wading into the water was worse but I preferred the sensation of wading.
so many people who survived the initial iceburg strike on the titanic died literally within minutes and some cases seconds when they had to jump into the icy water as the ship went down.
@@CineSoar Can confirm. I once didn't prepare myself properly when I dipped my head underwater in an ice swimming hole and ended with a noseful of water. Luckily didn't inhale all the way into my lungs but it was close.
It was strange to see Tom that upset
What's even stranger is, that this is very upset for him but for other people just mildly
It was a slight anxiety attack, which is normal if you're under a lot of stress (claustrophobia, cold water shock, poor oxygen levels, etc.). You start hyperventilating, your brain doesn't get enough oxygen and your body goes into panic mode. You start to feel as if you might feint. It might be unsettling to see, but it's a very normal, human thing.
Best thing to do is to settle down, focus on your breathing, engage in conversation, work up some courage - like the good team is doing. Kudos on Tom for soldiering on, anyway.
@@HiddenKenshin now that's soldiering!
@@psoma_brufd I understood that reference
Especially after all that we've seen him do. Zero-G, fighter jet, centrifuge, fireworks glider, wing walking...
Damn, the cameraman is really good at his job. Seems like he’d die before interrupting the video.
Praise the cameraman!!!
He's invisible
camera team*
Camera operators usually don't get the recognition they deserve. Good on you for giving him recognition :)
Absolutely no reaction to the conditions. A real trooper.
As a psychologist, I am genuinely impressed with how you handled that. Staying that calm and coherent when having that level of unexpected bodily reactions is very cool, and not something that anyone could do. Thank you for sharing this, I loved to see it.
On the psychological theme, you should check out his much newer tightrope walking video, if you haven't already 😀
Tom has given away one of the great secrets, that documentary camera operators are unstoppable media machines of truth.
Man, Tom is so cool for not only putting out this video where he undoubtedly felt vulnerable, but also for being so open and vocal with Elise and the crew about his needs. Massive respect for him.
Obsequious Alert!
@@MrShanester117 What's with the insult? My appreciation was genuine. Is there something constructive you were trying to get across?
I know right! I would've never had the guts to post this on the internet, let alone expose it to several tens of thousands of people.
Tom, you keep saying "it's embarrassing", but you're the super hero who went to the Artic and got to fly in jet plane, without much training. In a sense, it's super impressive to see you "not get through". That's life, you have your limits, and that was a super good video, nothing to be ashamed of.
And stood *on top of* a flying plane!
Everyone has their weakness. Tom might have +10 Endurance for g-force, but -5 for cold feet is alright.
Which video is this articulated lorry visit? I'd like to watch it :-/
@@WhiteUnicorn82 Articulated lorry visit ?
Not only that, but when you said “it's embarassing 'cause there's six people in this cave and only one of them cannot handle cold water” you are missing an important bit: you are the only one in the cave who *wasn't* selected for aptitude at caving, so there's a huge sampling bias.
Hope sciencing/pedanting that bit out helps you feel better (or at least less grumpy) about all this
I feel like I've learned where the expression "getting cold feet" comes from...
Seriously though, mad props to Tom for being honest with Elise and with himself, so nothing dangerous happened and it was a positive learning experience!
I think you are right. He was under shock.
(Might have been induced as a centralization of circulation by the cold.)
The professionalism of the caving and safety team is extremely reassuring. Now, I don’t think I ever want to caving, but if I or someone I know were to, I can be confident that I (or they) will be in the best of care (in locations like this)
Or you could join a uni club where the most experienced cavers are second years....😆🤣💀 mwah ha ha ha haaa
@@emmahealy4863 hey that's a secret, don't tell the freshers 👀
I feel like I'm going crazy, they seemed to have no idea how to console him or give him any sort of pep talk. Even the second time everyone just let him freak out for a few seconds they were stood around scratching their arses
if you ever want to go caving, look up nearby caving clubs, there's lots in the uk, especially in hilly areas, and they will gladly take you on a few easy caves to get you into this, (even easier than what tom is doing here in most cases).
What else could they do but let it pass? It seems like it happens quite frequently. Just got to wait until the body stops freaking out.
Part of the "mountain code" here in Norway: There's no shame in turning back!
Most relevant here: bury yourself in time ;)
@@j3011 That's in case of windstorms and blizzards XD
Same here where I live.
Same in the Alps, it's that and don't be a hero, it's better to have seen someone in trouble and gotten help from the experts than having tried to help and increased the number of people they to save
As someone who is extremely uncomfortable with the idea of going into s cave but still likes to do it: thank you for saying that, what always stops me from going in is the idea of someones time being wasted with me going back out "sooner than expected"
Everyone *everyone* has an "I can't physically do that" point, and it is so good of Tom to be so open and willing to share this with us all, as well as to talk about some of the feeling that arise when you reach that point. I know a lot of my fellow disabled folks will have heard Tom talk about the embarrassment of seeing others who are able to do something you can't, and nodded along - because we visit that point more often than do physically fit and health folks. The more people from all walks of life, are willing to share their experiences, the more - hopefully - wider society will begin to sympathise a little more when someone tells them "I can't". Thanks Tom!
That is an excellent insight, bringing up disability. Thank you for helping us better understand each other
@@ethan-loves What a lovely response, thank you Ethan!
As a handicapped person I thought about that as well. In daily life it is often met with disbelief or mocking ("Sure you can, just try!"), but the almost factual realization that you could not do something no matter how hard you try is very real. And for handicapped people often a case of not getting severely hurt.
@@hkr667
Thank you for sharing this perspective.
I don’t know why… but for my entire life up until this point, I would have just assumed that underground cave water would be lukewarm
It's somewhere between cold and having your plums turn into icecubes
Same here, I guess the whole idea of geothermal energy and that
Have you ever been in a basement? It’s always colder under ground. And to the person who said thermal heat, how deep underground do you think they are ?😂
In temperate areas like the UK it is usually between 7 C° and 13C° depending on the source, how close it is to the surface and time of year, that is like swiming in the atlantic during winter.
when i went to a place called maquoketa caves it was weird. the cave wasn't cold, but my breath i could see and the water was cold. i was like ? what?
Tom, even if you dont struggle with anxiety, this is really relatable to see. The embarrassment of the anxiety and feeling like the only one who goes through it. Feeling like everyone else is normal and you are the weird or weak one. Thank you Tom.
@Kimmy Anfo 🤨
@Kimmy Anfo 🤨
@Kimmy Anfo what no it's a diagnosed thing that alot of people have, some people just like to be annoying and talk about it as much as possible
@Kimmy Anfo and you're more educated and knowledgeable than every psychiatrist in the world, fantastic. Can I see the peer reviewed studies that back up your claims?
Yep, been there
As uncomfortable it must have been for Tom to film, it's really great he did post the video nonetheless. It's so important to see people acknowledge their weaknesses, and to show that is really brave.
Absolutely! I really appreciated this.
No bravery without fear
can't wait to see the "Tom Scott's nervous system shutting down for 10 minutes straight" video
Well we had that one video about G forces....
Tom's reactions to the water, "I'm fine, I know I'm fine, I'm not in danger but my body is telling me I am" is exactly how my anxiety operates on a daily basis 🙃
Exactly this! It is embarrassing and really quite infuriating.
People... PEOPLE!!! Ok brain, I see, please calm down. You are totally embarrassing me right now.
👀 I'm not with them...🧠
As someone who has Problems doing normal everyday things due to my disability, it’s so heartening to see someone without obvious disability having this reaction. I’ve been there, and yeah it’s gutting… and I’m glad Tom was vulnerable enough to show it. This happens to me on bad days when I try to face a crowded area- I’ve actually driven to the grocery store, seen the crowd, had a very similar NOPE reaction (while being able to rationally and clearly explain my way through it to my fiancé!) and then driven home. Thanks for posting this and your capital-P Problems with caving. Whether it’s mental or physiological.
It's worth pointing out Tom's reaction to the cold water on his feet. It was a small area of his body and he was out of the water source when it hit. Imagine this over your whole body after jumping in a lake on a hot day. This is why there are so many incidents of drowning in the summer amongst people who are capable swimmers.
Thats a very good point thanks :)
I have heard that as long as you control your breathing and dont panic, you can avoid shock from cold and survive those situations correct? ive done some polar ice dips and havent experienced any cold shock or anything ever is that just because i was prepared for the cold water mentally?
I’ve been on a cold water survival course. I wonder how Tom would react to a full body immersion into water with a temperature of 2 Celsius?
It was a result of him hyperventilating, which can cause your limbs to stop working/go completely numb (too much oxigen). Happened to me once.
I dislike replying to you
I'm surprised that more people haven't commented on the name of the cave, which appeared on a sign shown briefly at the start of the video. "Devil's Arse" is such an evocative name.
Thank the Yorkshire blokes that found Peak cavern.
Funny, I'd never have expected the devil's arse to be freezing cold.
It’s because it makes a farting sound when there’s large movements of water through the cave system. Never heard it but lots of villagers say they’ve heard it!
Now we know TS audience don't have a lot of 12 year olds.
I also like how Elise's surname sounds so made up but apparently is not
Tom falls through the ice at a frozen Estonian lake: "Dammit, my phone is wet"
Tom goes caving with a full crew and gets out of water knee-deep: "NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE"
Wait what? which video was that again?
@@kempoficht hey, just pointing out if it was a typo, you spelt enclosed wrong.
@@ieajackson5518 thnx for the headsup. Fixed it
@@kempoficht no problem!
@@Dawa1147 it’s a one of the park benches
Showing cold water shock can happen to anyone is so valuable, thanks Tom, Ellise and the rest of the team
"I just gave Tom Scott a panic attack!" is the best sentence i've ever heard
And just in time for October!
Now those are some top quality cavers. They recognized one of their number was uncomfortable with going further and were 100% ok with that, no peer pressure, no bullshit
The rule that there's no shame in turning back, which is often repeated (at least here in Norway) for exploring the outside of mountains, applies equally when exploring the inside.
I had a bad experience in swildons hole sump 2/3 I think? cave system at University, the caving club I was in were good as gold. I couldn't do and the team said okay thats fine, are you warm and okay for us to be 10 mins going through and back and another team member stayed with me. I don't think they fancied it either. If you get any bs from them they are dangerous, you always think about the least experienced or someone having a bad day.
In dangerous environments, communication is vital and egotism is deadly. When people don't respect and communicate their limits, tragedies are much more likely to occur.
Indeed.
"If my chest had gone in I would have been in trouble" sounds almost word for word what you said when you fell into the lake in Estonia,probably not entirely physiological as you seemed to have a much more severe reaction now Vs then, so maybe it had a stronger effect on you than you realised.
Just because you were rational, doesn't mean you weren't panicked, particularly if that rationality is of the form "I must do this to survive".
People develop phobias over far less than that.
I have a lot of empathy for you, for uploading this video. As a person who deals with panic disorder, I found this incredibly relatable. "I know I'm fine, but my body's telling me I'm not!" That's me every time I'm just... in a store shopping for groceries.
While it's amazing that Tom even uploaded this, I'm more impressed with the team's reaction. They handled the situation well. They were very understanding and supportive. I wish I have people like that around me and hope to be one for others in the future.
Tom really has a knack for surrounding himself with the most wonderful people.
They probably deal with this a fair amount.
They must be used to people having panic attack because of people reacting like this or having claustrophobia
"You've committed, you are in the cave now." I can't tell you the memories that brings back. I was in a cave and we had to go through a "keyhole" which required us to lie on our side and move ourselves with a single forearm and legs. This was tough work, but I made it through into the main cave. We did some exploring and then returned. I went to get back into the keyhole and experienced my 2nd ever bout of claustrophobia and I couldn't go in. Eventually I forced myself in, but I couldn't actually do the movement, so someone had to get behind me and push my feet to get me back out. I was embarrassed and also learned caving was not for me.
@@dontkillmejay8570 that story about the nutty putty caves death has permanently put me off the idea of caving. not that i was ever considering it to begin with
You're committed to this cave now, yup P8 jackpot has a waterfall with a rope ladder and I got stuck with freezing cold water trying to drown me about 5 ft up in the air trying to kick myself free of the tangled rope, got down eventually then guess what that's the way out back up there!!
I am not claustrophobic, but if i don't fit in the cave freely i'm not going in
@@aaclovern9804 ah, so only a healthy amount of claustrophobia.
At what point does phobia turn into natural instinct or even common sense? :-)
@@lucbloom
A phobia is, by definition, an _irrational_ fear. Just like you can be uncomfortable with heights in certain circumstances without having acrophobia, you can be uncomfortable with squeezing into very tight crevices without having claustrophobia.
I've been down a mine before now, and can relate to this entirely. You're underground, wearing a lot of kit that restricts your movement. You go up and down levels, the direction changes frequently and all the markers you would use above ground to get your bearings are taken away from you. The whole experience challenges you on a very low level and it can be incredibly disorientating, and on top of that, cold water shock is properly unpleasant. You can condition your body to it, but it can sometimes be a gradual process. Tom, you mentioned 'embarrassing' - there is simply nothing to be embarrassed by whatsoever, and especially deciding that you were reluctant to take a risk beyond what you had experienced already was exactly the right thing to do. It's all well and good deciding to push yourself, but tempering that with a note of caution is a very sensible move.
I wish the park bench was still a thing. I would be nice to have a retrospective about this experience once you have fully processed it!
Thank you for reminding me about the park bench.
As someone who is absolutely uncomfortable with everything about his, yet oddly fascinated, Elise seems lovely and now I'm going to control the urge to watch more of her videos so that I don't have claustrophobic nightmares.
Maybe it'll be good exposure therapy? 😬
I already had a lot of respect for Tom, but this video has just increased it. Respect for dealing with a difficult experience so positively. And additional respect for putting this up on RUclips, sharing the tough, embarrassing experiences as well as the fun / interesting ones. Not that there's any reason to be embarrassed by this -- I'm sure I'd have had a worse reaction much more quickly -- but you can see how embarrassing Tom found it at the time.
I really, really like this channel. It has such a raw vibe to it, where he's leaving the cameras rolling while his brain is bouncing around all these emotions. Such an interesting introspective. Tom, I really appreciate you for sharing this.
Well put
I actually lost respect for him on the account of him being such a wuss
@@frowningJoker joker pfp
As an armchair medical expert with 0 seconds of experience, i can say with confidence that Tom scott actually went into a cave in this video
Tom, that wasn't embarrassing at all. All through the experience you remained calm and analytical about it and that's *commendable* not embarassing.
Theory: Tom is actually the descendent of evil witches from Oz, and water makes him experience the emotional trauma of melting.
This is the only armchair diagnosis I will accept.
but hey, that's just a theory
Or his family was cursed back in Grulovia by a rival circus family to die in water, either theory seems plausible
Ah, so it's one of those evolutionary psychological adaptations. Like how humans are innately afraid of snakes.
Epigenetics at it's finest. 😄
My favorite moment was when Tom said "Oh, it's happening again". Just fascinating. Functional mind, good selfawareness, and can even see it as it happens but can't do anything about it. As if it's like, a sneeze he knows is approaching. Weird and interesting. Far more interesting than a cave.
Can totally empathise with Tom's reaction. I've been caving once, with my parents & friends who used to be big into caving, and it's easy to underestimate how much being in that unusual, claustrophobic, underground environment makes 'easy' things - walking through some water, going through a narrow gap - completely heightened and scary when you aren't used to it. You become VERY aware of how difficult it would be for someone to come and get you if something went wrong. Definitely had a few wobbles myself.
I'm guessing the other 6 people in that cave (safety team etc.) are more experienced cavers, so definitely not anything to be embarrassed about Tom!!
To me the worst thing about caving is the muffled, echoless sounds in there. My head keeps telling me "if you get stuck you can scream as much as you want, noone outside will hear you." Utterly terrifying.
Can we take a second to appreciate how incredible the whole team were when jumping to help Tom.
I'm genuinely impressed with Tom venturing further after the first shock reaction. Good on you for being clear about your boundaries.
Personally, me with some claustrophobia, I would've panicked and panic at the thought of having to go back through, and then panic at the thought of NOT going back through because then I would die when the cave floods. etc.
The dreaded phobia table tennis AKA 'panic pong'.
I agree, and I'm even more impressed with Tom deciding _not_ to venture further after the second shock reaction.
Lesson is, never try.
I discovered my claustrophobia limit decades ago. I wouldn't even start on a trip like that 😨
@@mikes4163
If you know you wouldn’t be able to cope in there, the best thing you can do to keep the group safe is to wait for them outside. Any caving group that doesn’t respect that is a group you _really_ don’t want to go caving with.
Elises nickname being Freshwater-Blizzard really is the icing on the cake.
My deep respect Tom. That must have been so aggrivating.
Not her nickname, but her actual surname.
@@ragnkja huh... so that's what vocation sound like
it also explains why the cold water didnt affect her
@@ni1661 What do you mean?
I guess that’s a great example of nominative determinism.
I honestly thought when Elise said "If it ever does flood, we'd know straight away" she would follow with "because we'd stop being able to breathe."
Tom, if anyone online or otherwise gives you a tough time about your "cold feet", just ask them how many caves, jet planes, suspended ore carts, and nuclear disaster sites they have experienced.
I totally know how Tom felt when he said he was angry with himself. I'm usually pretty good with heights having worked on tall ladders and lifts quite a bit, but on one particular job I just couldn't. Something about the particular combination of location, height and the nature of the work had my knees shaking and my brain screaming that I was in incredible danger, even though it wasn't that different from stuff I'd done before. My colleagues were very nice about it, but man I was annoyed at myself. You don't know your limits until you hit them, and it's a very unpleasant feeling.
I know that feel. I don't have a fear of heights, I have a fear of _falling off._ I've literally stood at the edge of a 130m straight drop (arch dam) and leaned on the railing watching the ground below, no issues whatsoever with that. The railing is metal and clearly solidly overbuilt and unmovable so it doesn't bother me _at all,_ in fact it's cool.
But give me an ever so slightly wobbly ladder and I have issues climbing 6 steps up if I can't steady myself against a wall or something. It's incredibly annoying because I _know_ that from that height I'd be fine even if I fell off, but I still have to force myself and I look like a bumbling idiot while climbing up.
Once I get to the top and I can push against the ceiling with one hand I'm perfectly fine again.
@@demoniack81 Absolutely!! I'm fine (well, fairly) on hillside tracks if there's one 'safe' side away from the drop, but on a ridgetop track I'm nervous as hell. Possibly the worst was walking across a big sewer conduit across a bay, just 20 feet above the mud flats, the sewer 'bridge' was 8 feet wide but the top sloped to a 2'10" wide walkway. Perfectly fine, but the mud flats extended for half a mile each side so this was the isolated highest point. The boss walked casually on ahead and I tried to argue myself into the 'detached' approach - what's the worst that can happen? - I get dizzy and collapse, so what? Trouble was, so then I would fall off 20 feet into the mud and likely break something. So I had to concentrate very hard on following the boss. Just as soon as we turned round and were heading back towards the low cliffs on the shoreline, my worries disappeared, we were no longer the highest point in sight and 'safety' was approaching with every step, I was happy.
In caves, I'm fine in big 'tourist' caves, I've never really had claustrophobia, but in a tight space I'm afraid I might get claustrophobia (and at what point fear of claustrophobia merges into genuine claustrophobia I don't know, and I'd rather not find out).
Annoyingly, this is me standing at the edge of the top of my fricking carport trying to clean it. Fear of heights can have SUCH a low threshold, and mine makes me sad at times.
@@demoniack81 "I don't have a fear of heights, I have a fear of falling off."
This. Glass floors in 40 story buildings? No problem. Top of the Eiffel Tower? Easy. Balcony of St Peter's Basilica? Love it! Watching a video of someone walking along the ledge of a building? Nope!
Don't get mad at yourself for having physical limits. Our autonomic nervous system is what's taking over... it's not a personal weakness or failing. Makes me kind of sad to imagine you angry at yourself for needing time to overcome the natural reaction. You can't plug your nose and make yourself suffocate... there's something behind you that keeps you obeying your body's responses. Please don't get mad at yourself... you wouldnt be angry at Tom for his body's response... why be angry at yourself?
Normally when people say they got "cold feet", they aren't being literal.
Maybe that is where the expression comes from ?
@@autohmae Better ask a linguistic guy, do you know of any?
@@omri9325 I am interested in linguistics but a quick Google worked better: there isn't a general consensus about the origin but the saying appeared in a couple of literary works in the 19th century (and apparently in a play from Ben Johnson) . The explanation I liked the most was that it has something to do with litteral cold hands and feet thay is caused by an adrenaline rush.
@@autohmae I was thinking the same thing
@@svenwouters9547 Thanks !
It's kinda cool to see Tom having that bit of vulnerability and struggling through it. Because I've had experiences like that where I'm reacting to an experience really extremely while people around me are feeling fine. Internalized ableism really shows its face when that happens, because you find yourself saying all those negative things to yourself. But really, it's nothing to be ashamed of.
I do want to say how proud i am of Tom for leaving this in to be honest. It's a lot braver to admit your limits and that you've had a bad time than to pretend like everything is fine when it isn't. Bravo
At the beginning Tom gives C-3PO vibes, "I wish I could sound enthusiastic, I'm just genuinely nervous" and then pointing out that "This is a big open cavern."
Tom would be a great protocol droid.
This is one of the better videos I've seen Tom do, because not only is this an interesting experience to document, it also shows a whole group of professionals being good at their jobs. The guide, the safety team, the camera man, and Tom himself all did everything well. My admiration for Tom and his team grows with every video.
I felt bad watching this though because of the way Tom feels about what happened. He sounds like he's mad at himself for not being an invincible god (despite his previous experiences doing stuff many others would get frightened just thinking about) and that's sad. He may characterise it as "walking through cold water" but that's not what this is, this is the human body freaking out about one of the deadliest situations a land-dweller can find themselves in. As an outsider, the idea that Tom might've "failed" something here is utterly preposterous, and it sucks that Tom felt something like that.
When you think about it, isn't it weird that nobody else had their body freak out when ice cold water enveloped their feet in a deep, dark, dangerous cave with no way out? This whole experience was just a culmination of claustrophobia, agoraphobia, thallasophobia and fear of the dark. It takes a strong person to even go into something like this (blind nonetheless!), and it takes an even stronger person to admit they've reached their limit. It takes an absolute legend to watch a recording of the second they've hit their limit and publish that video to millions of people.
As distressing as it was to see someone like Tom have a panic attack, it's surprising how PG-13 his language was while he was freaking out. I don't think I've heard any worse than "bloody hell", which is quite a feat when your body is ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED that you're about to DIE ANY SECOND NOW. The amount of control he kept over himself was amazing!
This indeed!
I agree
fear of the dark is nyctophobia if you want to keep the weird pattern of using the phobias despite them not being phobias
+
It's actually reassuring to see that even someone who does all kinds of crazy stuff and always seems to take it in his stride has limits. Everybody's human, and its great he's humble enough to put this out, even though it shows him looking vulnerable.
When I was in elementary school we had a field trip to the Travelers Insurance building in Hartford, Connecticut which has an observation deck near the top. I do not do well with heights.
My father had volunteered as a chaperone for the trip specifically to be there for me. As I recall, the elevators only went up to a few floors below the deck, so we had to go up the rest of the way by stairs.
At one stair landing I was sure I saw a cloud go by out the window, and I just grabbed onto the banister and could not let go. I was able to have a rational discussion, I remember acknowledging that in order to go back down I would first have to let go, but I could not let go.
When I did finally let go, I transitioned to an uncontrolled headlong race downwards, and I honestly do not remember using the elevator: the next think I remember is being on the sidewalk outside the building.
Sometimes our brain doesn't get to decide how we are going to react to things.
"I'm fine, I know I'm fine, but my body is telling me I'm not" I don't think I e ever heard a better description of a panic attack. People with anxiety KNOW they are fine, but their body is telling a different story.
I super appreciate you showing your struggle and your frustration at not being able to do the things you want to
It's good he's got something easily recognizable such as extreme physical discomfort to blame - it's fairly understandable to an outsider, and likely even to oneself if you're able to come to terms with it. Mine have been due to something like, "oh no, there's so many people here" - that can really get embarrassing and just make no sense at all. Really happy to have narrowly avoided the last one since I wasn't looking forward to explaining my extreme need to flee or face a total system overhaul! No shame at all in recognizing your limits and avoiding the Bad Feeling!
Not necessarily - I’ve had panic attacks & thought I was having a heart attack.
Aye
I love that you posted this, Tom. There are a lot of people who would have chosen to say 'this didn't work out' and then leave it at that.
In some ways, I think there may be more to be learnt from seeing this than if everything had gone to plan. If nothing else, it highlights that caving isn't something people should just go and do without experienced people being with them.
Personally, I would love to try that. But I know it wouldn't work for me either.
I had the same reaction: now I know that this is something I would not enjoy. I’m happy to know that without going to all the trouble Tom & crew did 💐
I wonder if you, Tom can try caving again but with a dry cave? Thank you for sharing, and what you went through, and what I super appreciate about what you do Tom is that you face things with courage, are honest with what you do and how you're doing. There's no shame if something just isn't for you, you at least tried and survived an awful feeling, and shared what awesome people do~
This is the last place I'd be found voluntarily. just watching this on my laptop has me get anxious about the lack of space. It has actually got my heartrate up just sitting in the house!
Damn. Never seen Tom this upset.
Good on him to show this unflattering footage - not many would have done it.
I really appreciate "I'm fine, I know I'm fine, but my body's telling me I'm not" and the whole... just having to deal with it. When you feel like you know better than that, you know you're safe, but the instinct or fear or sometimes your body just being an idiot overrides that and you have to respect it, even when it's *really* frustrating (on top of being physically and emotionally incredibly taxing).
It's something I'm having to deal with a lot with whatever my body is doing (possibly CFS, has been being treated as depression for like 2 years...). Just sitting there like 'it doesn't makes sense, there's no observable problem, and yet it is *wrong* and I can't do this' and the utter frustration of hitting that nonsensical wall.
Also I am honestly kinda expecting a series of 'Tom tries to figure out if it was thermal shock or what by doing other similar things' (like the mentioned cold therapy things, or wading in a river). Because that's exactly what my mind would want to do!
How is your physical fitness? Doing sports?
This is very much like my visits to the doctor. It's humiliating, even though I warn them at the beginning. It really helps when those you are with are kind and understanding. I feel for you, Tom. It takes a lot of courage to admit your limitations.
Thank you for this. Firstly, thank you for pointing out that folks should know their limits and it's better to communicate than to try and 'tough it out'...also, thank you for introducing me (us) to Elise. I am now her 11th Patron and can tell anyone reading this that her channel is well worth a look. Thanks again Tom!
Tom: *wants to explore a cave
Cold water: I'm boutta end this man's whole career
I have to give Tom props for actually leaving this in the video. Many people would not have.
I absolutely identify with Tom's anger at his body undergoing thermal shock because "some cold water got in his wellies" (fully aware of the gross understatement of having ice-cold cave water flood your otherwise impermeable footwear AND STAY THERE, continuing to freeze all your super sensitive nerves)
Tom seems like a genuinely nice guy. Props to him for posting this, everyone has had an experience like this before. Plus the footage is still really good
Can confirm. I have met him once and have had a couple of conversations with him. Genuinely nice guy.
Yep, everyone has had experience being "that guy". This was Tom's turn!
I'm glad you uploaded this and didn't edit out the difficult parts. That's a valuable experience in and of itself. Good thing you were safe and with other people.
I loved seeing this very real video! Thank you for sharing a vulnerable moment. I really appreciated your very honest perspective, it was so refreshing to see someone experience something uncomfortable, and see how it was coped with. I could NEVER have done what you did, and even attempt this cave experience. You are awesome, don’t beat yourself up!
Tom, You did more than I would be willing to do. You learned "new" limits and you expressed them so you did not put others into danger. You are braver than you are saying in the video. Admitting you have limits and FINDING those limits are huge. While we banter the term "hero" about I will say I look up to you for the things you attempt and your HONEST videos that show you outside your comfort zone. Thank you.
For writing down my exact though so well, please have a cookie 🍪
Thank you
@@vlycop7404 YUMMY
Tom is far from fearless, but he is incredibly courageous.
I agree, and I think people should in general be more honest about so-called „embarrassing“ experiences. Being afraid or not able to deal with something like „a grown-up“ should be talked about more often, not socially discouraged. (Especially for men. This weird code about not showing emotions has always bothered me. You shouldn‘t have to, but neither should you be discouraged from bringing it up.)
I went on a girl guide trip to the world centre in Switzerland a few years back. I'd been looking forward to one specific thing for years: The sunrise hike up a mountain. And then two days before, I had to pull out because I ended up with blisters from the boots I hadn't had enough time to break in, and I wasn't sure that I could do it. And it really was gutting. I wanted to do it so badly, and then I just... couldn't. The frustration, the sadness, the getting mad at yourself even though you know it's not really your fault - It's a lot to deal with. But it does get better eventually
Thank you Tom, Elise and Team so much for sharing that. I really love that interaction with the situation and everyone there.
Huge respect to Tom for uploading this, showing an "imperfect" side of yourself is hard and you went through this amazingly!
Also, massive props to the professionals at work here: the communication of everyone working together to help someone who is going through a rough time was great to watch and shows how experienced and supportive everyone is of eachother!
This video really reminded me of how much I admire Tom Scott. That kind of honesty about himself, recognizing where his boundaries are and having the courage to go up until them are something remarkable (and, y'know, just his general attitude towards the whole thing). I'm not putting him on a pedestal, just saying that the impression I have of him is better than that of many other RUclipsrs who are more selective with what sides to show about themselves.
Tom's face gives "My disappointment is
immeasurable and my day is ruined" vibe.... Well not really ruined then it was at least a unpleasant lesson ..
FWIW, from a casual fan: Thank you for sharing this. I think it's good for people to see public figures being vulnerable and admitting limits. It's very healthy, you've got nothing wrong with you, and *seeing* this is going to be good for your audience. Admitting your physical limitations is a strength, not a weakness!
Honestly, this video is incredibly helpful for me, because it shows you realizing your limitations and being able to calmly confront them, which is something i have a lot of trouble doing. Thank you
I appreciate the fact that Tom has posted the video, honest and uncut. Everything is not always fine, and I think that it should become more common to talk and communicate about these things.
im glad you posted this video despite the complications. its very interesting to see these types of things, as most people i feel wouldnt post something showing this sort of video.
I LOVE these longer tom scott videos! This is a huge blessing! I have always loved your videos , but they have been so short always! THIS is perfect
I'm amazed at the contrast between falling down a frozen lake on estonia (also on an enclosed space!) where Tom took action in controlled steps, and having cold water only on his feet for a couple of minutes! I also love that he's showing us even these unpleasant experiences just to be real with the viewers
Huge respect to Tom for releasing the video. An egotist would have invented an excuse why it couldn't be released and buried it, but the fact he published it speaks volumes about him.
Mutilating finger with pineapple acid: "meh"
Stepping in cold water: * dies *
😂😂
Alternate title: Tom gets his socks wet, and has a bad time
Well done, Tom! You took a vulnerable moment and turned it into a teaching opportunity, bravo! Also, three cheers for Tom's ream, they've got his back!
If it’s any consolation Tom, my claustrophobia would’ve made me panic way sooner than you did.
Honestly, I would rather going up high places despite my slight fear of height. Bring them on, be it the arboretum walkway at the Kew Garden, Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol, Newport Transporter Bridge in South Wales, I can go up there and observe the sceneries. However, I'm not, in hundreds of thousand years, go in to a narrow cave like this. I mean, from those high places, even when things go really wrong, there is a decent chance of me being found either on the ground or in the water. However, if I go in a cave like that, there is a fair chance that it might be as well my grave.
When Tom stopped and the rest moved on I was like NOPE! Tom made a good call.
@@notthatcreativewithnames We always tell people where we are going underground and if we don't make contact experienced rescuers come looking. There record of hoiking people out since the 1960s is 100%.
Just watching the video was more than enough for me.
Same here, especially if it involves crawling and even more if it's crawling for a long way, add high water to that and I won't even dream of even getting near it
Thanks for showing this, Tom. It would have been easy to edit the embarrassing bits out. But this way other people who have similar reactions can see that they're not alone.
Hey Tom. Thank you for sharing this! As difficult as it was to see you this uncomfortable, the video was super interesting and your honesty is a balm for my jaded soul.
I love exploring nooks and crannies but I loathe being cold, genuinely don't know whether caving is for me...
Thank you again and all the best to you mate
Thank you for showing that we all have weakness and boundaries and that we can accept them.
It would have been easier to not share this with the public but it's such an important message.
I really love how the whole team reacted very understanding.
I will never understand why people choose to do this
Elise seems to be the perfect sort of person to guide you through something like this though, so understanding and patient
Curiosity. :)
It's honestly really fun when it's not being really uncomfortable
Tbh i think I'd enjoy it, when i was younger I'd swim across a local river in October, hide under cars during hide and seek and really enjoy jumping into a swimming pool after a sauna session
When you find something you're unexpectedly good at after a lifetime of being "bad" at other sports it's a proper buzz. You get to see places that relatively few will get to so there's that too. I had that for a while before arthritis put paid and will always treasure the memories.
How many times have you walked somewhere no human has ever seen? Casually pop into places with fewer visitors than the moon?
Because those of us who cave call that "typical Saturday" 😂
This is genuinely brave Tom! I don't think I could handle this. Thank you for filming! And it's not embarrassing at all - it's really useful to highlight the risks of caves and cold water for those who aren't aware of how potentially dangerous it might be.
Insane respect for putting this up, Tom. You're such a hero!
Tom thank you for this video and having these genuine reactions, it's really cool how we can see you cope with situtations like these and it's really educational and inspiring really
Most literal case of cold feet ever.
Elise was a very understanding badass though.
Every word Tom mutters is basically the same, but each time he repeats it, the more i get what he gone through.
Whatever response your body had, your determination is honestly inspiring. I’ve also had some inexplicable physical responses to strange situations, and your resilience is amazing!
thank you very much for having done this. I feel that I would have the very same reaction to all of this as you have. Good on you for having gone as far as you did.