Do we all want to be a little bit scared?

Capilano Suspension Bridge Park advertisement, Vancouver City Centre SkyTrain station, Vancouver, BC

Capilano Suspension Bridge Park advertisement, Vancouver City Centre SkyTrain station, Vancouver, BC

Many tourist destinations depend on business from people who want to be a little bit scared. Not "this bridge is about to collapse and we're all going to die" scared, but more "that's a really long way down" scared.

This is another business whose success is dependant on understanding what drives human behaviour. Theme parks, such as Playland at the PNE, have also used similar advertising focusing on fear.

2014 Playland advertising by Rethink
(Source: http://www.dailybri.com/2014/06/24/clever-print-ads-for-playland/)

2014 Playland advertising by Rethink 
(Source: http://www.dailybri.com/2014/06/24/clever-print-ads-for-playland/)

2014 Playland advertising by Rethink 
(Source: http://www.dailybri.com/2014/06/24/clever-print-ads-for-playland/)

Of course the question is how to manage the amount of fear. Like stress, a little bit does tend to focus the mind, but too much just paralyzes us.

For some people are these Playland advertisements are going too far. But would those people pay to go to Playland? Probably not.