Tightrope walking

One solution is for the rope core to be made of steel cable, laid in the opposite direction to the outer layers, so that twisting forces balance each other out.

Acrobats maintain their balance by positioning their centre of mass directly over their base of support, i.e. shifting most of their weight over their legs, arms, or whatever part of their body they are using to hold them up.

Tightwire-walkers typically perform in very thin and flexible, leather-soled slippers with a full-length suede or leather sole to protect the feet from abrasions and bruises, while still allowing the foot to curve around the wire.

Though very infrequent in performance, amateur, hobbyist, or inexperienced funambulists will often walk barefoot so that the wire can be grasped between the big and second toe.

This is more often done when using a rope, as the softer and silkier fibres are less taxing on the bare foot than the harder and more abrasive braided wire.

The word funambulism, the phrase walking a tightrope, and associated variants also occur in metaphorical contexts not referring to any actual acrobatic acts.

"[15] Taleb is criticising scientists who prefer popularism[citation needed] to vigorous research and those who walk a fixed and narrow path rather than explore a large field of empirical study.