I'll speak from the fictional standpoint. I would have to go with good ol' fashioned air. Oxygen is combustible so that's no fun there, unless you're into popping I'm not, and while I like the women in my stories getting as big as a blimp I don't want them floating away like one lol.
Which gas would you prefere to use?
I'm not into popping, but I'd rather go for helium, it's funnier.
Air is better for it real or fiction due to th fact that they can't get away lol.
I'm going with Helium, I like all the side effects as well.
Oh definitely Helium!!
From the fictional point of view, I'd prefer hydrogen (big surprise) for it's lighter-than-air plus its flammable qualities or old-fashioned air. Both make for good pops, plus hydrogen combines the floating/air pressure problem with the explosion threat (fuse, anyone?).
Air is good simply because its simple.
i agree with hfilled. hydrogen is a good way to go. the threat of an explosion is golden. nice idea with the fuse too.
I like helium the most. It makes for more whimsical situations I believe. I like air inflation too though.
They all have their merits. Helium can lead to floating away and, inevitably, an air pressure drop that leads to further inflation (one of my favorite plot devices). However, there's also something appealing about having a balloon woman that can be rolled around on the ground. So I can't choose just one.
Actually hydrogen. Half the weight of helium and potentially explosive.
fictionally, I prefer helium.
But I would take any air inflation
There's another way to go with this. Helium or hydrogen inside, but in what kind of atmosphere? It would be very hard to get there, but a dense enough gas would reduce the buoyancy problem a lot.
Hydrogen would get my vote. It enables floating away scenarios and there is the risk of a fireball.
Methane ;)
When inflating a person, what gas would you prefer to use? Air? Oxygen? Or maybe helium?
I'm referring both to real life and fictional world.