Originally Posted by
MSPeconomist
Some modern big buildings are specifically designed to sway during earthquakes, etc. This avoids subjecting the building to structural damage.
Originally Posted by
Productivity
Rigid buildings will snap and collapse. You want them moving with the wind (obviously to a certain point). If that's scary, you should see the deflection in a large ocean going ship - those things bend all over the place.
I know, but it is still scary to see it swing in such wide range that is so visible.