Random Darwin Awards

Darwin Award Winners

Well-Trained

2002 Darwin Award Nominee

(21 March 2002, Kentucky) In his youth, the man had whiled away many an
afternoon hopping trains and riding them fifteen or twenty yards down
the rails before leaping back off. But by the time he was twenty years
old, he had apparently lost the knack. While demonstrating the trick to
friends, our hero tried to hop a southbound train, but failed to notice
the simultaneous approach of a northbound train, and was struck and
killed.

Star Wars

2006 Honorable Mention

(2006, England) Two people, 17 and 20, imitated Darth Vader and made
light sabres from fluorescent light tubes. That’s right, they opened up
fluoresceent tubes, poured gasoline inside, and lit the end… As one can
imagine, a Star Wars sized explosion was not far behind.  Both participants
survived to confess to their creative, but stupid, filmed reenactment.

Darwin notes, "17 is legal driving age.  Old enough to pump gas is old
enough to know better.  For more information, consult the Rules and read the discussion
in the Philosophy Forum."

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