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The W - Random - "what a moron" - two years later
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Stephanie
Landjager








Since: 2.1.02
From: Madison, WI

Since last post: 604 days
Last activity: 44 days
#1 Posted on | Instant Rating: 5.22
Two years ago, dunkndollaz posted an article involving a man who, while riding between cars on the New York City subway, decided he'd pop up on top of the car for a little "subway surfing". While riding on top of the car, he struck an overhead beam, fell to the tracks, and was run over by the train. As could be expected, his plight drew little sympathy from the Wieners (we were still Wieners at the time); evilwaldo even suggested naming him for a Darwin award "if he dies".

Three days ago, out of the clear blue sky, someone purporting to be this fellow's ex-girlfriend sent me an e-mail. Apparently, the fellow *did* die, two weeks after that incident. She then took me to task, calling me a "silly little (girl) from Wisconsin" and wishing the following on me: "Perhaps someday you will have a boyfriend who will get killed in a terrible accident, and you will overhear some stranger saying he was an idiot who deserved it....maybe then you will learn your lesson and grow the fuck up." Well, it's two years later, and I've re-read what happened to this guy, and you know what?

He's still an idiot. (As much as I hate to speak ill of the dead.)

I've been to NYC; I've been on the subways on multiple occasions. To ride between cars is a risky proposition from the start; one erratic move by the motorman, and it's easy to slip between the cars and be mashed by the train's wheels. However, this guy then courts disaster by getting up on top of a moving subway car - in a subway with clearly-visible low ceilings and low-hanging items - and trying to "surf" it. While doing so, he strikes one of those low-hanging items, falls, and is struck by the train he was "surfing". As my grandpa would say, "A proper fall for a fool".

To this "girlfriend", I say: why should I be embarrassed to point out the stupidity of something so stupid? Subway cars have plenty of seats and grab-bars INSIDE THE CAR; there's no need to be between - or atop - moving cars. One would have to have a death wish to try those activities. I feel the same way about those who injure themselves "elevator surfing", "car surfing", or engaging in any other random risky thrill. Don't tell me it's "for fun"; there are safer ways to have fun.

I'm posting this here to let others know what happened to the guy. I'm also posting this here because - after berating me - the "girlfriend" blocked my e-mail address. If she reads this, she's welcome to send me a response - here.

Steph



I'm going twenty-four hours a day...I can't seem to stop
- "Turn Up The Radio", Autograph

Wiener Of The Day - June 10th, 2003
W Of The Day - September 11th, 2004 (add spooky music here)
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Whitebacon
Banger








Since: 12.1.02
From: Fresno, CA

Since last post: 110 days
Last activity: 10 days
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#2 Posted on | Instant Rating: 7.04
I'm pretty sure that if I had a friend that did something as dumb as that, I'd recognize that they were stupid, and probably deserved it. I'd be sad that they were gone, and I'd miss them, but that wouldn't change the fact that they were a dumbass in death.



StaggerLee
Scrapple








Since: 3.10.02
From: Right side of the tracks

Since last post: 928 days
Last activity: 928 days
#3 Posted on | Instant Rating: 1.61
(deleted by CRZ on 12.12.04 1345)
CRZ
Big Brother
Administrator








Since: 9.12.01
From: ミネアポリス

Since last post: 17 days
Last activity: 8 days
ICQ:  
#4 Posted on | Instant Rating: 9.02
    Originally posted by Stephanie
    (As much as I hate to speak ill of the dead.)
And yet you did...

    I'm posting this here to let others know what happened to the guy.
None of us knew him, so I hope you'll forgive my suspicions that you're actually posting this here to look for some sympathetic response that a grieving girlfriend lashed out at you and maybe called you a b- or c-word.

    I'm also posting this here because - after berating me - the "girlfriend" blocked my e-mail address. If she reads this, she's welcome to send me a response - here.

    Steph
I hope she never has the misfortune to come back here. I also hope you both can manage to live the rest of your (I hope long, healthy) lives without ever interacting again.

Look, if she's still Googling for her late boyfriend and sending out angry emails, I think it's a safe guess that she's still hurting from the ordeal. No matter how well-intentioned you think your explanation that you're merely stating cold hard facts about stupidity is, it's still pretty much piling on, and nobody deserves that.



CRZ
Stephanie
Landjager








Since: 2.1.02
From: Madison, WI

Since last post: 604 days
Last activity: 44 days
#5 Posted on | Instant Rating: 5.22
Actually, I posted this to the board because I wanted to respond to her rebukes, but she had already blocked my e-mail address. I included the backstory so that other Ws would understand my position. I was not looking to cause a firefight; that's why I didn't include the e-mail address of the "girlfriend" (even when StaggerLee suggested that I post it).

Oh, and she said that she had "moved on" - though, I agree with you, she has not.

Steph



I'm going twenty-four hours a day...I can't seem to stop
- "Turn Up The Radio", Autograph

Wiener Of The Day - June 10th, 2003
W Of The Day - September 11th, 2004 (add spooky music here)
MoeGates
Boudin blanc








Since: 6.1.02
From: Brooklyn, NY

Since last post: 14 days
Last activity: 7 days
#6 Posted on | Instant Rating: 6.14
Well, unless someone else here has subway-surfed, maybe I can provide a unique perspective.

Here in New York, we have the same relationships with the subways that most folks have with their cars. This includes stupid teenage stuff. Drag-racing is almost a rite-of-passage some places. Drunk driving, and other stupidity involving cars abounds. And people get killed doing it all the time.

Doing stupid stuff on the subways is a teenage tradition here. Riding between cars is something I really safely think I can say anyone who's had teenage years in New York has done - it's the equivilant of speeding. Lots of kids will walk the tunnels on a dare (although less nowdays with the whole terrorism thing), and plenty graffiti-bomb them still, and trains hit people doing that on a regular basis here. Maybe that's drunk driving. Subway surfing is pretty high up on the list, but kids will still do it - the same way kids in Madison will drag race at 100 MPH down East Washington (college at the U-W - still miss Big Mike's and Falbo Bros.) even though it's really stupid.

What's my point? Kids die in auto-related accidents every day, and quite often it's solely because of their own stupidity. And these kids' death is still treated with the respect and dignity, the comments are kept to niceties like "such a tragedy," and the family and friends are left to grieve in peace. And kids' who die in subway-related accidents should be treated the same way.



Man's most valuable trait is a judicious sense of what not to believe.
-
Euripides


Stefonics
Frankfurter








Since: 17.3.02
From: New Jerusalem

Since last post: 2386 days
Last activity: 251 days
#7 Posted on | Instant Rating: 1.00
I agree wholeheartedly Moe. I have ridden in between cars and walked the tunnels on a bet. Looking back, it's really stupid and I got really luckly. But I'm only 24. When I say "looking back", I mean like 10 years ago. If I remember correctly, the dude who died was in his 30's. It's a completely different ballgame once you reach even my age. I wouldn't do that shit on a bet, a dare, or at gunpoint. It's just stupid. And someone his age should have known better.



"What you don't understand, you can make mean anything."
-Palahniuk
Freeway
Scrapple








Since: 3.1.02
From: Calgary

Since last post: 3739 days
Last activity: 3427 days
#8 Posted on | Instant Rating: 5.57
I don't mean to offend anyone, but the argument I'm getting from you guys seems to boil down to "Young people do stupid things all the time, so if they die because of them try not to dwell on the fact that they died doing something stupid, because it's impolite."



"Illusions, Michael. A trick is something a whore does for money...or candy!" - G.O.B. Bluth, Arrested Development

DVDs; Blog; In Memoriam
Socks
Landjager








Since: 25.6.02
From: Ottawa

Since last post: 2973 days
Last activity: 2849 days
#9 Posted on | Instant Rating: 6.21
If you choose to ride atop a subway car, you are going to have to assume the consequences. For every action there is a reaction.



This one time....at band camp......
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According to Zap2It's TV listings, Fox is airing the skipped over Arrested Development episode, "Not Without My Daughter" this Sunday AS the season finale. The actual season finale has no airdate at this time. *grumblegrumble*
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