Mike Post and his buddy Gary Wells -- both students at Wyoming U -- are learning this particular lesson the hard way today after Mike electrocuted himself in a drunken spectacle that would no doubt make Darwin proud.

The sordid tale reads pretty much exactly like you'd expect. Guy A (Gary) buys a PS3, throws kegger to celebrate. 20 or so friends come over... presumably some beer is involved. After the evening is well underway, someone gets the idea to throw names into a hat with the lucky winner getting to make the judgement call about the best way to send off Gary's old PS2.

Buy B's name (Mike) is pulled from the hat. Sadly his unusual choice for PS2 execution concluded with both a bang and a whimper. Exhibit A: an eyewitness excerpt taken from classmate Amy Dixon (via funtechtalk):

"[Mike] was now so intoxicated he could barely stand. After the announcement, [he] without hesitation walked over to the Playstation and started urinating on it. For a moment everyone just laughed, [but] the mood quickly changed when [Mike] fell to the floor unconscious."

Zzzzzzt. Remember kids: always check to make sure your PS2 is unplugged before whizzing all over it. Just a handy safety tip from your friends at 1UP.

Mike's doing fine -- thanks for asking -- though he spent some time unconscious and had to be rushed to the emergency room due to acute electrocution of the peener. As an added benefit his genius exploits managed to make Fox News.

Oh, if only he'd thought to buy that Nintendo console instead... what was its name again?

Submitted on 05/18/2007

Submitted by: Jason Bartlett
Reference: http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3159603

Copyright © 2007 DarwinAwards.com

Graham said:
Neutral: Other
Ahh, the kiddies and their drunken exploits. They'll never learn, eh?. By the way, "electrocuted" means DEAD. Thanks, Jason.

James said:
Neutral: Honorable Mention
I agree with Graham. The word "electrocuted" is misused here and gives the wrong impression; otherwise this is a rather funny story! I'll let it pass for now, but in the future do please be more specific (ie "a nasty electric shock"). Thanks, Jason!

Shadow said:
Definitely Toss: Other
The Mythbusters actually proved that urinating can not carry enough current to kill you. Which is why Mike didnt die... but then I agree that its just not very good.. Mike lived, and was very drunk... keep the submissions coming though!

Chip said:
Definitely Keep: Honorable Mention
Hmmm... I thought that MythBusters had put this one to bed as well, but if it is on Fox News, then by golly it must be true! Ha ha. I will vote an Honorable Mention on this one. If the jolt was strong enough to know him out then the potential was there for cardiac arrest as well. Yes, elecrocuted means dead, but Fox News used it too. Thanks for sending us the story, Jason

Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: Honorable Mention
From what I recall of the above mentioned Mythbusters episode, the reason one typically doesn't get electrocuted when urinating on a live rail is because it's not a solid stream between the person and the rail, so no path of conductivity. If Mike was positioned close to the PS2, or in his inebriated state managed to make a mess on himself and the floor, then I could definitely see the possibility of him getting zapped. Thanks fors ending this in Jason!

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