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Darwin Awards
2007 Slush Pile

This item was recently submitted by a reader.
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Darwinian Gambit

2007 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance

It's a well known fact from the world of nature that a male will go to any lenghts to impress a female, even it could kill him. Although the act itself doesn't serve any immediate purpose, it does show the stuff that a potential mate is made of.

Unfortunately, man has not yet evolved beyond this point. To this date men voluntarily risk life and limb by performing totally frivolous feats like being submerged in a tank of water while chained, jumping a motorcyle over a row of flaming cars or walking among a pride of lions while dressed as a wildebeest.

If you can pull off the stunt, female adoration is guaranteed, and with it reproductive success. Should you fail, however, you might well lose the opportunity for reproduction altogether. Performing unnecessary yet dangerous stunts could therefore be described as a Darwinian Gambit.

With this in mind, imagine four boys on mopeds with a group of giggling girls on bicycles trailing behind them. Then imagine a railroad crossing with an oncoming train. What more elegant way of determining who is the bravest than by seeing who dares to cross last?

As it turns out an unnamed youth of 17 was the winner of this bizarre contest held in Utrecht (the Netherlands). Ironically he could not reap the reproductive benefits that his daredevil feat might otherwise had earned him, as he was struck stone dead by the speeding train. But that's all in the game when you play the Darwinian Gambit...

Submitted on 07/18/2007

Submitted by: Anonymous
Reference: http://www.nu.nl/news/1159926/12/Oversteekspel_bij_spoorwegovergang_wordt_tiener_fataal.html

Copyright © 2007 DarwinAwards.com

Great? 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 Awful?
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>> Moderator Scores <<

James said:
Neutral: For Darwin's Eyes
A somewhat more detailed write-up on the recently concluded "chicken" game in the Netherlands. The commentary is interesting, too. I will let Darwin have a look...!


Bruce said:
Maybe Toss: Too Common
Train collisions, many of which are caused by the stupidity of pedestrians or vehicle drivers, are way too common as far as I'm concerned. Here in the USA it's reported that such a collision happens every 2 hours.


Chip said:
Definitely Keep: For Darwin's Eyes
While I agree with Bruce that train collisions are very common, I am with Bruce that Darwin should probably take a look, if for no other reason than I like this write up


Jorge said:
Neutral: Other
A better write-up could make it a DA


Graham said:
Neutral: For Darwin's Eyes
This is the old "chicken" game - but with a difference!


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