# Blew out my flip-flop, stepped on a pop-top **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 21, 2008, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blew-out-my-flip-flop-stepped-on-a-pop-top/453698 "2008-06-21T17:29:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Captain\_Jinks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dec6dc/32.png) [@Captain\_Jinks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Jinks)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blew-out-my-flip-flop-stepped-on-a-pop-top/453698/61 "2008-06-23T16:51:32Z")
[QUOTE=Harmonious Discord] People would drop the pull tabs on the ground or on the beach and you’d end up with a sliced open toe or foot. … Pull tabs often broke off at the rivet area where the pull ring and tab joined. [/QUOTE] I also remember concern that boaters wou’d drop the pull tab overboard, the fishies would attempt to swallow it as it gently sank, gitteringly tempting. I always carried my folding sailor knife with a fid (an extremely thick awl, used in splicing lines). Great for punching a hole or two in the top of a ringless can. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2008, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blew-out-my-flip-flop-stepped-on-a-pop-top/453698/62 "2008-06-24T01:38:28Z")
[QUOTE=Captain Jinks] I also remember concern that boaters wou’d drop the pull tab overboard, the fishies would attempt to swallow it as it gently sank, gitteringly tempting. . [/QUOTE] Indeed your worry was legit, as in Survival school I used a found pop-top as an excellent fishing lure. ---
**Author:** ![Gbro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Gbro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gbro)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2008, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blew-out-my-flip-flop-stepped-on-a-pop-top/453698/63 "2008-06-24T02:56:52Z")
MacDonalds must have started collecting pop-tops with the very early removable ones. I have always been amazed by the revenue for the Ronald MacDonald house generated by pop-tops. I do not remove the tabs, and insist that my family refrain too. I cannot risk a choking with the Grand Children over a pop-top. However I do put my change into the collection containers. I have wondered how many pop-tops = 25 cents??? All my aluminum cans are put on the old refuse can stand and someone picks them up. The Mrs. said she has seen an elderly Lady checking our stand for cans. I will put better thing there soon. The economy soda pop cans required a church key long after the brand names switched to aluminum. The jack knife opened many a can of beer. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2008, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blew-out-my-flip-flop-stepped-on-a-pop-top/453698/64 "2008-06-24T03:12:24Z")
[QUOTE=Gbro] MacDonalds must have started collecting pop-tops with the very early removable ones. I have always been amazed by the revenue for the Ronald MacDonald house generated by pop-tops. [/QUOTE] [Very, very little.](http://www.snopes.com/business/redeem/pulltabs.asp) Their scrap value (which is all McDonald’s ever got for them) is very tiny. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2008, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blew-out-my-flip-flop-stepped-on-a-pop-top/453698/65 "2008-06-24T03:55:54Z")
[QUOTE=yabob] Yeah, steel cans - that was back when crushing a can was a test of strength. [/QUOTE] But… but… I thought that crushing an _aluminum_ can was a test of strength! I mean, I’ve never been able to do it, but I always hoped that one day, after months in the hand gym working diligently with personal hand trainers I might be able to at least crush a small, thin, aluminum can. Or at least make a slight dent. At least if I used both hands. Awwww, who am I kidding. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2008, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blew-out-my-flip-flop-stepped-on-a-pop-top/453698/66 "2008-06-24T05:12:18Z")
[QUOTE=I Love Me, Vol. I] But… but… I thought that crushing an _aluminum_ can was a test of strength! I mean, I’ve never been able to do it, but I always hoped that one day, after months in the hand gym working diligently with personal hand trainers I might be able to at least crush a small, thin, aluminum can. Or at least make a slight dent. At least if I used both hands. Awwww, who am I kidding. [/QUOTE] It helps if you empty them first. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blew-out-my-flip-flop-stepped-on-a-pop-top/453698.md?page=3)