# Darwin Award for Ryan Dunn? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 23, 2011, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/darwin-award-for-ryan-dunn/607179 "2011-12-23T13:34:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Theophane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@Theophane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theophane)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/darwin-award-for-ryan-dunn/607179/1 "2011-12-23T13:34:33Z")
I think he’s a great candidate. I hereby (unoffically) nominate the late Mr. Dunn for a Darwin Award. [Link to Darwin Awards website](http://www.darwinawards.com/) ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/darwin-award-for-ryan-dunn/607179/2 "2011-12-23T14:02:43Z")
Who’s Ryan Dunn? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/darwin-award-for-ryan-dunn/607179/3 "2011-12-23T14:48:38Z")
Star of the show/movies Jackass, who died in a car crash. Not really seeing the Darwin awards connection, it was a car crash. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/darwin-award-for-ryan-dunn/607179/4 "2011-12-23T14:51:27Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Star of the show/movies Jackass, who died in a car crash. Not really seeing the Darwin awards connection, it was a car crash. I think the OP is referring to the fact that he was drunk and driving a million miles per hour. But, I’m with you. There have to be better candidates. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/darwin-award-for-ryan-dunn/607179/5 "2011-12-23T14:59:37Z")
Meh. There’s thousands of assholes who drive drunk and kill themselves and other people. At least Ryan Dunn was willing to get kicked in the balls on national TV for my entertainment. And really, how else was it going to end for that guy anyway? Was it really that much of a surprise? ---
**Author:** ![Toxylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/darwin-award-for-ryan-dunn/607179/6 "2011-12-23T15:06:33Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Not really seeing the Darwin awards connection, it was a car crash. To repeat, Dunn’s car crash was as Darwin awards-worthy as car crashes go. Going for a drive while blind drunk and then speeding nearly 100 mph over the speed limit is just that (or a murder-suicide). The only good thing is he didn’t wipe out a family of five doing that, just himself and his friend. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/darwin-award-for-ryan-dunn/607179/7 "2011-12-23T15:08:41Z")
> [@Toxylon](#): > > To repeat, Dunn’s car crash was as Darwin awards-worthy as car crashes go. Without a JATO strapped to the car I’d have to vote no. It was stupid, no question, but not Darwin-worthy, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Toxylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/darwin-award-for-ryan-dunn/607179/8 "2011-12-23T15:15:17Z")
I admit his demise was rather mundane and lacking in creativity. But I reckon shooting oneself in the head is about as dangerous as his stunt, so assuming he wasn’t planning on killing himself, he is a Darwin-candidate. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/darwin-award-for-ryan-dunn/607179/9 "2011-12-23T15:20:09Z")
Drunk driving is waaaaaay too commonplace to be Darwin-worthy. It happens thousands of times every year. ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/darwin-award-for-ryan-dunn/607179/10 "2011-12-23T15:21:40Z")
Previous threads on the subject: > **[I'm glad Ryan Dunn is dead.](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=613235)** > > Link So he is seen drinking hours before the crash and was likely speeding. Fuck him. I’m glad that waste of oxygen is dead. His little fucking joyride could have got a lot more people hurt than actually were. Now if only morons like him would drop... > **[I'm Ryan Dunn and this is the 150mph fiery car crash.](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=613229)** > > Jackass cast member dies in single-car collision with trees. Say what you want about drunk driving, whether or not he deserved it, whether or not he irresponsibly killed his passenger… Just admit you’re surprised he wasn’t killed on set doing... ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/darwin-award-for-ryan-dunn/607179/11 "2011-12-23T15:26:12Z")
ISTM the _only_ reason he’s seen as a Darwin candidate is because of his stunts on Jackass. Had he been any other person and died in the same way no one beyond the locals would have even have heard about it. I vote no. Had he died doing a Jackass stunt, then I could understand the nomination. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/darwin-award-for-ryan-dunn/607179/12 "2011-12-23T15:32:22Z")
So… there’s still hope for Bam Margera. ---
**Author:** ![Theophane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@Theophane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theophane)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/darwin-award-for-ryan-dunn/607179/13 "2011-12-23T15:38:26Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Star of the show/movies Jackass, who died in a car crash. Not really seeing the Darwin awards connection, it was a car crash. He was driving drunk, in a dangerously modified Porsche. His passenger was killed. He took someone else with him. Was photograped with his friends drunk at a bar shortly before the crash (which totally demolished the car). What a jackass. ---
**Author:** ![Theophane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@Theophane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theophane)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/darwin-award-for-ryan-dunn/607179/14 "2011-12-23T15:40:17Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Without a JATO strapped to the car I’d have to vote no. It was stupid, no question, but not Darwin-worthy, IMO. I don’t understand how this could not be Darwin worthy. What more is required? ---
**Author:** ![Theophane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@Theophane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theophane)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/darwin-award-for-ryan-dunn/607179/15 "2011-12-23T15:41:34Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > I think the OP is referring to the fact that he was drunk and driving a million miles per hour. > > But, I’m with you. There have to be better candidates. There is no better candidate than the late Ryan Dunn. ---
**Author:** ![Theophane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@Theophane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theophane)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/darwin-award-for-ryan-dunn/607179/16 "2011-12-23T15:43:36Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > So… there’s still hope for Bam Margera. As far as the whole Jackass death-pool thing goes, I thought Steve-O would be the first to punch his own ticket. Drug-related or rectal trauma. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/darwin-award-for-ryan-dunn/607179/17 "2011-12-23T17:07:33Z")
> [@Theophane](#): > > I don’t understand how this could not be Darwin worthy. What more is required? It qualifies, but people are just suggesting that there are much more deserving candidates for this coveted award. If you give them out to everybody, the award ceases to have meaning. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/darwin-award-for-ryan-dunn/607179/18 "2011-12-23T17:16:58Z")
Big difference in implied cognitive ability between the ubiquitous drunk driver and someone that thinks live .22 bullets are appropriate for use in his vehicle’s fuse box. ---
**Author:** ![PacifistPorcupine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PacifistPorcupine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PacifistPorcupine)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/darwin-award-for-ryan-dunn/607179/19 "2011-12-23T17:18:59Z")
> [@Theophane](#): > > I don’t understand how this could not be Darwin worthy. What more is required? From looking at the [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darwin_award)article, Dunn’s death would probably fall behind others on the “Excellence” requirement: > [@](#): > > The candidate’s foolishness must be unique and sensational, likely because the award is intended to be funny. A number of foolish but common activities, such as smoking in bed, are excluded from consideration.[5] In contrast, self-immolation caused by smoking after being administered a flammable ointment in a hospital and specifically told not to smoke[6] is grounds for nomination. Drunk driving is nowhere near “unique.” The examples listed in the article are way more spectacular. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/darwin-award-for-ryan-dunn/607179/20 "2011-12-23T18:24:20Z")
At first I mis-read the thread title as referring to Adam Dunn, who had a career nosedive last year. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/darwin-award-for-ryan-dunn/607179.md?page=2)