# Dead Weight

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-weight/2802>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 24, 1999, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-weight/2802 "1999-08-24T20:26:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\
**Post date:** [August 24, 1999, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-weight/2802/1 "1999-08-24T20:26:00Z")

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What accounts for “dead weight?” A person who is “limp” for some reason appears heavier than when that person is standing upright. I’ve always been under the impression that the appearance of increased weight is mainly due to the awkward centers of mass of either the lifter or the person being lifted.

Any thoughts?

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**Author:** ![Babar714](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@Babar714](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babar714)\
**Post date:** [August 24, 1999, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-weight/2802/2 "1999-08-24T21:58:00Z")

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That about sums it up, I think. Some one who is unconsious can’t help you move them around, and the become the equivilant of a 110-150lb bag of water.

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**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\
**Post date:** [August 24, 1999, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-weight/2802/3 "1999-08-24T23:01:00Z")

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It’s the difference between trying to lift a queen-sized mattress, and a crate the same weight. It’s a lot harder to cope with a weight that isn’t steady.

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**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:** [August 24, 1999, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-weight/2802/4 "1999-08-24T23:31:00Z")

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Think about picking up your friend (in such a way that your left arm goes under their arms and you right arm goes under their knees) If their “not dead” they will keep their torso and waist semi-straight and hold them in place while someone who is “dead” will not and they will simply slip right through the middle so you have to put much more effort into holding them. Just like the mattress/crate analogy.

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Formerly known as Nec3f on the AOL SDMB

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**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\
**Post date:** [August 25, 1999, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-weight/2802/5 "1999-08-25T01:39:00Z")

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Some internal structure, or rigidity, allows the use of leverage that is unavailable in a blob.