# Holy Crap! My Neighbor's Kid Dangling from the Powerline! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 30, 2006, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-my-neighbors-kid-dangling-from-the-powerline/374682 "2006-09-30T00:51:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2006, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-my-neighbors-kid-dangling-from-the-powerline/374682/21 "2006-10-01T12:10:35Z")
I’m just curious, that’s all. Getting back onto that garage roof might not have been as easy as getting onto the power lines from it. Plus, once the grownups’ reaction caused him to realize that he was doing something dangerous, fear might have kicked in. I’m assuming the fire department was not called, or you would have said, but what’s the story? ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2006, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-my-neighbors-kid-dangling-from-the-powerline/374682/22 "2006-10-01T12:50:32Z")
Are you kidding me? He probably executed a near-perfect [dismount](http://www.i-needtoknow.com/kyle/images/shewfelt_2003sm.jpg) and nailed the landing. 😃 ( thank Og the kid is okay. ) Cartooniverse ---
**Author:** ![Jennshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Jennshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennshark)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2006, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-my-neighbors-kid-dangling-from-the-powerline/374682/23 "2006-10-01T21:59:42Z")
[QUOTE=Rilchiam] So how did he get down? [/QUOTE] The FIRST time (this happened again yesterday :eek: ) he ran back inside through the window after I yelled at him. The SECOND time, when his mother caught him again, he jumped off the frickin’ garage and ran down the street. Screams were heard later when daddy got home. ---
**Author:** ![Jennshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Jennshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennshark)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2006, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-my-neighbors-kid-dangling-from-the-powerline/374682/24 "2006-10-01T22:04:48Z")
[QUOTE=Rilchiam] I’m just curious, that’s all. Getting back onto that garage roof might not have been as easy as getting onto the power lines from it. Plus, once the grownups’ reaction caused him to realize that he was doing something dangerous, fear might have kicked in. I’m assuming the fire department was not called, or you would have said, but what’s the story? [/QUOTE] It appears to be that the kid is more than a bit bonkers. Apparently he has serious enough behavioral problems at age 3-4 that the family has a social worker who deals with him. He doesn’t seem the type of kid who is deterred by grown-up reactions or threats, since he has now done this twice in the same weekend (see my post above). The power lines run about 2’ above the garage roof, which is flat and accessible from his bedroom window. The lines are exactly the right heighth for a shorty to play swinging trapeze with. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2006, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-my-neighbors-kid-dangling-from-the-powerline/374682/25 "2006-10-01T22:18:47Z")
I see. That puts an entirely different spin on it. Jeez, wonder what’ll happen next? ---
**Author:** ![ILovCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e99b99/32.png) [@ILovCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ILovCoffee)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2006, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-my-neighbors-kid-dangling-from-the-powerline/374682/26 "2006-10-01T22:21:21Z")
In my parents neighborhood while I was growing up we had a family with “some problems”. The kids, age 3 and age 6, would just traisp into our house without invitation and make themselves at home. They would speak to my parents as equals (Jack instead of Mr. ILuvCoffee) borrow tools and not return them, all sorts of odd behavor. Then along the lines of the OP, one day the younger boy was hanging out his bedroom window yelling,“Help me , help me, I’m in danger.” He would not have been in danger if he just stayed inside the bedroom. But there he was spread eagle on the screen howling for help. Which I believe was just being plucked back into the saftey of the house. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2006, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-my-neighbors-kid-dangling-from-the-powerline/374682/27 "2006-10-02T06:19:00Z")
And I thought it was heart-wrenching when my neighbors _cats_ climbed up the pole in our back yard! (Cat #1, on the lower part, came down on her own; Cat #2 had to be rescued by power company workers at 1 a.m.) ---
**Author:** ![lisacurl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/41988e/32.png) [@lisacurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisacurl)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2006, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-my-neighbors-kid-dangling-from-the-powerline/374682/28 "2006-10-02T15:08:46Z")
[QUOTE=Jennshark] It appears to be that the kid is more than a bit bonkers. Apparently he has serious enough behavioral problems at age 3-4 that the family has a social worker who deals with him. He doesn’t seem the type of kid who is deterred by grown-up reactions or threats, since he has now done this twice in the same weekend (see my post above). The power lines run about 2’ above the garage roof, which is flat and accessible from his bedroom window. The lines are exactly the right heighth for a shorty to play swinging trapeze with. [/QUOTE] Wow, sounds like you have a little psychopath in training next door. Keep an eye on any pets you have as he gets older. ---
**Author:** ![Ghanima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Ghanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghanima)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2006, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-my-neighbors-kid-dangling-from-the-powerline/374682/29 "2006-10-02T18:48:23Z")
BTW, the kid was dangling from 220 volt wires, which under the right circumstances would give him a nice jolt but is unlikely to kill him…unless he got tangled and was subject to a prolonged shock. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2006, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-my-neighbors-kid-dangling-from-the-powerline/374682/30 "2006-10-02T19:46:37Z")
You’re grounded!!! **BZZZZZT!!!** ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2006, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-my-neighbors-kid-dangling-from-the-powerline/374682/31 "2006-10-02T20:08:15Z")
[QUOTE=Rilchiam] So how did he get down? [/QUOTE] _Hands stick to neighborhood kid_ _“Look, Timmy… a pinata!”_ ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2006, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-my-neighbors-kid-dangling-from-the-powerline/374682/32 "2006-10-02T21:37:31Z")
[QUOTE=lieu] _Hands stick to neighborhood kid_ _“Look, Timmy… a pinata!”_ [/QUOTE] And, [ON THAT TOPIC…](http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/gg101/strips/ggx20060206.jpg) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2006, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-my-neighbors-kid-dangling-from-the-powerline/374682/33 "2006-10-02T22:26:36Z")
[QUOTE=scotandrsn] I think you just should have let natural selection take its course. Now the little moron might grow up and breed. [/QUOTE] Potential [Darwin Award](http://www.darwinawards.com/) nominee? ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2006, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-my-neighbors-kid-dangling-from-the-powerline/374682/34 "2006-10-02T23:12:11Z")
My guess is that the “social worker” is an employee of CPS (Child Protective Services) or its equivalent in your area. If so, s/he’s not doing her/his job. That child should be out of that home. If the parents are too stupid/lazy to lock or nail the window, they shouldn’t have a child in their care. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2006, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-my-neighbors-kid-dangling-from-the-powerline/374682/35 "2006-10-02T23:32:11Z")
[QUOTE=Jennshark] I screamed at him and ran downstairs and next-door to alert his mother. [/QUOTE] Was that before or after you started this thread? ---
**Author:** ![Jennshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Jennshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennshark)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2006, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-my-neighbors-kid-dangling-from-the-powerline/374682/36 "2006-10-02T23:43:04Z")
[QUOTE=Musicat] Was that before or after you started this thread? [/QUOTE] As much as I don’t care for the kid, I was kind enough to narc him out before starting the thread 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-my-neighbors-kid-dangling-from-the-powerline/374682/37 "2006-10-03T00:43:34Z")
Note to self: Babyrian is _never_ getting a room with an easy-escape window… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-crap-my-neighbors-kid-dangling-from-the-powerline/374682.md?page=1)