# Jump from a 13th floor window **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [March 30, 2005, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jump-from-a-13th-floor-window/297008 "2005-03-30T22:35:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2005, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jump-from-a-13th-floor-window/297008/1 "2005-03-30T22:35:28Z")
In Cecil’s recent article on PCP, at [http://www.straightdope.com/columns/050325.html](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/050325.html) , the master writes: > [@](#): > > Houston, a 21-year-old rising R & B star said to have been battling PCP use and mental problems, went to his hotel room while on tour in London in late January, ostensibly to read the Bible, and gouged out one of his eyes. His publicist denied reports that he had earlier attempted to jump from a 13th-floor window. Well, of **course** his publicist is going to deny it. It’s blatant poppycock. Everyone knows that buildings don’t have a 13th floor. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2005, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jump-from-a-13th-floor-window/297008/2 "2005-03-30T22:40:49Z")
Funny… I live in Japan and every building with stories numbering 13 or greater do indeed have a 13th floor. The 4th floor, however, is often absent. Don’t assume that all countries share the same superstitions. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2005, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jump-from-a-13th-floor-window/297008/3 "2005-03-30T23:13:30Z")
The building in which I currently work has a 13th floor, as did both of the previous buildings where I worked. ---
**Author:** ![Bites\_When\_Provoked](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bites_when_provoked/32/18073_2.png) [@Bites\_When\_Provoked](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bites_When_Provoked)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jump-from-a-13th-floor-window/297008/4 "2005-04-04T06:45:58Z")
I’ve never seen a building of 13 storeys or higher that didn’t have a 13th floor. I even worked on one. ---
**Author:** ![Jervoise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@Jervoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jervoise)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jump-from-a-13th-floor-window/297008/5 "2005-04-04T10:16:27Z")
The hotel was in London. I’ve worked on the 13th floor of a building, in London. They certainly exist. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jump-from-a-13th-floor-window/297008/6 "2005-04-04T10:22:45Z")
I too have never seen an absent 13th floor. (Or rather, not seen one.) And it would be hard for people to claim to have survived from the [13th floor of the World Trade Centre](http://www.snopes.com/rumors/survivor.htm) if it didn’t exist. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jump-from-a-13th-floor-window/297008/7 "2005-04-05T07:57:59Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > And it would be hard for people to claim to have survived from the [13th floor of the World Trade Centre](http://www.snopes.com/rumors/survivor.htm) if it didn’t exist. Unless they’re in on it! ---
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jump-from-a-13th-floor-window/297008/8 "2005-04-05T12:15:09Z")
I jumped from a 13th story window, once, back in the 60’s… ---
**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jump-from-a-13th-floor-window/297008/9 "2005-04-05T13:10:41Z")
My previous house was on a street which didn’t have a No.13. We were No.11 and our neighbours were No.15. ---
**Author:** ![Bites\_When\_Provoked](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bites_when_provoked/32/18073_2.png) [@Bites\_When\_Provoked](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bites_When_Provoked)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2005, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jump-from-a-13th-floor-window/297008/10 "2005-04-06T03:12:14Z")
Having worked in a Local Council in the past, I have to suggest that this may have been just because someone mucked up the count. Mind you, the public are as bad 🙂 I remember one person who wanted to name a new road “e-road Road”. Yes, e-road. Like e-mail, only er… not. They were incredibly miffed when the council turned down their suggestion. All for the best, I think, since it would almost certainly have lead to such things as Information Super Highway.