# Members of the SDMB, my latest Darwin Award nominee **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 12, 2024, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/members-of-the-sdmb-my-latest-darwin-award-nominee/1000199 "2024-04-12T14:52:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2024, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/members-of-the-sdmb-my-latest-darwin-award-nominee/1000199/1 "2024-04-12T14:52:04Z")
Is Darwin Awards still a thing? This dead dude qualifies. WTF was he thinking? He didn’t even make it across the highway. Evel Knievel and his son Robbie used math to calculate the ramp lengths and motorcycle speed to clear a line of cars or busses. Their wrecks happened after clearing the obstacles. The Landing can be painful. IIRC Robbie has rarely had any injuries. He’s quite skilled at planning his jumps. > **[21-Year-Old Skier’s Attempt To Jump Highway 40 In Colorado Ends In Tragedy](https://www.boredpanda.com/skier-21-years-old-passes-away-leaping-40-feet-over-colorado-highway/?cexp_id=93778&cexp_var=25&_f=featured)** > > He wanted to do things that nobody else had done, said a childhood friend, who described the victim as one of the most joyful and kind people ever. > [@](#): > > Dallas failed to clear the width of the roadway near Winter Park and landed on the highway pavement before a bystander found him unconscious and not breathing. An onlooker administered CPR, and 911 calls were made to the local dispatch center around 3 p.m. > [@](#): > > As per the preliminary investigation, officials found that Dallas was “attempting to perform a high-risk skiing stunt by trying to clear the width of Highway 40 and unfortunately lacked the necessary speed and distance and subsequently landed on the highway pavement,” the sheriff’s office said. “The victim had been wearing a helmet and other protective gear.” ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2024, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/members-of-the-sdmb-my-latest-darwin-award-nominee/1000199/2 "2024-04-12T15:01:33Z")
“A bystander found him” strikes me as a bit unusual. These days, I’d have thought that someone trying a jump like this would have friends around to watch and film the attempt. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2024, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/members-of-the-sdmb-my-latest-darwin-award-nominee/1000199/3 "2024-04-12T15:06:05Z")
I wondered about the _bystander_. It might be a friend that doesn’t want to get charged for participating in the deafly stunt. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2024, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/members-of-the-sdmb-my-latest-darwin-award-nominee/1000199/4 "2024-04-12T15:10:51Z")
Yeah. I was guessing that the reporters were being careful, there. I mean, why do a jump like that without friends to see it? ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2024, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/members-of-the-sdmb-my-latest-darwin-award-nominee/1000199/5 "2024-04-12T15:15:25Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > without friends to see it? He should have invited his enemies, not his friends. And offered some champagne to celebrate. If you want to be an idiot, be an idiot in style. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2024, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/members-of-the-sdmb-my-latest-darwin-award-nominee/1000199/6 "2024-04-12T15:16:33Z")
This is why you do a practice jump so you can work out the kinks beforehand. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2024, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/members-of-the-sdmb-my-latest-darwin-award-nominee/1000199/7 "2024-04-12T15:18:09Z")
How do you work out a kink that results in you killing yourself? 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2024, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/members-of-the-sdmb-my-latest-darwin-award-nominee/1000199/8 "2024-04-12T15:18:33Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > WTF was he thinking? The key phrase in that headline is “21-Year-Old”. The impulsiveness of youth is a source of great achievement _and_ great tragedy. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2024, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/members-of-the-sdmb-my-latest-darwin-award-nominee/1000199/9 "2024-04-12T15:19:51Z")
Ski Jumping is a legitimate Olympic sport. But, they use ramps and a specially prepared landing hill. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2024, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/members-of-the-sdmb-my-latest-darwin-award-nominee/1000199/10 "2024-04-12T15:21:37Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > How do you work out a kink that results in you killing yourself? 🙄 - fa·ce·tious /fəˈsēSHəs/ adjective ``` treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor; flippant. "a facetious remark" ``` ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2024, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/members-of-the-sdmb-my-latest-darwin-award-nominee/1000199/11 "2024-04-12T15:21:53Z")
The OP is worded like Robbie Knieval is alive. He ain’t. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2024, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/members-of-the-sdmb-my-latest-darwin-award-nominee/1000199/12 "2024-04-12T15:27:22Z")
I didn’t know Robbie died. 😕 He couldn’t out jump pancreatic cancer. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2024, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/members-of-the-sdmb-my-latest-darwin-award-nominee/1000199/13 "2024-04-12T15:54:04Z")
It’s sad - throwing it all away for some stupid stunt. And yes, I would be surprised if there weren’t others present to capture video. Throwing your life away for a few “likes” - a damn shame. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2024, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/members-of-the-sdmb-my-latest-darwin-award-nominee/1000199/14 "2024-04-12T16:02:12Z")
Honestly, I’ve never understood Alpine sking. Lindsay Vonn had so many injuries and surgeries. At least they have coaches and train for the sport. There’s still dramatic crashes at many of the events. It doesn’t seem like much preparation went into this road jump. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2024, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/members-of-the-sdmb-my-latest-darwin-award-nominee/1000199/15 "2024-04-12T16:07:04Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > And yes, I would be surprised if there weren’t others present to capture video. Throwing your life away for a few “likes” - a damn shame. I don’t think that’s a fair assumption. I (and many other pre-video/Internet kids) did lots of stupid stuff in my youth without the expectation of an audience. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2024, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/members-of-the-sdmb-my-latest-darwin-award-nominee/1000199/16 "2024-04-12T16:07:30Z")
Skiing is fun and good exercise, and people can do it into their old age and without injury. But, as with anything, one needs to pay attention to risks. When you are a kid, jumping and doing crazy stuff is just part of the fun, but as you get older and more risk averse, you tone-down the risk-taking, like anything else. For example, my skis and snowboard area ALWAYS on the snow (except when on the lift) - no jumping for me any more - it’s just not worth it. This kid probably thought he had the skills to complete this stunt, but likely overestimated his abilities, and was over-confident his skills, which is typical for young people, sadly. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2024, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/members-of-the-sdmb-my-latest-darwin-award-nominee/1000199/17 "2024-04-12T16:07:38Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > It doesn’t seem like much preparation went into this road jump. - In Soviet Russia, landing stick you. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2024, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/members-of-the-sdmb-my-latest-darwin-award-nominee/1000199/18 "2024-04-12T16:09:14Z")
GoFundMe - seeking $20k, raised $48k? I’m often surprised at such efforts. Recently, a HS freshman from the Chicago area died in an avalanche in Europe while snowboarding. There was a GoFundMe. I’m sure the kid’s death affected many people, but the need to raise $ for a family from an upper middle class burb that could pay to send a high schooler to Europe for spring break? And I used to really enjoy downhill skiing (tho I was never any good at it.) Unfortunately, last spring some hip arthritis convinced me that my skiing days are in my past. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2024, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/members-of-the-sdmb-my-latest-darwin-award-nominee/1000199/19 "2024-04-12T16:12:12Z")
I’m probably putting more thought into this than the kid did, but … if landing on the highway inflicted enough force to kill him, was there a landing area across the highway that was soft enough _not_ to kill him? Or was he hit by a vehicle on the highway? The article doesn’t say. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2024, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/members-of-the-sdmb-my-latest-darwin-award-nominee/1000199/20 "2024-04-12T16:14:17Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > if landing on the highway inflicted enough force to kill him, was there a landing area across the highway that was soft enough _not_ to kill him? It was probably a downward slope rather than a flat surface. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/members-of-the-sdmb-my-latest-darwin-award-nominee/1000199.md?page=2)