# Nails in trails or why are some people such assholes **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 23, 2017, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nails-in-trails-or-why-are-some-people-such-assholes/780553 "2017-02-23T14:39:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nails-in-trails-or-why-are-some-people-such-assholes/780553/1 "2017-02-23T14:39:59Z")
> **[Dozens of Spikes Deliberately Placed on Trail](https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a20847330/dozens-of-spikes-deliberately-placed-on-trail/)** > > A runner’s foot was impaled on one of the nails, found in North Carolina park. Someone deliberately put nails in a popular running trail. The mind boggles… 😕 :mad: ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nails-in-trails-or-why-are-some-people-such-assholes/780553/2 "2017-02-23T14:50:42Z")
> [@White SIFL](#): > > [Dozens of Spikes Deliberately Placed on Trail | Runner's World](http://www.runnersworld.com/general-interest/dozens-of-spikes-deliberately-placed-on-trail) > > Someone deliberately put nails in a popular running trail. The mind boggles… > > 😕 :mad: I’m guessing male, between the ages of 13 and 22. ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nails-in-trails-or-why-are-some-people-such-assholes/780553/3 "2017-02-23T14:54:24Z")
Most likely, although occasionally there have been crazy old ladies doing such work. Anyway, you do see why people used to be hung at the scene of the crime. If that’s thought harsh, I would be considerably more vengeful if _my_ foot was punctured. ---
**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:** [February 23, 2017, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nails-in-trails-or-why-are-some-people-such-assholes/780553/4 "2017-02-23T16:34:08Z")
I suspect this is part of an ongoing conflict between hikers, runners and bikers about usage on these trails. The conflicts are old, these horrific tactics are new, but unfortunately not brand new. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nails-in-trails-or-why-are-some-people-such-assholes/780553/5 "2017-02-23T17:39:08Z")
> [@Evan\_Drake](#): > > Anyway, you do see why people used to be hung at the scene of the crime. Being “hung” is not undesirable. Or did you mean “hanged”? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nails-in-trails-or-why-are-some-people-such-assholes/780553/6 "2017-02-23T17:44:10Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > I’m guessing male, between the ages of 13 and 22. I doubt it. I don’t think a typical adolescent would have the patience required to put up so many nails. This job requires nurtured nastiness and dedication. I bet on someone older than 40. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nails-in-trails-or-why-are-some-people-such-assholes/780553/7 "2017-02-23T17:49:16Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > I doubt it. I don’t think a typical adolescent would have the patience required to put up so many nails. This job requires nurtured nastiness and dedication. I bet on someone older than 40. I agree. The nails had their heads hacked off and were set vertically into the ground like spikes instead of being haphazardly scattered along the trail. It’s not something a teenager would have the determination to do. ---
**Author:** ![Dickerman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8baadc/32.png) [@Dickerman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dickerman)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nails-in-trails-or-why-are-some-people-such-assholes/780553/8 "2017-02-23T18:01:53Z")
I suspect one of the crazy old lady cases mentioned above includes this recent one: [Breaking News, Headlines and Stories | National Post | National Post](http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/she-was-aware-someone-could-be-seriously-hurt-b-c-woman-guilty-of-bike-trail-sabotage) where she did a number of types of trail sabotage, including setting various traps intended to cause injury. She apparently didn’t want to share the trail with other types of users. ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nails-in-trails-or-why-are-some-people-such-assholes/780553/9 "2017-02-23T18:34:07Z")
Probably roofing nails. Time to ban nails again. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nails-in-trails-or-why-are-some-people-such-assholes/780553/10 "2017-02-23T19:24:05Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > I suspect this is part of an ongoing conflict between hikers, runners and bikers about usage on these trails. The conflicts are old, these horrific tactics are new, but unfortunately not brand new. I recall an incident in Alaska where someone strung a cable across a popular snow machine trail. Real nice. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nails-in-trails-or-why-are-some-people-such-assholes/780553/11 "2017-02-23T19:28:02Z")
> [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](#): > > Probably roofing nails. Time to ban nails again. No, these were not roofing nails. Read the article. ---
**Author:** ![Soylent\_Juicy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Soylent\_Juicy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Juicy)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nails-in-trails-or-why-are-some-people-such-assholes/780553/12 "2017-02-23T20:45:18Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I recall an incident in Alaska where someone strung a cable across a popular snow machine trail. Real nice. That’s happened a number of times. I’ve seen reports of people on dirt bikes, etc. nearly getting beheaded because someone strung fishing line or wire across a trail. One was about a guy who can’t speak anymore because the wire injured his throat. The hell is wrong with people. As for the article about the nails: Oh My God. I got a thorn in my toe while trail running a few years ago and the pain was astronomical, I can’t imagine a nail. I’m just thankful the thorn went into my toe and not my dog’s paw. Some people just need to be removed from society. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nails-in-trails-or-why-are-some-people-such-assholes/780553/13 "2017-02-23T21:05:07Z")
Q: Yes I know nails hurt people, but wouldn’t bikers get flats too? This sounds an awful lot like some of the tricks listed in an old article from the late 1970s about how cartel pot farmers would protect their illegal growing fields in remote regions of the country. (No, I can’t find that specific story on line. Sorry.) ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nails-in-trails-or-why-are-some-people-such-assholes/780553/14 "2017-02-23T21:29:31Z")
Geez and I thought tree-spikers were bad enough. This is one of those cases where foot-for-a-foot justice begins looking sane, and it angers me that they make me react that way. At least civilians can’t buy land mines… ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nails-in-trails-or-why-are-some-people-such-assholes/780553/15 "2017-02-23T21:36:28Z")
> [@Evan\_Drake](#): > > Most likely, although occasionally there have been crazy old ladies doing such work. Anyway, you do see why people used to be hung at the scene of the crime. > [@panache45](#): > > Being “hung” is not undesirable. Or did you mean “hanged”? 🙂 Being hung is likely to be undesirable to a high percentage of old ladies. Even the crazy ones. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nails-in-trails-or-why-are-some-people-such-assholes/780553/16 "2017-02-23T21:37:45Z")
There’s a trail race (referenced in the article) coming up next month. Given the equal-opportunity harm to hikers, bikers, and runners, I’m guessing a cranky older man pissed off about everyone using what he sees as his trail. ---
**Author:** ![Disheavel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@Disheavel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disheavel)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2017, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nails-in-trails-or-why-are-some-people-such-assholes/780553/17 "2017-02-24T00:01:22Z")
Seattle suffered some similar nail attacks when some car lanes were replaced with bike lanes: [Seattle Times Bike+Nails story](http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/a-tacked-cyclists-wonder-if-tires-sabotaged-on-westlake-north-bike-lane/) It went on for a few weeks and then the moment the local news picked it up, it stopped. So I agree with the culprit being a disgruntled older person. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2017, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nails-in-trails-or-why-are-some-people-such-assholes/780553/18 "2017-02-24T00:09:21Z")
yow, that’s a terrible injury, punctures in the feet. A medical pot facility was broken into after hours here recently and a police officer was responding. He jumped a fence and landed on a boobytrap intended for thieves I guess. it was a board embedded with screws and the officer was badly hurt in his feet. Can you imagine the pain? ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2017, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nails-in-trails-or-why-are-some-people-such-assholes/780553/19 "2017-02-24T00:22:03Z")
> [@chela](#): > > yow, that’s a terrible injury, punctures in the feet. > > A medical pot facility was broken into after hours here recently and a police officer was responding. He jumped a fence and landed on a boobytrap intended for thieves I guess. it was a board embedded with screws and the officer was badly hurt in his feet. > > Can you imagine the pain? I hope the owners can imagine their Felony charges too. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2017, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nails-in-trails-or-why-are-some-people-such-assholes/780553/20 "2017-02-24T00:26:12Z")
When I first moved out into a house, less than a week later, I came out of work to find a tire flat. I didn’t think anything of it, until my dad told me that he had been over there for an unrelated reason, and found a board with 20 or 30 huge nails in the driveway. :eek: He took it and showed it to me; the board and nails were worn, indicating that it hadn’t been made recently. Nothing like that ever happened again, and I have no idea who did it. What a way to be welcomed to the neighborhood, though. :mad: [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nails-in-trails-or-why-are-some-people-such-assholes/780553.md?page=2)