# This has to be a Darwin Award winner. So incredibly stupid. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 4, 2013, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-has-to-be-a-darwin-award-winner-so-incredibly-stupid/673019 "2013-11-04T01:23:28Z")\ **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:** [November 4, 2013, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-has-to-be-a-darwin-award-winner-so-incredibly-stupid/673019/1 "2013-11-04T01:23:28Z")
I’m amazed they haven’t filed attempted murder charges against this retard. Earning a Darwin Award is one thing. But you aren’t supposed to hurt somebody else doing it. He could have ignited a fireball that would have taken out everybody at that gas station. > **[Video captures moment Georgia man lit his wife on fire while playing with a...](https://www.nydailynews.com/2013/11/03/video-captures-moment-georgia-man-lit-his-wife-on-fire-while-playing-with-a-lighter-at-gas-station-police/)** > > The moment a Georgia man allegedly lit his wife on fire by playing with a lighter while filling up his gas tank was caught on video. Austin Dawkins, 37, is now facing criminal charges after surveil… > [@](#): > > The moment a Georgia man allegedly lit his wife on fire by playing with a lighter while filling up his gas tank was caught on video. > > Austin Dawkins, 37, is now facing criminal charges after surveillance video taken at a Clarkesville gas station on Oct. 16 appears to show him dangerously placing a lighter between his truck’s gas tank and his wife. > [@](#): > > He faces a charge of reckless conduct which holds a maximum penalty of a year in prison and up to a $1,000 fine. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-has-to-be-a-darwin-award-winner-so-incredibly-stupid/673019/2 "2013-11-04T01:30:44Z")
Let’s not insult retarded people by comparing them to this waste of meat and blood. Unless it’s somehow obvious he was joking, he should be charged w/ attempted murder. ---
**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:** [November 4, 2013, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-has-to-be-a-darwin-award-winner-so-incredibly-stupid/673019/3 "2013-11-04T01:39:04Z")
That’s a good point. He’s dumber than dumb. I cringe whenever I see some fool smoking and fueling up their car. Seeing someone hold up a lighter while fueling. :eek: I’d be very tempted to jump in my car and just drive off. The heck with filling up my car. My life is worth more than the bucks I prepaid for gas. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-has-to-be-a-darwin-award-winner-so-incredibly-stupid/673019/4 "2013-11-04T01:41:48Z")
Darwin Award winners actually have to die. This guy was stupid for no reason. ---
**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:** [November 4, 2013, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-has-to-be-a-darwin-award-winner-so-incredibly-stupid/673019/5 "2013-11-04T03:25:49Z")
It’s unfortunate that the prankster received only minor injuries. His poor wife got significant burns. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-has-to-be-a-darwin-award-winner-so-incredibly-stupid/673019/6 "2013-11-04T03:39:00Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Darwin Award winners actually have to die. This guy was stupid for no reason. Exactly. He’s not eligible for the award. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-has-to-be-a-darwin-award-winner-so-incredibly-stupid/673019/7 "2013-11-04T04:01:00Z")
If he had burned off his testicles but lived would he qualify for a Darwin award? I’ve never read the fine print. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-has-to-be-a-darwin-award-winner-so-incredibly-stupid/673019/8 "2013-11-04T04:04:25Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Darwin Award winners actually have to die. This guy was stupid for no reason. > [@Bob Ducca](#): > > Exactly. He’s not eligible for the award. Guess he’ll just have to try again. ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-has-to-be-a-darwin-award-winner-so-incredibly-stupid/673019/9 "2013-11-04T04:07:35Z")
exactly what was he hoping would happen? ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-has-to-be-a-darwin-award-winner-so-incredibly-stupid/673019/10 "2013-11-04T04:08:50Z")
The classic example of a Darwin Award Winner, in my opinion, is the alpine hunter who shot a mountain goat on a precipice immediately above him. The goat fell from its position and collided with great force with said alpine hunter, who then fell to his death over the next precipice. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-has-to-be-a-darwin-award-winner-so-incredibly-stupid/673019/11 "2013-11-04T04:16:49Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > If he had burned off his testicles but lived would he qualify for a Darwin award? I’ve never read the fine print. Yes. The criteria is rendering oneself dead or sterile. [Cite.](http://www.darwinawards.com/rules/) ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-has-to-be-a-darwin-award-winner-so-incredibly-stupid/673019/12 "2013-11-04T04:18:20Z")
Just this past week, my husband was fueling up when he smelled smoke - and to his shock, he saw a senior citizen smoking a cigarette while gassing up her car. He got as far as a polite, “Um, excuse me, ma’am…” and she told him to go fuck himself! :eek: His response was something to the effect of ‘I hope you only take yourself out when you cause a fire someday.’ ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-has-to-be-a-darwin-award-winner-so-incredibly-stupid/673019/13 "2013-11-04T04:29:35Z")
No one got killed. This story merits only a half Darwin point. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-has-to-be-a-darwin-award-winner-so-incredibly-stupid/673019/14 "2013-11-04T04:48:30Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > Just this past week, my husband was fueling up when he smelled smoke - and to his shock, he saw a senior citizen smoking a cigarette while gassing up her car. He got as far as a polite, “Um, excuse me, ma’am…” and she told him to go fuck himself! :eek: His response was something to the effect of ‘I hope you only take yourself out when you cause a fire someday.’ I think the proper and polite response should have been “Put that fucking cigarette out, bitch, or I’ll call the cops on you for reckless endangerment”. ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-has-to-be-a-darwin-award-winner-so-incredibly-stupid/673019/15 "2013-11-04T04:48:42Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Yes. The criteria is rendering oneself dead or sterile. [Cite.](http://www.darwinawards.com/rules/) Also note that killing others disqualifies you, and injuring others is “frowned upon”. ---
**Author:** ![Space\_Vegetable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Space\_Vegetable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Space_Vegetable)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-has-to-be-a-darwin-award-winner-so-incredibly-stupid/673019/16 "2013-11-04T05:20:52Z")
Seems unfair that he gets no Darwin Award. Perhaps he’d be able to qualify if his wife gets out of the hospital and sets him on fire. Repeatedly, if necessary. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-has-to-be-a-darwin-award-winner-so-incredibly-stupid/673019/17 "2013-11-04T05:42:00Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Yes. The criteria is rendering oneself dead or sterile. [Cite.](http://www.darwinawards.com/rules/) Huh. Never knew about the sterility clause. ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-has-to-be-a-darwin-award-winner-so-incredibly-stupid/673019/18 "2013-11-04T05:49:32Z")
> [@Space\_Vegetable](#): > > Seems unfair that he gets no Darwin Award. Perhaps he’d be able to qualify if his wife gets out of the hospital and sets him on fire. Repeatedly, if necessary. No kidding. Judging from the video she would have been just fine if he hadn’t removed the nozzle from the car and _flung flaming gas directly at her!_ ---
**Author:** ![tellyworth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@tellyworth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tellyworth)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-has-to-be-a-darwin-award-winner-so-incredibly-stupid/673019/19 "2013-11-04T10:16:37Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I think the proper and polite response should have been “Put that fucking cigarette out, bitch, or I’ll call the cops on you for reckless endangerment”. A former flight attendant once told me that their standard procedure when someone was smoking in the restroom on a flight was to break in with a fire extinguisher and put it out. For safety. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-has-to-be-a-darwin-award-winner-so-incredibly-stupid/673019/20 "2013-11-04T18:27:29Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > No kidding. Judging from the video she would have been just fine if he hadn’t removed the nozzle from the car and _flung flaming gas directly at her!_ Yes, you can see she hasn’t caught fire until he does this and it sprays flames on her. That’s attempted murder in my book. I hope wherever they live has enough money to prosecute him fully and not allow any pleas. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-has-to-be-a-darwin-award-winner-so-incredibly-stupid/673019.md?page=2)