Ive been to America many times (12 states). Why do i see pairs of shoes tied round overhead wires when driving along streets?
2007-09-26 06:49:56 · 14 answers · asked by Ghost Boy 7 in Travel ➔ United States ➔ Other - United States
Shoe flinging or "shoefiti" is the American and Canadian practice of throwing shoes whose shoelaces have been tied together so that they hang from overhead wires such as power lines or telephone cables. The shoes are tied together by their laces, and the assembly is apparently then thrown at the wires as a sort of bolas. This practice plays a widespread, though mysterious, role in adolescent folklore in the United States. Shoe flinging has also been reported in Australia, Sweden, France and Norway.
More info at the link.
2007-09-26 06:57:57 · answer #1 · answered by Barkley Hound 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
there are more then a few supposed reasons for this, the main reason now in all reality is just that people get the idea to throw there old shoes or there enemys shoes (talking about kids here not adults) up there because they see another pair already there. in the past though, particularly in the 1980s it was actually a "signal" of sorts to let people know that there were drugs to be bought on that street or street corner, so if you saw the shoes up there (especially if it were an obviously new pair of shoes) and you happened to be looking to score some dope you might find it worth your while to drive down that street.
As i said though nowadays that is not why there up there, there simply up there because kids will be kids and apparently it is fun to tie your shoelaces together and try and get them trapped up on a power line.
2007-09-28 22:54:37 · answer #2 · answered by None 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some gang members put them up to show there territory from the other gangs and also here in nc they have put a persons shoes up on a light pole wire when there son got killed working for the power company . Personaly I wear a size 5 my shoes wouldnt even be seen up there. but thats what they do that for i think atleast here they do....
2007-09-26 14:00:34 · answer #3 · answered by preistess 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
You see it in the UK as well.
In Glasgow if you have a new pair of shoes, you are beaten up, then your shoes are stolen and they tie the laces together and flung them over phone wires, etc, so you can't get them.
Its just done out of rottenness...
2007-09-26 14:03:11 · answer #4 · answered by Geez-a-g 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It's ritualistic. People believe shoes used to 'their full potential' wards of things that people find to be superstitious anyway; i.e., those shoes prevent mirrors from being broken and repel black cats, etc.
2007-09-26 13:53:20 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I've always heard that it serves as a location marker for drug selling.
2007-09-27 20:44:08 · answer #6 · answered by appalachianlimbo 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You see that here as well I have heard in America it marks a gang territory don't know if that's correct
2007-09-26 13:54:55 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
i always thought it was some bully had taken them from someone and threw them up where the kid couldnt get to them to be mean.... Never heard of the drug thing they are on about.
2007-09-26 14:04:22 · answer #8 · answered by gowdymail 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There are many potential explanations:
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5_274.html
My friends and I used to do it in college because ... well we did a lot of dumb things in college.
2007-09-26 14:00:32 · answer #9 · answered by Adoptive Father 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I see it here in England
2007-09-26 13:54:29 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋