17 March 2014

Like a shoe on a wire

Shoes on a wire, Goat Island, S.C.
There are pages of suggestions for the meaning of shoes hanging from a power line, although I expect for the most part it is just fun to sling them in the air and see if they catch.  If the third fact is correct then there are some lucky gentlemen on Goat Island. This picture also answers the question of whether there is electricity on Goat Island.
  
  1. Shoes hanging from power lines are also known as 'Shoefiti'.
  2. Shoe Tossing may indicate gang activity, but the practice has been found in rural areas where there's not even enough people for a gang.
  3. Shoes hanging from power lines in Scotland may indicate that a man has lost his virginity somewhere close.
A couple of shoes on a wire are nothing compared to what I found in related searches. Check out the images on Shoe Trees! Wowza. We are slacking. These seem to be popular out west. We need a shoe tree!

The Loneliest Highway in America

Kids do it just because it's fun. And besides, what else are you going to do with a worn-out pair of sneakers other than tie the laces together and toss them high?
Read more at http://www.snopes.com/crime/gangs/sneakers.asp#ote2OUE7OQliIMwm.99
Who put the shoes there and why? The list of explanations goes on. Suggestions include:
  • It's the work of gangs marking the boundaries of their territory.
  • Bullies take them off defenseless kids, then sling them up out of reach as the ultimate taunt.
  • Gang members create an informal memorial at the spot where a friend lost his life.
  • Sneakers
  • Crack dealers festoon wires to advertise their presence in the neighborhood.
  • The shoes increase wire visibility for low-flying aircraft.
  • Overly puffed-up boys who have just lost their virginity or otherwise passed a sexual milestone look to signal the event to others.
  • Graduating seniors mark this transition in their lives by leaving something of themselves behind; namely, their shoes.
  • Kids do it just because it's fun. And besides, what else are you going to do with a worn-out pair of sneakers other than tie the laces together and toss them high?

Read more at http://www.snopes.com/crime/gangs/sneakers.asp#ote2OUE7OQliIMwm.99
Who put the shoes there and why? The list of explanations goes on. Suggestions include:
  • It's the work of gangs marking the boundaries of their territory.
  • Bullies take them off defenseless kids, then sling them up out of reach as the ultimate taunt.
  • Gang members create an informal memorial at the spot where a friend lost his life.
  • Sneakers
  • Crack dealers festoon wires to advertise their presence in the neighborhood.
  • The shoes increase wire visibility for low-flying aircraft.
  • Overly puffed-up boys who have just lost their virginity or otherwise passed a sexual milestone look to signal the event to others.
  • Graduating seniors mark this transition in their lives by leaving something of themselves behind; namely, their shoes.
  • Kids do it just because it's fun. And besides, what else are you going to do with a worn-out pair of sneakers other than tie the laces together and toss them high?

Read more at http://www.snopes.com/crime/gangs/sneakers.asp#ote2OUE7OQliIMwm.99

6 comments:

Catalyst said...

Wow! I may have to take a drive up to Utah to see that shoe tree.

William Kendall said...

Shoe trees? That's the first I've heard of that!

Pixel Peeper said...

I always thought the tradition of "shoes over wires" was someone being "short" - not in stature, but in time. It was common to see a pair of shoes over wires at the army post in Germany, where my ex-husband was stationed. He explained that soldiers down to their last few weeks in the Army ("short") would throw their boots or shoes over wires.

Charlestonjoan said...

I want to start my own!

Charlestonjoan said...

There are quite a few images on google though.

Charlestonjoan said...

Good one! Never heard of that.