Hi Pascal, I'm afraid there is a sinister reason. Shoes go up on a telephone line whenever there is a drug-related killing in that neighbourhood. Atleast that's what it's supposed to mean in NYC.
Shoes on telephone lines have a similarly sinister reason here in the Pacific Northwest. Supposedly they're used to mark the territories of specific drug dealers/gangs.
But there's always the possibility that it's just some jerk throwing some poor schmoe's shoes on the line to screw with him.
i live in buenos aires, and here (i dunno if it's an urban legend or not) but people will tell you those mark the corners of a block that has a drug dealer on.
Oh... Quite funny how it differs from one country to another... Here in peaceful new zealand, shoes on a line are just reminders of a well boozed night where people (probably bored out of their brains) would have fun and throw other people's shoes up there... What puzzles me is how they got those shoes in the first place?? Or maybe it is drug related and I'm just a poor innocent french girl (where I've never seen shoe on a telephone line anyway)...
There's all sorts of urban legends about this, but none of them difinitive, at least to those of us who aren't slinging the shoes. More on the subject here: http://www.snopes.com/crime/gangs/sneakers.asp (Great site for looking up whether urban legends are true)
In the movie "Wag the dog" they did trow shoes up in telephone lines. "That good old shoe" was a song in the film, music by Willie Nelson. Great movie. And a much different explanation that the one related to drugs.
Great illustrations you have on top of the blog now, the B/W is also great!
In the Dominican Republic there`s a popular saying: "Guindó los tenis" -> "Hung the sneakers/shoes". It`s said when someone dies. It`s like a monument to the people that have died. So i guess THATS why they hang shoes on telephone and electric lines...
Wow, I've been about two years wondering why are they doing it here in Barcelona, without an answer... It seems to be something new here, and no drug-related. Just funny things.
In Philadelphia, at least when I was growing up, you threw your old shoes up on the line when they were worn out and you got a new pair. Maybe the significance has changed over the years.
Hi Pascal,
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid there is a sinister reason. Shoes go up on a telephone line whenever there is a drug-related killing in that neighbourhood. Atleast that's what it's supposed to mean in NYC.
Shoes on telephone lines have a similarly sinister reason here in the Pacific Northwest. Supposedly they're used to mark the territories of specific drug dealers/gangs.
ReplyDeleteBut there's always the possibility that it's just some jerk throwing some poor schmoe's shoes on the line to screw with him.
i live in buenos aires, and here (i dunno if it's an urban legend or not) but people will tell you those mark the corners of a block that has a drug dealer on.
ReplyDeleteOh... Quite funny how it differs from one country to another... Here in peaceful new zealand, shoes on a line are just reminders of a well boozed night where people (probably bored out of their brains) would have fun and throw other people's shoes up there... What puzzles me is how they got those shoes in the first place??
ReplyDeleteOr maybe it is drug related and I'm just a poor innocent french girl (where I've never seen shoe on a telephone line anyway)...
There's all sorts of urban legends about this, but none of them difinitive, at least to those of us who aren't slinging the shoes.
ReplyDeleteMore on the subject here:
http://www.snopes.com/crime/gangs/sneakers.asp (Great site for looking up whether urban legends are true)
In the movie "Wag the dog" they did trow shoes up in telephone lines. "That good old shoe" was a song in the film, music by Willie Nelson.
ReplyDeleteGreat movie. And a much different explanation that the one related to drugs.
Great illustrations you have on top of the blog now, the B/W is also great!
Ha... That's a lot of great explanations.
ReplyDeleteIt seems that drug related shoe throwing is the most common, that and gangs!
Ha..
I would not have known!
Blom. Thanks!
In the Dominican Republic there`s a popular saying: "Guindó los tenis" -> "Hung the sneakers/shoes".
ReplyDeleteIt`s said when someone dies.
It`s like a monument to the people that have died.
So i guess THATS why they hang shoes on telephone and electric lines...
Wow, I've been about two years wondering why are they doing it here in Barcelona, without an answer... It seems to be something new here, and no drug-related. Just funny things.
ReplyDeleteIn Philadelphia, at least when I was growing up, you threw your old shoes up on the line when they were worn out and you got a new pair. Maybe the significance has changed over the years.
ReplyDeleteHere in Argentina, they are used to mark the place where the owner has been killed.
ReplyDelete