Tuesday, March 04, 2025

What is the purpose of throwing shoes onto an electric wire? Was it so that some bully could deprive a victim of their footwear?

 

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What is the purpose of throwing shoes onto an electric wire? Was it so that some bully could deprive a victim of their footwear?

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[–]yoitsme_obama17 728 points  

Depends. Drug spot. Place someone got killed. Someone getting punked.

[–]nextus_music 466 points  

This is basically never the actual reason.

It’s just a cultural thing and plenty of people throw them up when they get new shoes or for no reason at all

[–]snortgiggles 149 points  

Lol I was like, "drug spot?"

[–]captain-carrot 63 points  

Shared in hull. Stay safe Hun x

[–]JohnGacyIsInnocent 86 points  

Tbf, this was a legitimate reason in some cases, but my frame of reference comes from growing up in south side Chicago in the 90s. Usually it meant nothing at all, just like the dude above you said. Occasionally it was a marker for a dealer. Not saying it was super common, but it happened

[–]Sexcercise 18 points  

I am also from Chicago and grew up hearing that either drugs were sold there or someone died.

[–]WhiskyGravyTango 3 points  

Or both. 5 days a week.

[–]No-Consideration-891 16 points  

TBF I think it may be down to location. A "drug spot" while the dealers didn't throw the shoes, often areas with shoes are used as a code. Not really effective anymore since people know. Before you ask, the shoes usually stood out from other thrown shoes. Had a symbol or color, etc to differentiate from others.

[–]Viniox 4 points  

Different types of drugs are sold at this drug spot based on the color of the shoe laces. Watch out for blue neighborhoods.

[–]WhtCanMyUsernameBe 9 points  

I like your shoelaces...

[–]SaturnusDawn 10 points  

Thanks, I got them from the president

(Can't believe I finally got a chance to use this code lmao)

[–]TheZooDude 2 points  

That's what my mom used to say, but she was never about that life so I doubt it.

[–]SaturnusDawn 6 points  

Maybe she was more gangsta than you thought 👀

[–]Bottle_and_Sell_it 5 points  

It’s actually to mark spots where kids have died from razor blades in candy apples on Halloween.

[–]CubedMeatAtrocity 22 points  

Came to say the same. The old “drug spot” thing is urban lore.

[–]TheYasdonaught 4 points  

I was gonna say, I've always seen it as a way of retiring a pair.

[–]Moln0015 -9 points  

I always been told gang markings

[–]captain-carrot 27 points  

I always assumed kids. Just dumb kids being dumb.

[–]Bottle_and_Sell_it 1 point  

Kids are so dumb!

[–]rsbanham 40 points  

No dealer is putting up a sign for the police to see.

[–]stellaxo 5 points  

Why answer when you don’t actually have a clue what you’re talking about?

[–]yoitsme_obama17 1 point  

Grew up on the southside of chicago.

[–]TheoFandtoa 3 points  

I hear that the baddest part of town!

[–]yoitsme_obama17 1 point  

West and south

[–]TheoFandtoa 5 points  

I'll take your word for that, Barack.

[–]ftwes 3 points  

All I’m saying is that if you go down there you better just beware of a man named Leroy Brown

[–]issi_tohbi 1 point  

Please tell me you’ve watched and loved the tv series Southside because no one understands my obsession with that show.

[–]Bottle_and_Sell_it 3 points  

Southsiiide southsiiide we gon set this party off riiight

[–]autoerratica 7 points  

I think it’s usually kids being assholes/doing dumb things just for a laugh, in my experience. Which comes in many flavors…

[–]Ok_Childhood_7229 1 point  

Drug spot is correct 💯 in some cases.... Also when you have a bunch of preteens in an apartment complex that are bored and want to see if they can actually get them up there like in the movies.... Couldn't stop them....it was entirely too entertaining to watch them. The ring leader was my child.

[–]ReadWoodworkLLC 2 points  

I know sometimes they’re marking territories of gangs in the area as well. I know it was popular to do this in the 80s and 90s but idk how much it’s done for that reason nowadays.

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[–]ds2316476 0 points  

lol no one removed my comment so I guess I'm gud

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[–]psychicsoviet 137 points  

Boredom

[–]InformedConservative 156 points  

In the hood, it means that you can buy drugs there.

[–]AshBeeped 50 points  

That's what I was told in Philly; albeit 15 years ago.

[–]kellymiche 13 points  

I first heard that probably 30 years ago, at least

[–]Orome2 20 points  

There's one right next to the main hospital in my city. I guess that adds up.

[–]livahd 116 points  

Urban legend. The cops would just park next to the shoes, there’s no “universal drug spot” sign. 99% it’s someone’s old shoes that they threw up there.

[–]WhiskyGravyTango 4 points  

Total urban legend. "Hey meet me under the black and gold Poneys on 40th. Haha. That didn't happen. The answer is that A. It's fun. Try it. B. It was a bullying tactic when teenagers stole shit right off your back. 8ball or Bulls jacket? "Mine. Shoes? They're right there on the cable lines. Go get 'em."

[–]zjqj 47 points  

hmm.. i wonder what happens if drugs are no longer sold there - do drug gangs have a kind of drug gang handyman on the payroll with tall drug gang stepladders and a pair of drug gang scissors?

[–]InformedConservative 5 points  

No, police will notify police dispatch to have the power company remove them. It usually takes about two business days.

[–]real_fff 3 points  

Lol that's not how it works in a lot of cities, but it's fun to imagine.

[–]TheoFandtoa 6 points  

... and that's why I always toss a pair on Fridays, after 5:00 p.m. (EST).

[–]tractorcrusher 23 points  

The dealers use their designated shoe decommissioning drone, they hold a ceremony, and shoot their glawks up in the air in unison, holding them sideways

[–]AInterestingUser 2 points  

New business venture for drone pilots. Sky Snippers.

[–]WhiskyGravyTango 1 point  

Gang handyman? Step ladders?

[–]zjqj 2 points  

drug scissors

[–]WhiskyGravyTango 2 points  

I'd go see a band named Drug Scissors without knowing a single thing about them.

[–]lilroach420 1 point  

But not their real ladders. Their step ladders.

[–]tuskensandlot 1 point  

People saying this is a myth are not correct. In the neighborhood I grew up in, it meant there was a dealer claiming that block.

[–]PeeB4uGoToBed 91 points  

Drug spot, memorial, bullies, marking territory

[–]nepheleb 16 points  

I've heard the marking territory one.

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[–]LameBMX 22 points  

ok then, no one can remember

[–]zjqj 7 points  

why, thank you

*remembers things *

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[–]Howsurchinstrap 24 points  

Me too. Grew up in city we used to just toss them up. Kinda like playing horse shoes. No significance to it. Just kids being kids really.

[–]socksmatterTWO 10 points  

Innocent kid fun and people have peopled about it jumping to the least innocent conclusion! Crazy old worls of meat sacks aren't we just ridiculous at times!

[–]LolaBijou 5 points  

“The cops will never figure this out”

[–]Lunar_Cats 3 points  

Yep, just a weird little tradition where I'm from. It was kind of fun and you can see the old shoes when you pass by. Nothing more to it as far as i know.

[–]ThatTemplar1119 1 point  

I currently live in "the hood", I see shoes every now and again but nowhere near drug spots. If I want drugs, it's at a park next to an abandoned school that is the typical meet up spot, a particularly unsavory place in the area.

[–]WillieB52 25 points  

The drug dealer / drug activity trope never made sense to me. Why would a dealer advertise their presence to the police?

[–]depersonalised -8 points  

it wasn’t originally intended to alert the police, duh.

[–]Fyrestar333 7 points  

In Baltimore City you can buy drugs right across the street from the police station.

[–]HamOwl 25 points  

This goes way back. At least the 70s, probably earlier. It's mostly shenanigans, maybe some other meanings, but mostly shenanigans.

[–]sneezle-duck 10 points  

Hey Farva what’s the name of that restaurant you like with all the goofy shit on the walls?

[–]HamOwl 6 points  

SHENANIGANS??

[–]SIFAE 6 points  

Ohhhhh!!

*Gives gun

[–]rquinain 5 points  

I wonder if it's like the Cool S and its origin is long forgotten but people just do it out of tradition. I do agree that it feels like a more innocuous phenomenon today then probably back in the day.

[–]SpiderJerusalem42 3 points  

I did this once and I spray painted my boots ordnance corps colors. Someone told me they thought of me when they saw them get cut down.

[–]ds2316476 9 points  

I always thought it was leaving behind a bad neighborhood, like you finally got out.

[–]stink-stunk -5 points  

Area marker, gang stuff I heard.

[–]noogers -4 points  

Someone passed/died

[–]Murdy2020 2 points  

I believe it started in the military with your boots when you're on your way out.

[–]AlgaeWafers -4 points  

Drug spot.

[–]gordonsgoldengoat 2 points  

I always assumed it was king of like graffiti. Just someone leaving their mark somewhere

[–]iwanttobebettertomme 1 point  

It was the boots of a lineman; from his last day of work when he retired. Right from the very last job site. As soon as they were done, he would take off his pole climbing boots, tie them together and throw them over the line. Not that particular instance of course, but that is the origin of the custom; as far as I know.

[–]kanaka_maalea 1 point  

Nothing special, just a "Welcome to the Hood" sign.

[–]PennyLaane 2 points  

Can confirm. I did this when I was a teenager just for fun.

[–]SadNana09 3 points  

I've seen this my whole life and I always figured it was just kids being kids, but a few years ago someone told me that it meant you could buy drugs at that house. My question is, if there are houses across from each other, how would you know which house has the drugs? I'm thinking urban legend.

[–]WhiskyGravyTango 2 points  

Why would a drug dealer put up a sign in front of their house?

[–]SadNana09 1 point  

Beats me. The cops would be raiding it all the time. May as well just go with a billboard and a flashing neon sign. Maybe list today's special lol.

[–]channilein 1 point  

In Flensburg, Germany, there is a whole street with tons of shoes hanging over the defunct tram power line like this. It's a tradition to leave a pair of shoes there when you move away to symbolise that a part of you will always stay in Flensburg. It's mainly college kids who do it for graduation.

[–]WastingTimeOnTheWeb 0 points  

Have seen these in many small towns for manny years. I don't think there is a specific reason. Someone did it once then other joined in. Good clean fun IMHO

[–]C_N1 1 point  

Lol, there are many reasons, bullying included. There's a fishing spot, when you don't get a catch, you gotta throw your shoes up. There were a lot of shoes.

[–]kb_me_kb_you 1 point  

Neighbor kids threw a pair up by their house. Eventually they migrated near my house. Took about 5 years to fall down by themselves.

[–]bpthompson999 1 point  

In the 90s, I used to see this shit all the time, except it was with Army boots down at Fort Bragg, NC.

I think those specifically signified never having to wear them again due to the servicemember getting discharged.

[–]borzoya 1 point  

A lot of skaters throw old used-up pairs of shoes up in power lines by skate spots

[–]Solidtakeawayfood 2 points  

So many reasons. Sometimes it was to indicate that drugs were for sale, sometimes it was to signal that someone had been beaten up. I’ve been a skater for years myself, and many people here used it to show that the shoes you were wearing were ‘retired.’ I’ve also often experienced it as ‘Hey man, bet I can throw my shoes over those wires.’

[–]Twinwaffle 1 point  

Where I'm from, it meant someone threw a pair of shoes up there. Successfully, I guess.



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