sneakers on stop light poles [Archive] - RonFez.net Messageboard

Arienette

10-23-2002, 06:18 PM

ok, what the hell is up with that? driving down broadway the other day, about a quarter of all the stop light pole things had a pair of sneakers hanging from them. i've seen this a million times, but it never really occurred to me that it was odd for them to be there. does anyone know what the significance of this is? why would someone waste a perfectly good pair of sneakers like that? please.. help... i'm disturbed

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ChrisTheCop

10-23-2002, 06:23 PM

When I worked in Harlem, I was told that that signified where someone had been shot and/or killed. But now I see it all over the bronx, at places I know no one has died. Guess we'll have to wait for Fatty to read this thread.

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blakjeezis

10-23-2002, 06:29 PM

That's to show our support to bring back "Old Shue". Willie Nelson sang a song about it.

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This message was edited by blakjeezis on 10-23-02 @ 10:30 PM

flipper21

10-23-2002, 06:29 PM

What always baffled me more was the single piece of footwear (shoe, sneaker, whatever) in the middle of the road. How do you lose just a single shoe?

ChickenHawk

10-23-2002, 06:32 PM

Means someone sells
drugs there.

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IrishAlkey

10-23-2002, 06:34 PM

It signifies being in a crappy neighborhood and you should drive really fast to get out.

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GaryWyze

10-23-2002, 06:37 PM

sneakers on stop light poles... ok, what the hell is up with that?

It signifies that you're in a neighborhood where folks are light on their feet.

Nahhhh, it actually means that a brotha got fried while walking across the poll.

Seriously, light poles = clothing lines in the inner city.

Yerdaddy

10-23-2002, 06:38 PM

they're air fresheners

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It was a joke goddammit!

ChrisTheCop

10-23-2002, 06:38 PM

"Old Shue". Willie Nelson sang a song about it.

Not to be confused with "a boy named shoe" by Johmmy Cash

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Arienette

10-23-2002, 06:40 PM

What always baffled me more was the single piece of footwear (shoe, sneaker, whatever) in the middle of the road. How do you lose just a single shoe? i lost one shoe once.. it was very sad... i was in like 3rd grade and wanted to play dorothy in a wizard of oz production. i brought red shoes with me, and when i was wearing them, i lost one of my sneakers. needless to say, my mommy was not pleased with me when i came home... wow look at me go off track
It signifies being in a crappy neighborhood and you should drive really fast to get out.i dont know.. i think the south bronx is kinda lovely

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store away from direct sunlight
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blakjeezis

10-23-2002, 06:42 PM

My friend has a neighbor who's pseudonym is Johhny Crash.

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IrishAlkey

10-23-2002, 06:46 PM

i dont know.. i think the south bronx is kinda lovely

Holla back, baby grrrl.

Ya' feel me?

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ChrisTheCop

10-23-2002, 06:50 PM

I think I found Ari's shoes <html> <img src="http://www.beyondtherainbow2oz.com/slippers.gif"> </html>

This message was edited by ChrisTheCop on 10-23-02 @ 10:53 PM

IrishAlkey

10-23-2002, 06:51 PM

It's official.

Chris is gay.

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ChrisTheCop

10-23-2002, 06:53 PM

I thought we were gonna keep that "between us"

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IrishAlkey

10-23-2002, 07:00 PM

Woopsy!

I'll make it up to you.

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Johnny4

10-23-2002, 07:05 PM

In my old neighborhood it meant that meant that some punk kids had beat the crap out of some kid,tied together his shoes and threw them somewhere that he could see them everyday, but never get them. And by punk kids I mean me and my friends.

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Zipgun

10-23-2002, 07:10 PM

Means someone sells
drugs there

That's funny. There's a local free newspaper named The Bohemian that reported recently that the shoes on the power lines along Bay Avenue in Toms River were the calling card of a drug dealer.

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El Mudo

10-23-2002, 07:26 PM

I thought we were gonna keep that "between us"

Remember, its not gay if you both keep the secret

I don't wanna hear no more jokes about Ginny Sack's fat ass!
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tricia

10-23-2002, 07:46 PM

i've always wondered about that. there's sneakers strung up all along my street :(

ChickenHawk

10-23-2002, 07:49 PM

That's funny. There's
a local free newspaper
named The Bohemian that
reported recently that the
shoes on the power lines
along Bay Avenue in

Yeah, that's cuz it is. I
wasn't making a joke.
That's actually what they
mean. Although, it's true
that it also happens when
someone gets jumped and
has to walk home in his
socks. But it's usually
drugs.

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sr71blackbird

04-02-2005, 02:22 PM

http://pricefamilyforever.typepad.com/pricefamilyforever/images/ny79.jpg I use to see this more.  What is the origin of it and does it signify anything?  By my cousins house when I was a kid, I use to see birds making nests in the sneakers!

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Melrapuo

04-02-2005, 02:25 PM

I heard it meant that somebody died or was killed or something.  You see them all the time in Jersey City.

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Wormwood

04-02-2005, 03:22 PM

I heard that its a game played in white trash neighborhoods

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ChickenHawk

04-02-2005, 03:33 PM

It can mean multiple things... But the two I've heard most commonly are:

A) It means someone sells drugs on that block... So basically, if you need a fix, keep your eyes peeled for some hanging sneakers.

B) It's basically just a prank played on kids who get beat up. They take your sneakers off, tie 'em together, and throw them up on the wires... Have fun walking home in your socks.

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BoondockSaint

04-02-2005, 03:40 PM

Snopes has an article about it. (http://www.snopes.com/crime/gangs/sneakers.htm)

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Death Metal Moe

04-03-2005, 12:47 PM

Glad I wear laceless shoes now.  Just in case this comes back.

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FUNKMAN

04-03-2005, 12:55 PM

<FIELDSET>You see them all the time in Jersey City. </FIELDSET>
i remember them well but never heard of any reason for it... i figured it was just some kids being kids   

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shamus mcfitzy

04-04-2005, 12:09 AM

i always saw this is in Gerritsen Beach Brooklyn and if you've heard of the little neighborhood you'll know it doesn't mean gang activity. I always just thought it was something you did to your old sneakers once they were done. Or the prank thing.

This message was edited by shamus mcfitzy on 4-4-05 @ 5:30 AM

IamFogHat

04-04-2005, 05:23 AM

I thought it meant there was a speed trap coming up.

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hurlmon

04-04-2005, 10:57 AM

These guys makes wooden ones and toss the in cities across the world. They are based in NYC. It's a graffiti art thing. <a href="http://whendogsfly.com/" target="_blank">When Dogs Fly</a> 
 

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mendyweiss

10-15-2006, 05:45 AM

<img src="http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/697576/2/istockphoto_697576_sneakers_on_a_" border="0" />Any one else see this along your travels?What the hell does it mean?

sailor

10-15-2006, 05:50 AM

just means kids are idiots.  i've heard people say it meant someone died and even knew a girl who swore it meant that was a spot to buy drugs "in her neighborhood" but it doesn't have any meaning, as far as i know.

ShelleBink

10-15-2006, 06:31 AM

When i was a kid, it meant "Oh shit, you're in New Brunswick"

DarkHippie

10-15-2006, 07:22 AM

Its a way of marking your teritory, like saying "this is my neighborhood"

SinA

10-15-2006, 07:23 AM

it's a way of letting you know where poor people live

TooCute

10-15-2006, 07:24 AM

I've never seen that. Weird!

Crazy Jen

10-15-2006, 07:39 AM

it means someone just got their shoes and lunchmoney robbed

FUNKMAN

10-15-2006, 07:43 AM

it will soon be christmas

sr71blackbird

10-15-2006, 07:50 AM

I use to see this a LOT when we went to visit relatives in Ozone Park<img height="260" src="http://brownstoner.com/brownstoner/archives/15ink.1841.jpg" width="184" border="0" />I suspect it is just a form of vandalism, or was a game some kids would play, seeing if they can get them to hang.  Or, maybe they were taken off some kid someone beat up and they would toss them up thwir as a form of mockery?

ChimneyFish

10-15-2006, 09:44 AM

It means someone got new shoes.<img src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c217/luxa1/188105045_751c1f6590_m.jpg" border="0" />

JimBeam

10-15-2006, 09:46 AM

I saw that a lot in my neighborhood growing up in the Bronx but have no idea what it ever meant.

OGC

10-15-2006, 09:57 AM

SinA wrote: it's a way of letting you know where <strike>poor</strike> stupid people live I fixed that for you.

narc

10-15-2006, 10:13 AM

I always heard that it meant: 1. This is the spot where someone got their ass handed to them. 2. Buy weed here.

Gaia

10-15-2006, 11:16 AM

ve always heard it was at drug spots.

Doctor Z

10-15-2006, 11:22 AM

Someone started a thread exactly like this about 2 years ago, but I can't find it...
It could mean a few things:
1) Drugs are sold in that area.
2) Somebody died there.
3) Somebody got jumped and their shoes were thrown up to the power lines, forcing them to walk home in their socks.

narc

10-15-2006, 11:37 AM

TooCute wrote: I've never seen that. Weird!  Oddly enough, I never saw that until I lived in Providence.

BeerBandit

10-15-2006, 11:43 AM

I thought it meant that these guys were coming to town.<img width="140" height="159" border="0" src="http://content.answers.com/main/content/img/amg/pop_artists/P08314IP83H.JPG" alt="Nu Shooz" title="Nu Shooz" />

badmonkey

10-15-2006, 06:10 PM

FUNKMAN

10-15-2006, 06:10 PM

welfare checks just came in

tbonesteak

10-16-2006, 02:28 PM

This is very strange.  I haven't seen sneakers hanging from power lines since the early 90s...Until yesterday, I was driving through Sunset Park and I saw 4 or 5 pairs hanging over a street corner on 3rd Avenue.  It brought me right back...

FUNKMAN

10-16-2006, 02:53 PM

<table border="1"><tr><td>The Big Comfy Couch - Liar Liar I shake my bones and I shack them well When I lie you know you can tell Chorus: Liar Liar pants on fire hanging from a telephone wire Sqerming Sqerming pants are burning When I lie my hips start turning. When I wiggle up and I wiggle down see me twitch because I 'm a fibbing clown Chorus: Liar LIar pants on fire hanging from a telephone wire Sqerming Sqerming pants are burning when I lie my hips start turning. Sqerm Sqerm Sqerm...... Sqerm Sqerm Sqerm....... Chorus: Liar Liar pants on fire hanging from a telephone wire sqerming sqerming pants are burning when I lie my hips start turning Liar Liar pants on fiar. </td></tr></table>

A.J.

10-17-2006, 04:33 AM

The residents are filthy slobs who trash their neighborhood?

Earlshog

10-17-2006, 05:24 AM

the first rule of throwing your shoes up in the powerlines is you don't talk about why you throw your shoes up in the powerlines

bobrobot

10-17-2006, 05:41 AM

I always thought the shoes got snagged when the victims were "beamed up" during abduction by aliens...<img height="180" src="http://www.olgahorvat.com/Flying%20Saucer.JPG" width="320" border="0" />

grlNIN

10-17-2006, 05:41 AM

I've heard the drug spot thing but i've seen it in upper middle class suburbs too so i'm not sure it exactly applies, or maybe it does. Who knows.

AngelAmy

10-17-2006, 06:01 AM

ShelleBink wrote: When i was a kid, it meant "Oh shit, you're in New Brunswick" or Elizabeth:shudders:

Fezticle98

10-17-2006, 06:21 AM

Even Snopes doesn't have the answer <a href="http://www.snopes.com/crime/gangs/sneakers.htm">http://www.snopes.com/crime/gangs/sneakers.htm</a>My favorite of their possibe explanations:1) The shoes increase wire visibility for low-flying aircraft.2) Graduating seniors mark this transition in their lives by leaving something of themselves behind; namely, their shoes.Sure they graduated. And even if they did, they're not going anywhere.There is a bad Lidle joke to be had on the first one, but tact and timing prevent it.

Wrecked

10-17-2006, 11:17 AM

on an army base it means you got out...but you use your boots.

FUNKMAN

10-17-2006, 11:40 AM

in Jersey City the people were still in them...   dead

reillyluck

10-23-2006, 11:19 AM

FUNKMAN wrote: in Jersey City the people were still in them...   dead up by communipaw right? lol

hurlmon

10-23-2006, 11:33 AM

These guys have made it into a form of street art...<a href="http://whendogsfly.com/" target="_self">http://whendogsfly.com/</a>They have pairs around the world.

FUNKMAN

10-23-2006, 12:15 PM

reillyluck wrote: FUNKMAN wrote: in Jersey City the people were still in them...   dead up by communipaw right? lolyeah and the duncan projects, curry woods...edit: and them bodies are still holding the car radios they just stole    <img src="http://www.ronfez.net/messageboard/tiny_mce/plugins/emotions/images/tongue.gif" border="0" />

This message was edited by FUNKMAN on 10-23-06 @ 4:16 PM

reillyluck

10-23-2006, 12:20 PM

FUNKMAN wrote: reillyluck wrote: FUNKMAN wrote: in Jersey City the people were still in them...   dead up by communipaw right? lolyeah and the duncan projects, curry woods...edit: and them bodies are still holding the car radios they just stole    <img src="http://www.ronfez.net/messageboard/tiny_mce/plugins/emotions/images/tongue.gif" border="0" />This message was edited by FUNKMAN on 10-23-06 @ 4:16 PM ahhhh i can the gunshots like it was yesterdayhttp://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e110/dazappa/duncan9fd.jpg

drusilla

10-23-2006, 12:31 PM

my mom grew up in the bronx in the 40's  & 50's.  she said that when a kid would get jumped the bullies would steal their sneakers & throw them up on the telepone wires to make the kid walk home barefoot.  i wanna know what's the deal with the cardboard sneakers that i've seen around a few times.  there's a pair hanging a few blocks from my house.  that mystifies me.

hurlmon

10-23-2006, 12:56 PM

drusilla wrote: i wanna know what's the deal with the cardboard sneakers that i've seen around a few times.  there's a pair hanging a few blocks from my house.  that mystifies me.   Check the link I posted.  It may be what you are seeing.  They're are wood.

drusilla

10-23-2006, 04:06 PM

that could be it.  doesnt look as decorative as those, but its pretty close.  i'll have to check them if they are still up there.

narc

10-23-2006, 04:11 PM

<a href="http://www.weirdnj.com/stories/_roadside08.asp" target="_self">Nothing's as cool as Shirtwood Forest. </a>

pete_in_NJ

10-26-2006, 05:01 PM

Kennedy Boulevard always reminded me of the Mason Dixon line. FUNKMAN wrote: reillyluck wrote: FUNKMAN wrote: in Jersey City the people were still in them... dead up by communipaw right? lol yeah and the duncan projects, curry woods...edit: and them bodies are still holding the car radios they just stole <img border="0" src="http://www.ronfez.net/messageboard/tiny_mce/plugins/emotions/images/tongue.gif" />

This message was edited by pete_in_NJ on 10-26-06 @ 9:05 PM