unforum

[janemcg]

real-life UK shoe mystery

[krystyn]

Perhaps they know that in the future, their grandchildren will have need of good, solid footwear, burnished and weathered by the sun and the elements, and so they are preparing the drop spots for ...

OK, OK, I got nothin'!

[newzgrl]

That is very very strange. Well, at least I learned what "fly-tipping" is...

[janemcg]

is there a memorial on site?

[Nik_Doof]

Heh, its Sarah Covington and Co from Perplex City

[vpisteve]

Krystyn was almost right. They're from the future, and have deposited shoes at locations where they, as children in need of shoes, would find them.

Along with a book of Sports Records.

/me waits to get AIMed by HezekiahShoeDepositor

[Duckie]

It reminds me a bit of an old story, but in reverse. You know, the one where the elves would come at night and make shoes for the old couple? And they were awesome shoes so the elves saved the elderly couple?

Maybe the elderly couple got a few too many shoes after retirement... you gotta put them somewhere.

But then the rollerblades... not typical ware in a shoestore? that has me confuzzled.

Plus, I didn't think elves could cobble rollerblades.

[addlepated]

I've heard of cow tipping, but never fly tipping. Wonder what the etymology of that is.

Speaking of etymology, the word "sabotage" came from "savate", which meant "old shoe" in French once upon a time. The legend (which was proven false) was that disgruntled workers would throw old shoes in machinery to clog it up.

Throwing an old shoe after someone is supposed to bring them luck, hence why newlyweds tie shoes to their bumpers.

Whacking something with the sole of your shoe is considered the ultimate insult in Middle Eastern countries (hence why you would see poeple pounding paintings of Saddam with their shoes).

You can trap a Leprechain by putting out an old shoe and some coins near a hedgerow. He will be attracted by the coins, then distracted by the shoe, looking it over to see how it needs to be repaired. Leprechauns are cobblers.

[Muffin]

I always thought it was called 'fly tipping' because it was done 'on the fly', as it were, implying dump and run.

To give fly-tipping slightly more context, this would be done by the side of a road, or in a ditch, by people who can't be bothered to take it to the local dump, or wan't to avoid any fee from legally dumping.

But shoes - very bizarre! Will investigate...

[bill]

Here's a totally made up explanation.. What better way to attract flies than to leave garbage laying about. Sort of a tip for the little beasties.

[Pixiestix]

It made me think of the movie "Big Fish"... for those who haven't seen it, i won't spoil it.

[LordKinbote]

The poor couple's being haunted by lost soles!

[PokeKiller]

[jchillerup]

Back to topic.
I read about this in a newspaper a couple of days ago. A Danish comedian writes the back side of a free newspaper available from all stations. But he had experienced just the same! In Denmark.

Just FYI.