History Website / DarwinAwards

The [[http://www.darwinawards.com/ Darwin Awards]] are a collection of stories of those that have given the best their DNA can offer to the gene pool. That is, they removed their DNA from the gene pool through actions (of their own devising) with such stupidity that the fact they can no longer breed is worth an award. It is worth noting that, although most of the winners remove themselves from the gene pool in a fatal manner, there are a precious few who manage to leave the gene pool in a spectacularly stupid manner while still remaining alive ([[GroinAttack albeit... incomplete]]) afterwards.

* BlackComedy, CringeComedy is the reason why these deaths are funny instead of morbid; the people are so stupid they CrossTheLineTwice.

** The books also noted that being drunk when handling a pet snake led to the most Darwin-eqsue reptile accidents...[[{{Irony}} which is ironic]] since once way to make a snake let go of you/back off is to get alcohol in its face.

Although internet based, the Darwin Awards have released books detailing the "winners" of that year.

'''NOTE:''' People who take out innocents in the process of removing themselves from the gene pool are expressly disqualified from Darwin Awards consideration by the website (Though some of the early Darwin Awards did mention the death or injury of bystanders before this rule was added. In addition; if anyone in their right mind would flee the area if they saw what the contender was doing and a bystander stays to watch, then the rule doesn't apply, and the bystander can also get nominated). People with mental disorders are also disqualified. Youths under the age of 16 are generally disqualified unless a majority of the youth's peers agree the action taken by the nominee was incredibly stupid.

** A well-known Personal Account relates the story of a soldier who attempted to cross a field inhabited by bison, and with warning signs on the fences, insisting that the sign must be a joke because, "Real, live buffalo don't exist!" He survived to learn that he was wrong, but still fell under the category of Honerable Mention in light of his injuries.

* AllAnimalsAreDogs: People being stupid enough to take this trope to heart are common nominees. Special mention goes to the two guys who jumped into a ''tiger'' enclosure, threw flowers on the tiger, and were somehow surprised when the tiger promptly mauled them.

[[caption-width-right:345:Even [[WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes Wile E. Coyote]] wouldn't do that. [[note]] He would cut from the other end. The branch would then stay and the tree would plummet. [[note]]Wasn't that Ralph Wolf?[[/note]][[/note]]]]

[[caption-width-right:345:Even [[WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes Wile E. Coyote]] wouldn't do that. [[note]] He would cut from the other end. The branch would then stay and the tree would plummet.[[/note]]]]

* TreeBuchet: According to an UrbanLegend, a heavy storm caused a tree to get bent over and wedged under the eaves of a house. The homeowner climbed up the tree to saw the top of tree off to free it from the eaves. Once he cut through, the tree sprung back, catapulting the owner to his death.

%%* NailEm

* ForgotICouldntSwim: [[http://darwinawards.com/darwin/darwin2002-19.html this guy]] who chose to dive a lake, without a life jacket, and without having safety ropes available aboard his boat.

%%* KarmicDeath

%%* WilliamTelling

Finally, there was actually a film (''The Darwin Awards'') based off of some of the stories from this site. A few of the stories were also tested by the {{Mythbusters}} (who, incidentally enough, made cameo appearances in the movie).

[[caption-width-right:345:Even [[WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes Wile E. Coyote]] wouldn't do that. [[note]] No, he would cut from the other end, then the branch would stay and the tree would plummet.[[/note]]]]

-->--James Nicoll

* OutWithABang[=/=]DeathBySex: Considered textbook examples since the victims are stopped from procreating while making the attempt.

'''NOTE:''' People who take out innocents in the process of removing themselves from the gene pool are expressly disqualified from Darwin Awards consideration by the website (Though some of the early Darwin Awards did mention the death or injury of bystanders before this rule was added. If anyone in their right mind would flee the area if they saw what the contender was doing and a bystander stays to watch, then the rule doesn't apply, and the bystander can also get nominated). People with mental disorders are also disqualified. Youths under the age of 16 are generally disqualified unless a majority of the youth's peers agree the action taken by the nominee was incredibly stupid.

* DontTryThisAtHome: Many Darwin Award winners have died attempting to re-enact things they saw on TV.

See also [[OneThousandWaysToDie 1000 Ways To Die]], which is based on a similar premise (the major difference is that 1000 Ways To Die doesn't really care about the death being due to stupidity [[CruelAndUnusualDeath if it's spectacular enough]].)

* BallisticDiscount: Subverted. The [[SarcasmMode genius]] who decided to rob a gun store fails ''miserably''. The story was good enough that it also wound up on [[OneThousandWaysToDie 1000 Ways To Die]]. Turns out it was [[http://www.snopes.com/crime/dumdum/gunshop.asp embellished]], but not by much.

[[caption-width-right:345:Even [[WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes Wile E. Coyote]] wouldn't do that. [[hottip:*: No, he would cut from the other end, then the branch would stay and the tree would plummet.]]]]

* Darwin Award winners: Those killed or unable to reproduce [[hottip:* :Also occasionally includes people who are in jail for life or other long settings for similar reasons]]. Further being classed as;

** And none of those winners [[ThinkOfTheChildren were]] [[AvertedTrope under 18]].
*** But that's because Award's rules disqualify anyone under 18.