Rules Darwin Awards

1 rules

1.1 inability reproduce

1.1.1 nominee must dead or rendered sterile


1.2 excellence

1.2.1 astoundingly stupid judgment


1.3 self-selection

1.3.1 cause of 1 s own demise


1.4 maturity

1.4.1 capable of sound judgment


1.5 veracity

1.5.1 event must verified

rules

northcutt has stated 5 requirements darwin award:

inability reproduce
nominee must dead or rendered sterile

this may subject dispute. potential awardees may out of gene pool because of age; others have reproduced before deaths. avoid debates possibility of in-vitro fertilization, artificial insemination, or cloning, original darwin awards book applied following deserted island test potential winners: if person unable reproduce when stranded on deserted island fertile member of opposite sex, or considered sterile. winners of award, in general, either dead or have become unable use sexual organs.

excellence
astoundingly stupid judgment

the candidate s foolishness must unique , sensational, because award intended funny. number of foolish common activities, such smoking in bed, excluded consideration. in contrast, self-immolation caused smoking after being administered flammable ointment in hospital , told not smoke grounds nomination. 1 honorable mention (a man attempted suicide swallowing nitroglycerine pills, , tried detonate them running wall) noted in category, despite being intentional , self-inflicted, disqualify inductee.

self-selection
cause of 1 s own demise

killing friend hand grenade not eligible, killing oneself while manufacturing homemade chimney-cleaning device grenade eligible. earn darwin award, 1 must have killed oneself, or rendered oneself sterile; merely causing death third party insufficient.

maturity
capable of sound judgment

the nominee must @ least past legal driving age , free of mental defect (northcutt considers injury or death caused mental defect tragic, rather amusing, , routinely disqualifies such entries). after discussion, small category regarding deaths below age limit exists. entry category requires peers of candidate of opinion actions of person in question above , beyond limits of reason.

however, in 2011, awards targeted 16-year-old boy in leeds died stealing copper wiring (the standard minimum driving age in great britain being 17). in 2012, northcutt made similar light of 14-year-old girl in brazil killed while leaning out of school bus window; disqualified award because of public objection due girl s age, northcutt asserts based on magical thinking .

veracity
event must verified

the story must documented reliable sources: e.g., reputable newspaper articles, confirmed television reports, or responsible eyewitnesses. if story found untrue, disqualified, particularly amusing ones placed in urban legend section of archives. despite requirement, many of stories fictional, appearing original submissions , presenting no further sources unverified (and unreliable) eyewitnesses . such stories on northcutt s darwin awards site filed in personal accounts section.

in addition, later revisions qualification criteria add several requirements have not been made formalized rules : innocent bystanders cannot in danger, , qualifying event must caused without deliberate intent (to prevent glory-seekers purposely injuring solely win darwin).