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Selectrocution: Why Lightning Strikes Certain People
Lightning seems to choose certain people and structures. This is perhaps, one of the worst examples of Ugly Chance. Gain more insights about the weird behavior of lightning, and also enjoy some stunning lightning photography.
“Selectrocution”, I’m sure you’ve never heard the term. You’re right, it’s not in the Merriam Webster dictionary because it’s a coined word (randomly made up by the author of this article). It is a combination of the words “selection” and “electrocution”. The idea behind selectrocution is this: out of all people in the world, someone gets “lucky” and becomes hit by lightning. Therefore, we can give selectrocution a rough definition: It is the instance or event in which nature randomly selects a person to be the recipient of a lightning strike.
This bizarre phenomenon gives birth to many questions. What are the factors that contribute to selectrocution? Does this mean that a selectrocuted person is the most wicked person on planet earth? Is this phenomenon a product of chance, or did specific natural forces pave the way for it to happen?
According to research, the probability of a person to be hit by a lightning is 1 out of 600,000. This might sound like selectrocution is very rare, but experts said that about 500 to 1,000 people per year are injured or killed by lightning strikes. What’s even more interesting is that lightning seems to be selective of gender. According to a recent lightning hit survey in Florida (the most lightning stricken state in the world), 87% of the persons struck by lightning are males. However, only 34% of the males actually died, but 44% of the females were killed.
Another selectrocution fact: Lightning hits OAK TREES more than any other species and structures on earth.
In short, we need to answer the question presented in the title of this article: Why does lightning strike certain people? Why does Selectrocution really happen?
The answer is, we may never truly know for sure. Experts have pointed out various causes, such as high electron levels in the body and the hair of the victim (which has not been proven). Others blame it on poor walking habits, such as frequently walking in a huge empty field all by one’s self. When someone is alone walking on an empty field, that person is more likely to be hit by lightning. Others meanwhile, blame selectrocution on pure Ugly Chance. On the lighter side, if you ask Fox Mulder and Dana Scully (from the X-Files TV series), I’m sure they will think that selectrocution is a byproduct of an alien invasion.
Our conclusion is this: Lightning is absolutely selectrocutive, so don’t fight it. Get out of harm’s way by staying at home during a thunderstorm.
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19 Comments
very interesting article
Some suggestions…
Men are generally larger than women, so there is more juicy human mass to absorb electricity, so a more likely target. This however means they can take more and so would be less likely to die.
A person’s lifestyle may lead to them being more or less conductive. You’d have to work out the most conductive out of fat or muscle to work it out. But a person with a hangover might be less likely to get struck as they’re dehydrated, and so less conductive.
What’s interesting is the number of stories of people hit more than once, considering the rarity of being hit at all.
I hope I never get selectrocuted.
Very interesting article. It’s a dreadful thing to be struck by lightning.
I love your sense of humour!
my neighbour had 4 cows killed by lightening..they were selectrocuted.
“Selectrocution” is a very cool word!
Cool article.
Indicative of the great creativity and sense of humor of the author.
cool stuff, something to ponder….interesting…
It´s just a matter,to be in the wright place at the right time,and you may win the biggest prize or a lightning.
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Interesting piece Verniel. Lightening is a living thing and can be quite dangerous if you are exposed to it in the right setting.
Great piece Verniel. Spectacular pics also.
You have good advise for everyone caught in a thunderstorm. Take shelter as soom as possible, and don’t stand under a tree. Stay in the car if that’s all that’s available. If you cant get inside squat down as low as you can and make as little contact with the ground as possible. Best wishes to you. Ruby
Very intresting! Haha this is really something to think about I’ve always been jittery when caught in a storm…
“but 44% of the females were killed.” Well. I guess that doesn’t help my fear
A very interesting article. It gave me an idea of some of the behavior of lightning. Good Job.
God Bless!
males are more likely to walk alone out in a field
I have been nearly hit by lightning a few times… had it strike a fence about 30-feet behind me after I had just crossed it…
-thestickman