r/KidsAreFuckingStupid • u/biasedToWardsFacts • 7d ago

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364

u/AmnesiA_sc 7d ago

over 30 years ago I heard a story (no idea if it's true or not) about a guy who just let the tape measure reel itself back in and it spun around and sliced through his finger to the bone like a paper cut.

I've been so paranoid around those things ever since hearing that. This video made me uncomfortable. Great impression though.

163

u/AdDisastrous6738 7d ago

When I was little, probably around 5-ish, a friend and I were playing with a tape measure we found. He took off running while I held the end to see how far it would reach. He hit the end and the tape slid right down my thumb leaving a deep gash. You can still kind of see the scar it left.

52

u/christpeepin 7d ago

Basically the same thing happened to me at 4 or 5. 0-10 do not recommend and still have PTSD.

41

u/FesteringNeonDistrac 7d ago

I've sliced myself on them before. Not that bad, but I can believe it. They can be kind of dangerous in a few ways

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u/roadrunnuh 7d ago edited 6d ago

You should always be careful with stuff that has loaded springs in it even if they are ubiquitous and seemingly harmless.

21

u/Eliah870 7d ago

It's definitely possible, especially with the speed at which they can retract and how thin the metal is. Best to be cautious when retracting them

10

u/QuiveryNut 7d ago

I mean, a multi-foot razor slicing through your finger is sure to do some damage if there’s enough pressure or you don’t pull away. Plausible for sure

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u/Rottendog 7d ago

I've not done it with a tape measure, but I've cut myself to the bone with a 5 gallon bucket lid and another time cut myself to the muscle with a card board box that was sliced open with a razor, so the box edge was sharp.

So I can easily see how a tape measure could slice the shit out of you.

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u/HowIsThatMyProblem 7d ago

My sister and I once fought over a tape measure as kids. She let go and it really did slice through like half my finger. Fun time explaining this at the hospital.

3

u/Moist_Transition325 6d ago

Two plumbing apprentices were screwing around with a tape measure. One tried to rip it out of the others hands by the tape part and sliced up all of his fingers very badly

3

u/Average-Anything-657 5d ago

My baby brother did something similar by just dragging it out as far as he could with his ~2ft body, stretching out from fingertips to toes.

He ended up slashing his cheek, chest, leg, and... the "locomotive interdigial webbing" between his big and index (?) toe. The stains were still there in the carpet when we moved out nearly a decade later, and now my feet feel uncomfortable.

2

u/AmnesiA_sc 4d ago

Good lord that's gruesome. Glad I wasn't told that story as a child or I'd never go near the mutilation traps. Reading the replies to my comment have not helped me lol.

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u/DaveTheDolphin 6d ago

I own this exact tape measure and I can attest to that these fuckers are sharp as hell

I had extended out just 6 feet and let it reel in and accidentally cut the curved area between my pinkie skin and finger nail and the wound didn’t fully seal till like a day or two later

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u/Disig 6d ago

I actually did get a severe cut from doing exactly that as a kid. Needed stitches and everything. But it wasn't to the bone luckily.

1

u/Noodlescissors 5d ago

Hey I’ve heard that story. I’m scared of tape measures, whenever I retract them it’s always so cautious

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u/Darkmoonlily78 4d ago

When I was young, stupid me grabbed a tape measurer as it was winding back up and it did slice me right between my thumb and index finger. 40 years later, I'm still very cautious about using one.