A Kanas Dilemna

[S-Des]

A Kansas Dilemna

I'm doubting the validity of this, but had to pass it along anyway.

A Kansas farm wife called the local phone company to report her telephone failed to ring when her friends called, and that on the few occasions when it did ring, her dog always moaned right before she heard it.

The telephone repairman proceeded to the scene, curious to see this psychic dog or senile lady.

He climbed a telephone pole, hooked in his test set, and dialed the subscriber's house. The phone didn't ring right away, but he heard the dog moan, then it finally rang.

Climbing down from the pole, the repairman found:

1. The dog was tied to the telephone system's ground wire with a steel chain and collar.
2. The wire connection to the ground rod was loose.
3. The dog was receiving 90 volts of signaling current when the number was called.
4. After a couple of jolts, the dog would start moaning and then urinate.
5. The wet ground would complete the circuit, thus causing the phone to ring.

Which demonstrates that some problems can be fixed by pissing and moaning.

 

[Stella_Omega]

I'm really sorry I read this.

 

[Salvor-Hardon]

I'm no lineman but I'm pretty sure telephones to the house only run 12 volts, and I know its under 5 inside.

Someone hit snopes yet?

ETA: My bad... phones are 48 volts, ethernet is 5 volts.

still sounds dubious though.

 

[S-Des]

I'm no lineman but I'm pretty sure telephones to the house only run 12 volts, and I know its under 5 inside.

Someone hit snopes yet?

ETA: My bad... phones are 48 volts, ethernet is 5 volts.

still sounds dubious though.

If I really believed it was real, it would have been too sad to post. It's an interesting theory (this coming from someone who's been electrocuted more times than I care to remember ), but I'm pretty sure it's just an elaborate way to make a punchline. I doubt it would carry enough current to do more than annoy you, but when I read it I had visions of Down Periscope with the sonar operator sticking his toe in a electric socket to make a radio transmission.

 

[unpredictablebijou]

That's KANSAS. Two S's.

And I find it amusing, and a little saddening, that the state in which this occurred is important. Had it happened in, say, Massachusetts or Washington, would the state have been mentioned? Less likely, I'm thinkin'.

just a thought.

I sure hope it's fictional, but I just want to point out that there are stupid people in every state in the union. The Heartland and the Southern states tend to get a lot of bias for that, but our percentages aren't any higher.

But y'all c'n think that if'n ya wanna. Ahuh.

*hooks thumbs around dinner-plate-sized NASCAR belt buckle...*

 

[S-Des]

That's KANSAS. Two S's.

And I find it amusing, and a little saddening, that the state in which this occurred is important. Had it happened in, say, Massachusetts or Washington, would the state have been mentioned? Less likely, I'm thinkin'.

just a thought.

I sure hope it's fictional, but I just want to point out that there are stupid people in every state in the union. The Heartland and the Southern states tend to get a lot of bias for that, but our percentages aren't any higher.

But y'all c'n think that if'n ya wanna. Ahuh.

*hooks thumbs around dinner-plate-sized NASCAR belt buckle...*

hehe, I really need coffee before I post. I just copied the email I got, I'm not sure why they chose Kansas (unless there's some element of truth in it). I wouldn't be that shocked that someone would chain a dog to a wire that they didn't assume was hot, sounds like something my relatives might do.

 

[slyc_willie]

If I really believed it was real, it would have been too sad to post. It's an interesting theory (this coming from someone who's been electrocuted more times than I care to remember ), but I'm pretty sure it's just an elaborate way to make a punchline. I doubt it would carry enough current to do more than annoy you, but when I read it I had visions of Down Periscope with the sonar operator sticking his toe in a electric socket to make a radio transmission.

Given all the variables, I would be willing to accept that this story *might* be true. As Bijou suggested, there are an awful lot of people who seem to have been subjected to the 'dumbing down' of America in the South and SW. And where better to begin a new urban myth?

 

[S-Des]

Given all the variables, I would be willing to accept that this story *might* be true. As Bijou suggested, there are an awful lot of people who seem to have been subjected to the 'dumbing down' of America in the South and SW. And where better to begin a new urban myth?

Hey big guy, how've you been? Kiten and I were just talking about you last night. If it's fictional, I'm guessing they picked Kansas (or as I'd spell it, Kanas ) because it's considered "small town". If I was starting an urban legend, I'd pick Missouri. No offense to anyone from there, but if you met my family, you'd undertand.

 

[slyc_willie]

Hey big guy, how've you been? Kiten and I were just talking about you last night. If it's fictional, I'm guessing they picked Kansas (or as I'd spell it, Kanas ) because it's considered "small town". If I was starting an urban legend, I'd pick Missouri. No offense to anyone from there, but if you met my family, you'd undertand.

Lol, pick Texas . . . whole lot of dumbasses around ehre who would put stock in a story like that.

I'm good. Just been busy. Hate writing on deadlines.

 

[unpredictablebijou]

hehe, I really need coffee before I post. I just copied the email I got, I'm not sure why they chose Kansas (unless there's some element of truth in it). I wouldn't be that shocked that someone would chain a dog to a wire that they didn't assume was hot, sounds like something my relatives might do.

I guess if you've got relatives in MO then you're at least not one o' them coastal urban snobs...

no offense taken, dearie. I just like to make that particular point when it comes up. Many Southerners do so as well, I think, with good reason.

I'm really hoping this story will be what they call an "urban myth"...

 

[ninefe2dg]

I've heard this story before, which suggests to me it might be urban legend.

It wasn't Michael Vick's place was it...he lives in Virginia so I suppose not...

 

[S-Des]

I guess if you've got relatives in MO then you're at least not one o' them coastal urban snobs...

no offense taken, dearie. I just like to make that particular point when it comes up. Many Southerners do so as well, I think, with good reason.

I'm really hoping this story will be what they call an "urban myth"...

I was born and raised in Chicago, but my family (my Dad's side) hails from down there. I love them, but they're what you'd call "earthy" people. Chaining a dog to whatever was handy sounds exactly like something they'd do (I'm sure they'd touch it first to make sure it wasn't live). I try to be careful about locales, it's easy to offend someone unintentionally.

 

[Lisa Denton]

I was born and raised in Chicago, but my family (my Dad's side) hails from down there. I love them, but they're what you'd call "earthy" people. Chaining a dog to whatever was handy sounds exactly like something they'd do (I'm sure they'd touch it first to make sure it wasn't live). I try to be careful about locales, it's easy to offend someone unintentionally.

"I'm sure they'd touch it first to make sure it wasn't live"

Yes, but if it shocked them would they have the technical know-how to try to make a phone call while peeing on the ground?

It sounds to me like the dog was an electrical genuis, completing the circuit with makeshift means to a successful conclusion.

JMO

 

[joeys-game]

I guess if you've got relatives in MO then you're at least not one o' them coastal urban snobs...

no offense taken, dearie. I just like to make that particular point when it comes up. Many Southerners do so as well, I think, with good reason.

I'm really hoping this story will be what they call an "urban myth"...

'Coastal urban snobs'?????now whose generalizing..damn it..?
I s that what I am?

That story could have been strted right here, just south of the border in Blaine, Washington..lots of um believers and a mile of storytellers round these here parts...ayup

 

[S-Des]

Yes, but if it shocked them would they have the technical know-how to try to make a phone call while peeing on the ground?

ROTFLMAO . . . Thanks Lisa, I needed that.

 

[drksideofthemoon]

I've seen this same story attributed to a few states, SC, KS, WV, GA...which leads me to believe its not true.

It would be interesting to know if this was a party line. That's about the only time the ground would be used in conjunction with ringing. Parties 1 and 3 use tip to ground, and parties 2 and 4 use ring to ground for the bell circuit.

All other phone lines, (with the exception of ground start pbx lines) only use the ground for lightning protection.

In order for this tale to be even somewhat true, the phone line would have to be grounded on either the tip or the ring side, which would cause a gawd awful hum. And not to mention that the ground would have to be absolutely saturated for the dog to be able to complete the circuit to ground.

I've had my fingers across a pair when the 90vac 20hz ringing voltage has appeared and it smarts. I sorta doubt the dog would just lay there and moan, more likely he would jump up and yelp.

So, I think the story is just an urban legend.