Stupid People Tricks

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Aluminum Ring-a-ding-ding

The pull tabs from beverage cans have long been rumored to be collected for medical treatment or even some types of medical hardware. This belief has gained such currency that several people/organizations have begun collecting them for their scrap value. A self-fufilling UL.

Debunked: Aluminum ring pull tabs are collected & exchanged for dialysis machine time. ["Redemption Rumors" in TMP]

Copycat: ...Some places or people (e.g., The Ronald McDonald House in Rochester, MN) do collect tabs for their scrap value and raise $$ for various causes.

Unknown: There are two Canadians who collect them for wheelchairs. See Fred Ennis's article.

References:

• Classic UL: Pull Tabs
• Ottawa Sun: Canadian Wheelchair collectors
• Article promotes pull-tab 'hoax'
• National Kidney Foundation on tabs