Ever wonder why children have this instinctual, magnetized, nearly obsessive-compulsive attraction for reaching up into vending machines? It's like after looking upon the rows of sweet and savory paradise, encased in glass, waiting to be devoured, merely a fingertip away, a child becomes hypnotized.
But, more than likely at one time or another, we've all thought about sticking a hand into receiving end of a vending machine, just to see if our hand can grasp a sweet taste of pre-packaged snack victory.
If you've ever tried to reach and run on a vending machine, chances are, you've heard the warning that this dangerously risky maneuver could end horribly, citing the urban legend about the kid who got his arm stuck inside and they had to cut it off to free him.
Well, apparently, this 4-year-old Australian boy never heard nothin' 'bout no warning and learned real quick that vending machines do not play.
It all started when 4-year-old Leo Shorthouse, from the rural northern region of Arnhem Land in Australia (which is very large but minimally populated), laid his eyes on the splendor of a vending machine in the lobby of his hotel, while vacationing with his family in Melbourne, Australia.
Leo had never seen a vending machine before, according to his father, Aaron Shorthouse. And sadly, an innocent grab at some cookies turned into a pretty nightmarish, several-hour ordeal, which required the assistance of power tools to remove little Leo's arm from the machine.
Hold up.
The FIRST vending machine he'd EVER seen? So, not only did this kid prove that your arm can actually get stuck in a vending machine — but also — children actually might have an obsessive-compulsive attraction to reaching up into vending machines!
Talk about batting .1000!
To Leo's credit, however, this vending machine was apparently equipped with an anti-theft device, which is a real thing now, because of the 2008 recession.
So, what did we learn? If anything, thanks to little Leo from Australia and the economic collapse of 2008, there's actually a reason to keep your hand out of the vending machine, unless you're literally ready to pay the price.
