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Lichtenberg Figures: Formed when a person is hit by a lightning (imgur.com)

submitted ago by rita_pu

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[–]Billy_Shatner 37 points38 points ago

"Nice tattoo. Where'd you get it?"

"Zeus."

[–]miazda 104 points105 points ago

Wow. I don't want to get struck by lightning, but that looks awesome.

[–]gguerind 22 points23 points ago

Unfortunately that last only a few days

[–]anttyk47 76 points77 points ago

Should tattoo over it.

[–]AngriestCosmonaut 31 points32 points ago

How fucking bad would that hurt?

[–]anttyk47 22 points23 points ago

http://www.quickmeme.com/meme/3rkm7d/

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points ago

/r/le_advice_ffuuuu

[–]Awesomebox5000 16 points17 points ago

Trace in sharpie, wait for it to heal, THEN tattoo over it

[–]DoneRedditAlready 4 points5 points ago

nat tats, tats made by nature!

[–]sericeousburden 9 points10 points ago

There's got to be a way to use electricity in a controlled way to permanently brand skin in a specific area to make the pattern - though somewhat random and probably horribly painful - permanent.

Looks like I have a new project.

[–]LettersFromTheSky 5 points6 points ago

That would be the only tattoo I would get.

[–]slackerthereal 5 points6 points ago

Never heard someone with a tattoo say they were going to stop anytime soon.

[–]Nazoropaz 4 points5 points ago

right after you get hit by lightening, skip the hospital and get a tattoo artists to trace over it with similar ink.

[–]DeLaNope 0 points1 point ago

I've only cared for 2 lightning victims. (Copper theft electrocutions much more common here, ugh) but I haven't seen this pattern either time. I wonder what has to happen for the figure to appear.

[–]Choochums 9 points10 points ago

Oh hey ladies, my awesome looking scar you ask? It's nothing really, I just got struck by lightning and lived.

[–]ajkkjjk52 56 points57 points ago

This is hardly WTF. It made more sense in /r/pics each of the times it was posted there.

title comnts points age /r/
This is not a tattoo, it is a lightning scar - also called a Lichtenberg figure 251coms 664pts 1mo pics
This man was struck by lightening and the scar is amazing, albeit tragic. Known as a Lichtenberg scar. 7coms 28pts 1mo pics
This man was struck by lightening and the scar is amazing, albeit tragic. Known as a Lichtenberg scar. 2325coms 2339pts 8mos pics
Lichtenberg scar 8coms 33pts 3mos pics

source: karmadecay

[–]Mythyx 17 points18 points ago

You know that is great that you can go out and find the various times it has been posted. I have never seen it before today and I learned something. So STFU

[–]Scottyboy808 8 points9 points ago

Hes saying it should be in /r/pics not r/wtf. This is obviuosly not /r/wtf material.

[–]latherus 9 points10 points ago

I too felt this way but after the 4th+ time it does get old.

[–]WeWillRiseAgainst 23 points24 points ago

Maybe you should be on TIL

[–]slabolis 7 points8 points ago

Ha.

[–]notromanbellic 11 points12 points ago

Don't be hostile, this pic has been up more times than that. I remember it being posted under a title something like, the most badass scar, or similar. It's a highly recycled pic.

[–]Scarynig 3 points4 points ago

That still doesn't mean we have to whine when it's reposted. Whining about reposts is in the god damn reddiquette and yet people do it hundreds of times a day and everybody loves them for being so experienced at seeing every internet picture ever posted. As soon as you make a post saying "upvote for you!" though, someone jumps down your throat about reddiquette. Makes lots of sense, really.

[–]notromanbellic 7 points8 points ago

I'd be just as happy if people down voted and hid posts. I was mostly upset about the stfu part.

[–]LadyAbomb 1 point2 points ago

Wtf is reddiquette? Pssshhhh

[–]Mythyx -1 points0 points ago

So what! Millions surf reddit and just because something is a repost does not mean that it is not worthy. Edit: Why didn't commenter just go and downvote instead of wasting his time and reddits server space looking up useless information

[–]Noodle_Monster 20 points21 points ago

Repost number 10 fucking bazillion.

[–]Atticuspaw 6 points7 points ago

Can you provide verification that backs that up?

[–]rita_pu[S] 9 points10 points ago

Sure, I was just studying that for a forensics class, but give me a minute, I'll try to find a reliable source online to post it here.

edit:

somewhat reliable wiki

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lichtenberg_figure

New England Journal of Medicine on Lichtenberg Figures

http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMicm1106008

[–]Atticuspaw 7 points8 points ago

Oh wow! That's really cool. I honestly didn't believe it at first. This guy must have looked amazing: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Sullivan

[–]RearNakedChoker 14 points15 points ago

Greg Giraldo had a good bit about Sullivan, he's talking about him surviving 7 lightning strikes and eventually killing himself over a woman. He said, "God couldn't kill this guy. So God said, send in the experts."

[–]Grimz1 2 points3 points ago

God Damn I miss Greg Giraldo.

[–]RearNakedChoker 0 points1 point ago

Yeah, listening to some of his stuff tonight. The tragedy is, you could tell by a lot of his material that he was unhappy and using a lot, but the bits were so funny we couldn't really see it coming until after-the-fact.

At least he's at peace now. (Unless he's been reincarnated. Then, who knows?)

[–]choose282 5 points6 points ago

Roy.

Fucking.

Sullivan.

[–]nillotampoco 0 points1 point ago

Poor Roy! "He died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the age of 71 over an unrequited love." The lightning never could kill him, it was love that finally did. :(

[–]alexx508 0 points1 point ago

Bad luck Roy Sullivan?

[–]thehoneytree 2 points3 points ago

Love these. Suck how you get them, but they still look cool.

[–]Headphone_Actress 2 points3 points ago

I'd run to a parlor and get that tattooed.

[–][deleted] 3 points4 points ago

Is it wrong that I think it's really pretty? ._.

[–]TuhHahMiss 1 point2 points ago

it totally is. i thought it was a henna tattoo at first.

[–]MetalKitty 0 points1 point ago

Re-post.

[–]gsettle 0 points1 point ago

And there's an equally impressive "figure" in his underwear no doubt!

[–]TuhHahMiss 1 point2 points ago

I'm not sure whether you're referring to a penis or him shitting his pants after getting struck by lightning.. Either way, its a little odd that your mind went this way. Oh well, cheers!

[–]Ultrastuby 0 points1 point ago

Ummm yah without the pain and chance of death, I WANT ONE!

[–]Kilockel 1 point2 points ago

This would make for a really cool tattoo I think.

[–]HandalfTheGay 0 points1 point ago

It looks like a henna tattoo. Bahaha

[–]fusion_man 1 point2 points ago

worth getting hit.

[–]iggycat 1 point2 points ago

Thank you. It is beautiful. Reminds me of fractals.

[–]ElricG 1 point2 points ago

A whole lightening?

[–]ry4ns18 0 points1 point ago

He did a whole lightening!

[–]Iwassentbylargemarge 1 point2 points ago

Its likr a tattoo for free!

[–]Kilcannon 2 points3 points ago

Except more painful, possibly deadly, and it goes away after a few hours or days.

[–]avizzlen1nj4 1 point2 points ago

That's crazy. It's kinda cool looking. But I would never wis anyone to get hit by lightning..rather it just be tattooed lol

[–]PhotoIsHip 1 point2 points ago

Looks like the tree if a branch to me! Like a weeping willow? Also would look like a cool tattoo, especially in that color.

[–]jackieisreallycool 1 point2 points ago

I actually really love it. I would definitely get a tattoo over it.

[–]btryhard7 1 point2 points ago

do you have any super powers?

[–]robbieh 1 point2 points ago

It's true, look it up

[–]WonderWheeler -1 points0 points ago

Now THAT's a tat.

[–]shagvanman 1 point2 points ago

I bet the guy was shocked when he saw that on his arm

[–]PotatoPotahto 1 point2 points ago

Oh shit woops I must have stumbled into /r/awesome

[–]Ironlily 0 points1 point ago

SO PRETTY. Welp time to stand in the rain with a giant metal pole!

[–]MrJAB97 0 points1 point ago

Real Niggas here

[–]uninc4life2010 0 points1 point ago

Looks like a henna tattoo

[–]ScorpionDerp 1 point2 points ago

Someone got a free badass tattoo.

[–]cindreiaishere 0 points1 point ago

This doesn't really belong here. You answered 'TF' in the title. You shoul crosspost to /r/pics.

[–]ThatOne1Guy 0 points1 point ago

Kinda makes me want to get struck by lightning but actually live and not get burned or anything...Is it permanent?

[–]rita_pu[S] 0 points1 point ago

No, it lasts up to 24 hours. But you can get a tattoo of it maybe?

[–]shbtd 0 points1 point ago

Ooooo they are the chosen ones

[–]mikeack 0 points1 point ago

Yeah, we know.

[–]dbt4949 1 point2 points ago

Would be a cool tattoo.

[–]Falcario 0 points1 point ago

Looks like a type of brown algae called Cystoseira.

[–]superbuttface 0 points1 point ago

that is so pretty

[–]DoneRedditAlready 0 points1 point ago

nat tat, i like it! r/nattats?

[–]nofknwayy 0 points1 point ago

I swear that looks like henna...

[–]Beast_and_the_harlot 0 points1 point ago

I want that tattood on my arm now.

[–]serosis 0 points1 point ago

If that were permanent it would be my only acceptable way of having a tattoo.

[–]beve21 0 points1 point ago

Also known as the Billy Murray scar because NO ONE WILL EVER BELIEVE YOU.

[–]GMonkey123 0 points1 point ago

hit by a lightning

..A lightning

Alright... i'm done here!

[–]Sadiepaws 0 points1 point ago

Death: caused when someone is hit by lightening.

[–]MeckiiMonstahh 1 point2 points ago

It looks sexy... I thought it was a tattoo.

[–]kittenknitten 0 points1 point ago

I feel like this belongs in TIL.

[–]topdogg8990 0 points1 point ago

If you'll excuse me while I hold a metal rod to the sky... Brb.

[–]Yoko337 0 points1 point ago

Your Steve, from Tekken!

[–]Stringfellow_HaWk 0 points1 point ago

I dont mind reposts. But I have seen this over 25 times since I joined reddit less than a year ago.

[–]PPSF 0 points1 point ago

First time I saw it. Get over it.

[–]Stringfellow_HaWk 0 points1 point ago

I'm completely over it. Thank you for your words of advice.

[–]WarIsOver 0 points1 point ago

Hena?

[–]Saxdog2005 0 points1 point ago

Looks suspiciously like a henna tattoo.

[–]rita_pu[S] 2 points3 points ago

Not a tattoo. Check the links above, they all look the same

[–]purplreign -3 points-2 points ago

wow, lucky this is here, I would never have heard of it otherwise.

[–]techquickstar 1 point2 points ago

how about, fuck off? some people haven't heard of this.

[–]Truetones 0 points1 point ago

A God Made Tatoo.

[–]Squidfest2012 -1 points0 points ago

repost of a repost

[–]Troninater 0 points1 point ago

Very pretty, must have been painful to get.

[–]karmakiller69 0 points1 point ago

hit by a lightning. Waht

[–]rp82440 -2 points-1 points ago

Bullshit

[–]avery52 -3 points-2 points ago

Hey! I have an idea, lets repost this same god damn image again!

[–]shutupyacunt 0 points1 point ago

Your opinion doesn't matter.

[–]MattyMarshun -1 points0 points ago

Kinda looks like scarification. Gonna give you the benefit of the doubt though.

[–]MattyMarshun 0 points1 point ago

My apologies. Did my googlin. It looked too much like a branch but then it all does. Damn veins.