Humorous/scary item heard on Car Talk

A woman called into Car Talk and said her van's battery was dead because her kid had left a light on in the back. Her neighbor was working on his car, and she asked for help. I think he was from Bosnia. He took his battery out, walked over to her van, and turned his battery upside down and connected the battery posts. She said it started right up. Her question was..."Why do we need battery cables?"! They explained how dangerous it was, could lead acid, could explode, most batteries are not removed very easily, etc. etc.