I've been curious on why I have to hook up the negative to the trunk latch instead of the negative terminal itself. I was always afraid to jump start someone because I think I would forget to do that. But what are the consequences on hooking it up the traditional way...just for future reference

 

Basically we don't know.
The whole mantra of connection and disconnection is practically the reverse of what you'd normally do.
There was a recent post from the UK of someone with a flat battery who was jump started by the AA with leads across the battery and it fried the ECU so it isn't just Voodoo.

 

To avoid any confusion over who we go to for vehicle recovery over here, AA in the UK is the Automobile Association.
Graham

 

And I'm certainly not a member of either!

 

This would typically be your last connection in the jump-start sequence and might create a spark. If a spark occurs you'd prefer it to be *away* from the battery....so as to avoid an explosion!

Other than that, no reason :-)

Cheers
DD