I seem to have the worst luck when it comes with all things electrical. I’ve had about 15 electric shocks in my life coming from various household appliances. It’s a known fact in my family to never let me handle anything electrical, including doing such easy tasks as changing lightbulbs and just simple unplugging/plugging things in/out.
Basically, if anyone is going to be the one shocked, it will always be me. I’ve started to wonder if some people just attract electricity more or something. I tend to generate a heck of a lot of static electricity too. When I wear some shoes, everything I touch gets me a minor zap…the chair, the TV, the cat…
Lastly, I find I can’t wear certain metals for some reason. It starts to corrode against my skin, turning all green and icky. No idea why this happens, but I’ve heard that it has to do with the electrical balance in one’s body. I’m certainly not allergic to any medals or anything like that…so why does that happen?
Anyway, am I really just an unlucky bastard when it comes to electricity or does my body, like, channel it better or something?
The shoes and clothes you wear will definitely have an effect on the amount of static shocks you get. I (and lots of other people) make a habit of keeping a paper clip or key handy and grounding myself on something metal after I do something that I know will build up a charge, like standing up from my office chair. The other option is to ground yourself more often so the discharge isn’t as bad. For example, anytime I take off a hat, sweatshirt or coat, I make sure to ground myself so I get a little zap instead of a bigger one from doing several things without realizing it over time. BTW, a nice little trick. You can usually discharge the static less painfully by touching the corner of wall. There’s a metal bead that runs down it and the shock isn’t quite as bad since there’s some protection from the mud.
As for deteriorating metals, I’ve heard (from people on this board) that it’s something that some people just do. Watches, bracelets, snaps on clothing, steering wheels. Just something about your body chemistry.
Now, as for getting actual 120 volt electrical shocks. That has nothing to do with the first two things. That just comes down to you touching live electrical things while grounded. The two things that you mentioned (screwing in light bulbs and plugging things in) sounds to me like you’re using your finger to find the socket/hole and then guiding the bulb/plug down your finger into into the hole/socket. Kind of like you would thread a bolt into a hole in a space where you can’t see what your doing. When the prong of the plug is touching the internal contact while it’s still touching your finger, you get zapped. Don’t do that. Most people do it once and then stop.
