# Ever Been Tazed?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-tazed/924320>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [October 30, 2020, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-tazed/924320 "2020-10-30T13:54:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-tazed/924320/1 "2020-10-30T13:54:45Z")

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Curious to hear about your experience if you’ve been tasered.

My son is a corrections officer in a Florida prison. He is currently certified to carry/use a variety of weapons, with each certification adding another notch to his belt/resume.

The prison hierarchy recently decided to have all COs carry tasers. To be certified, my son had to “experience” a taser, as he has to experience any non-lethal device. He has been pepper sprayed, for instance, which was unpleasant but not the end of the world, according to him.

So, yesterday he removed his shirt and allowed another officer to fire a taser at his back. Two training officers stood at either side and helped gently lower him to the ground after he was zapped.

He _absolutely hated_ the experience. He told me he’d rather take a couple of punches to his face, rather than be tazed again. One of the training officers told him that some people really hate being tazed, while others just shrug it off.

Anyone here been zapped?

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**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-tazed/924320/2 "2020-10-30T14:04:45Z")

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I haven’t, but I saw my ex-husband tased. One minute he was screaming, “I’ll kill you!” at the cops, next minute flat on the floor. A few minutes after that, sitting up and trying to make jokes. 🙄  
I thought it just caused all your muscles to go floppy, but it seems like people on TV always scream.

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**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-tazed/924320/3 "2020-10-30T14:10:17Z")

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> [@Dung\_Beetle](#):
>
> I thought it just caused all your muscles to go floppy, but it seems like people on TV always scream.

Yeah, my son said he would have screamed, but couldn’t.

> [@Dung\_Beetle](#):
>
> I saw my ex-husband tased.

I would pay good money to see my ex-wife tazed. Repeatedly. 😆

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**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-tazed/924320/4 "2020-10-30T15:08:36Z")

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> [@kayaker](#):
>
> He told me he’d rather take a couple of punches to his face, rather than be tazed again.

In an inherently weird-but-oh-so-important career … that _still_ strikes me as an inherently weird sentence 😉

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**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-tazed/924320/5 "2020-10-30T15:18:13Z")

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> [@DavidNRockies](#):
>
> In an inherently weird-but-oh-so-important career … that _still_ strikes me as an inherently weird sentence

He absolutely _loves_ his job. He works out in the gym every day and is in the best shape of his life. He spars with coworkers and goes home happy, tired, and covered in bruises. He has told me things that men do when locked up that I never imagined even in my sickest imaginings.

I’m happy for him,. but I hope he gets a desk job soon.

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**Author:** ![thdudescar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thdudescar/32/4638_2.png) [@thdudescar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thdudescar)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-tazed/924320/6 "2020-10-30T15:36:27Z")

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My best friend’s family owned a cattle ranch so he had access to a cattle prod. When we were in about eighth grade he wanted to see if it really hurt that bad. So, I zapped him per is request. He said it was much, much, worse than he ever expected. BTW, this guy made a 31 on his ACT. What a dumbass.

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**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-tazed/924320/7 "2020-10-30T15:44:34Z")

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No, and Please Don’t, Bro!

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**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-tazed/924320/8 "2020-10-30T19:28:31Z")

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> [@thdudescar](#):
>
> BTW, this guy made a 31 on his ACT.

Out of idle curiosity, was that _before_ or _after_ the cattle prod thing ?

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**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-tazed/924320/9 "2020-10-30T19:43:54Z")

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Closest was a handheld stungun after some drinks. I zapped my own thigh a few times. Super painful and it made my leg jump a little.

I’ve heard pepper spray can be worse than tasers since it can persist for hours. The taser is over quick.

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**Author:** ![TheCuse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thecuse/32/2854_2.png) [@TheCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheCuse)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-tazed/924320/10 "2020-10-30T19:54:46Z")

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Never been tased.

Had to do the gas mask training in boot camp, though.

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**Author:** ![thdudescar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thdudescar/32/4638_2.png) [@thdudescar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thdudescar)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-tazed/924320/11 "2020-10-30T20:03:00Z")

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Before. He’s now an engineer. Don’t get me started on the crazy shit he did.

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**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-tazed/924320/12 "2020-10-30T20:25:47Z")

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I got Tased once in training and drive stunned once in training (tased without the probes which is just a stun gun at that point, pain compliance without the muscular function interruption).

They both suck the sweat off a dead mans balls. But unlike OC (pepper spray) once the device is turned off the ride is over. OC can take over an hour to wear off. Then it reactivates when you shower. I’ve been sprayed over half a dozen times in training. Including times in redman suits where I had to fight off an attacker after he sprayed me and once where I had to put 2 rounds in a target after being sprayed.

I’ve heard that new recruits don’t have to get sprayed or take a Taser ride if they don’t want to. This could have legal implications later on when they try to testify to their use. It could also get them branded as a wuss by their fellow officers. That culture still exists on the job.

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**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-tazed/924320/13 "2020-10-30T20:57:39Z")

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Never tased but grabbed some live wires a couple of times by accident. Similar thing I imagine, just not as prolonged because you end up letting go of the wires as you drop, meanwhile the taser just keeps going and going and going…

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**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-tazed/924320/14 "2020-10-30T20:59:15Z")

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[celebrities getting tasered.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=by5_8SpGX-E)

[cops getting tasered.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jS5RPw2oBG0)

Somewhere out there is a compilation of dozens of news reporters getting tasered for demonstrations. I couldn’t find it on a quick search, but it is hilarious.

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**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-tazed/924320/15 "2020-10-30T21:55:05Z")

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> [@QuickSilver](#):
>
> Never tased but grabbed some live wires a couple of times by accident. Similar thing I imagine

Similar to a drive stun which is just a shock without the cartridge. This is what regular hand held stun guns provide. A cartridge application interrupts the ability to control muscular operation. These are 2 different, seperate effects a Taser can produce. Neither are pleasant.

A cartridge application doesn’t keep going and going, btw. It’s 5 seconds unless the trigger is pulled again. The device records each and every trigger pull.

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**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-tazed/924320/16 "2020-10-30T22:34:29Z")

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> [@pkbites](#):
>
> A cartridge application doesn’t keep going and going, btw. It’s 5 seconds unless the trigger is pulled again. The device records each and every trigger pull.

I imagine that even 5 seconds might feel quite a long time.

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**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-tazed/924320/17 "2020-10-30T22:51:05Z")

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> [@QuickSilver](#):
>
> I imagine that even 5 seconds might feel quite a long time.

It’s an eternity. But once it’s over it’s over, unlike OC where you stare into a fan and have you eyes doused for an hour. Then you go take a piss and it reactivates and you get pepper dick. Then you take a shower and the dried capsicum in your hair reactivates and drains into your eyes. After OC training the locker room at the academy sounds like a frat house with the clap.

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**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2020, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-tazed/924320/18 "2020-10-31T11:34:22Z")

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I asked my soon about the difference between pepper spray and being tazed. He has gotten used to pepper spray. He’s authorized and used it many times and there’s always some in the air when it is used. He’s experienced it during training and has practiced continuing to fight after being sprayed.

He said pepper spray sucks and persists, but the peak sensation being shot with the taser is more intense and just “different”. He actually felt like he was dying with the taser.

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**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2020, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-tazed/924320/19 "2020-10-31T15:41:21Z")

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When I first got on the job back in ‘82 only the Postal Service carried pepper spray and it was for dogs.

We were issued the original Mace Which came in the same type canister as pepper spray does today except it was CN tear gas. And you didn’t spray a subject in the face, you sprayed into the chest and it dispersed upward. It was some nasty stuff but overall not as effective on drunks as OC is. Because it could cause nerve damage there was no getting sprayed during training. They just had you spray an inert version at a paper target.

I was not issued pepper spray until the mid 90’s. I did not get a Taser until I was well into my second career sometime after 2007.

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**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2020, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-tazed/924320/20 "2020-10-31T19:12:40Z")

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It bothers me not just a little that I’m thinking about this stuff, but … how does a taser or the OC compare to a solid boot to the grapes ?

That happened to me once … about 40 years ago … in a case of mistaken identity.

It finally stopped hurting … last Tuesday 😉

[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-been-tazed/924320.md?page=2)
