# I think I kinda almost died... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 8, 2014, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-kinda-almost-died/683213 "2014-03-08T19:30:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2014, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-kinda-almost-died/683213/21 "2014-03-09T19:33:44Z")
> [@Mr.Goob](#): > > Now that you have proved you have superhero powers with resistance to 110 volts, go look at the big 220 plug on your clothes dryer… Your tongue will fit in it much better than a 110 vold outlet. Try it! ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-kinda-almost-died/683213/22 "2014-03-10T15:43:14Z")
I don’t get it. Your supermarket sells ceiling lamps? And what do the socks have to do with it? ---
**Author:** ![Mann\_Slaughter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@Mann\_Slaughter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mann_Slaughter)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-kinda-almost-died/683213/23 "2014-03-10T17:28:23Z")
> [@AaronX](#): > > I don’t get it. Your supermarket sells ceiling lamps? And what do the socks have to do with it? I asked myself the same thing, but after a bit (and checking the OP’s profile) I realized they were talking about light bulbs. Now, about the SOCKS…? I still have no clue. ---
**Author:** ![Sahirrnee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sahirrnee/32/13937_2.png) [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-kinda-almost-died/683213/24 "2014-03-10T18:05:37Z")
You should never climb a ladder in socks. I slipped off and had to get six stitches in the bottom of my foot and my baby toe still has no feeling in it. The ER doc yelled at me for wearing socks, my father yelled at me for wearing socks, everybody yelled at me for wearing socks. I’m lucky I fell into the bathroom and only got cut on a sharp edge of the ladder. Had I fallen the other way I would have fallen down the stairs. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-kinda-almost-died/683213/25 "2014-03-10T18:18:40Z")
> [@sahirrnee](#): > > i slipped off and had to get six stitches in the bottom of my foot and my baby toe still has no feeling in it. The er doc yelled at me for wearing socks, my father yelled at me for wearing socks, everybody yelled at me for wearing socks. **DON’T WEAR SOCKS!!** x ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-kinda-almost-died/683213/26 "2014-03-10T18:31:49Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > Resistance is useless! Don’t try this at ohm. ---
**Author:** ![Encinitas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Encinitas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Encinitas)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-kinda-almost-died/683213/27 "2014-03-10T18:36:56Z")
Watt’s all this then? ---
**Author:** ![Vita\_Beata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@Vita\_Beata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vita_Beata)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-kinda-almost-died/683213/28 "2014-03-10T18:42:57Z")
I join in also to say that I am shocked to see that you’ve invited a friend to come to your ohm where you’re working on yet another buzz. What’s needed is enlightning! ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-kinda-almost-died/683213/29 "2014-03-10T19:06:07Z")
Heh, and this is exactly why sometimes you start in GQ…joule always get punny answers in MPSIMS. Seriously, though…there are a couple reason that could happen, and they all have to do with improper wiring. Turning off the breaker instead of relying on the switch can help, but as demonstrated in a recent thread (which I don’t wanna look up) may not remove the risk entirely. One of [these](http://www.homedepot.com/p/Klein-Tools-Non-Contact-Voltage-Tester-NCVT-1SEN/100661787) is nice to have as well. ---
**Author:** ![Learjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@Learjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Learjeff)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-kinda-almost-died/683213/30 "2014-03-10T23:50:46Z")
Sorry, no puns from me. Maybe next time. When changing a lightbulb, I touch only the glass, on the lightbulb. If you touched more than the glass, what exactly did you touch? If the shock happened before you got to the lightbulb, that is, taking off the globe or fixture or whatever, you should not have had a shock doing that, and if you did it means that your house is miswired, and you should call an electrician. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-kinda-almost-died/683213/31 "2014-03-11T08:13:45Z")
Light bulbs and light sockets are designed to make it hard to get a shock even when the power is on. The “hot” side of the circuit is supposed to be inside the socket, while the neutral side is supposed to be on the outside. Modern plugs and sockets are polarized so that there’s only one way to plug them in - the wider hole (or prong) is supposed to be neutral, and the narrower side is supposed to be hot. It’s possible that you somehow got the lamp plugged in backwards despite this protection. It’s also possible that your wall outlet is wired backwards - if this is the case, it’s a dangerous situation that you should get fixed ASAP. ---
**Author:** ![Frank\_Merton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Frank\_Merton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank_Merton)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-kinda-almost-died/683213/32 "2014-03-11T08:20:25Z")
I stepped off the curb in front of an oncoming bus without looking once. My life did a quick review of itself. ---
**Author:** ![Artemis\_Tardis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@Artemis\_Tardis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Artemis_Tardis)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2014, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-kinda-almost-died/683213/33 "2014-03-24T16:37:28Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > Light bulbs and light sockets are designed to make it hard to get a shock even when the power is on. The “hot” side of the circuit is supposed to be inside the socket, while the neutral side is supposed to be on the outside. Modern plugs and sockets are polarized so that there’s only one way to plug them in - the wider hole (or prong) is supposed to be neutral, and the narrower side is supposed to be hot. It’s possible that you somehow got the lamp plugged in backwards despite this protection. It’s also possible that your wall outlet is wired backwards - if this is the case, it’s a dangerous situation that you should get fixed ASAP. The apartment I am living on is quite old… I was electrocuted without touching the socket. Will check the wiring ASAP. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2014, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-kinda-almost-died/683213/34 "2014-03-25T03:45:20Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > They’re really not kidding when they tell you “Do not attempt to adjust the picture”, are they? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2014, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-kinda-almost-died/683213/35 "2014-03-25T04:02:03Z")
I was shocked unconscious when I was a kid. I was vacuuming the car after washing it (with bare feet on wet cement) and touched just the right part of the vacuum. I awoke receiving artificial respiration from my dad. So, yeah, that was fun. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-kinda-almost-died/683213.md?page=1)