this post was submitted on 10 Aug 2023
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Showerthoughts

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A "Showerthought" is a simple term used to describe the thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing everyday things like taking a shower, driving, or just daydreaming. The best ones are thoughts that many people can relate to and they find something funny or interesting in regular stuff.

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I just watched a TikTok about how people used to plug in things to their light sockets when electricity was first becoming popular. And they kept calling the plug a light socket, what rule says it's not a plug that screws in? And why shouldn't plugs screw in? We have material science to make plugs and cables hard enough that if you kick the wire it still doesn't come out. Electrical connections should be more secure. That's all I'm saying.

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[–] [email protected] 52 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Cause if something catches and pulls hard on the cord you would prefer it yank the cable out of the socket and you just plug it back in, rather than either strip the screw and ruin the socket or even pull the entire socket out of the wall. Or if you trip on that cord its much safer for you to have that cord come out and only trip you a bit than it catch, go taut, and send you falling on your face.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 year ago (1 children)

This. They make twist lock receptacles, for certain applications. Normally in commercial settings where small appliances are powered by ceiling mounted outlets.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

My university theatre has twist locks for their electrics. But the theatre I'm working in now uses stage pin.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Your foot catches the cable. It’s immediately taut. Your leg’s caught and you start to fall. Right then, this drywall gives way and the cable, the socket, and a big chunk of drywall come flying forward and crack the back of your skull. You’re out cold.

The exposed wiring touches the pile of foil bags you were carrying. Electricity arcs through the stack igniting the entire thing instantly.

The plastic is burnt off in a toxic cloud, which engulfs everyone present.

In his microplastic gas stupor the first guy to pull out his phone drops it. The wildly oscillating cord being pushed around by boiling steam happens to land on both sides of the phone and sends a vicious arc through the case. The battery overheats and explodes, injuring the cat.

Nice work, screw-in plugs. Nice work indeed.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If you're ripping out drywall because you tripped over a twist lock cord, something (the outlet box) definitely wasn't installed correctly.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Yeah, think about a child tripping over a cord. Do you want it to come unplugged or pull down the crock pot, coffee pot... This is also why they put short cords on hot stuff.