Jazz mags, spot lights, insulation tape and SHEDS!
1986, Aged 11. We had a 'Trailer Shed' at the top of the garden (it's like a normal shed only half as high, designed to shelter a trailer!) and me and the lads used it as a den (we didn't own a trailer). It was pretty dingy and low - but a cracking place to hang out.... and read jazz mags.

One night into October, nights getting shorter and a bit dim to read the stories properly we decide we need to fit a light. My Dad ever the bodger had a massive home-made mains extension which was basically 2 or 3 stuck together with insulation tape. He also had an old spotlight designed to go on the wall with a plug on it. Perfect. Ran the extension from the house, up the garden and plugged in the spotlight. Worked a treat but as we positioned the light it flickered and went out. "I'll fix it" I said, jumping up as I knew all about electrics. I presumed it was the wire I could see sticking out of the insulation tape so off I trotted to make good my repair.

Carefully undoing my Dad's tape, yes, those wires look a mess, let me tidy them up by twisti.............

Adrian said he heard the 'buzzing' noise first, turned to the door to see me, in a Frankenstein pose, hair smoking and stood on end, teeth clenched, 'blue lines' going into the ground with my arms tightly folded across my chest. I remember trying to talk but couldn't open my jaw and my head was ringing rather loudly. Total fucking panic ensued in the trailer shed and somehow - the wire was pulled from my grasp and I fell into a heap.

Dad came out when he heard the commotion - 1 hair-smoking child and 3 hysterical friends shouting "HE'S DEAD, HE'S DEAD". Lucky, I wasn't. Severe burns on both thumbs, both index fingers and a few other places which swelled up like I had oranges on each finger - and total awesome notoriety at school for the rest of the fucking year. Until I went fat and got bullied.

The Science bit? The light came on! HUMAN CONDUCTOR!
(TheManofScience, Thu 9 Aug 2012, 18:21, 6 replies)

De Ja Vu...
I have a feeling I've posted this before.... I wonder if my grammar/story telling has improved! I'm sure someone with lots of time on their hands will dig it out to ridicule me!


EDIT : www.b3ta.com/questions/darwin/post367359

fack. Atleast they both ring true to each other and sort of prove it's a real story! or a really long running lie...
(TheManofScience, Thu 9 Aug 2012, 18:23, closed)

MODS!

(DefinitelyNOTAmorousBadgerOhNo, Thu 9 Aug 2012, 18:32, closed)

how many volts are there in your mains sockets?
That description sounds like someone rewired your local substation backwards; blue sparks? smoking hair? From 240 volts?

I smell a bull nearby...I don't care how many fictitious drugs an supermodels you claim to have used but don't make up bad Hollywood special effects lies about 240V AC. I've had a bout 4 mains shocks and one 750V DC shock from working on live equipment.

Let's be kind and assume your friend was exaggerating and not you. He's a bullshitter.
( Rotating Wobbly Hat That's not a banana. THIS is a banana., Thu 9 Aug 2012, 20:21, closed)

This could be true...
I can account for the frazzled hair (it was mine) but i can't confirm the 'blue lines' - it was just what he told me he saw while hysterically watching his friend shake and judder!

All i remember is grabbing the wires ~~~ slowly walking up the garden on my knees with a loud bussing in my ear as the wires were still in my hand ~~~ people looking at me, pointing and shouting ~~~ my dad in the ambulance

I have photos of the burns to my potato sized fingers afterwards (well, the bandages!) and as I've mentioned before very mangled finger prints on 4 appendages
(TheManofScience, Fri 10 Aug 2012, 9:55, closed)

I love how every science related qotw turns into an autistic episode of mythbusters.
(cs1ca, Fri 10 Aug 2012, 9:56, closed)

Internet mind police, innit.
Can't let obvious lies go on for another feeble minded copycat to repeat on another web forum. Taking responsibility for knocking internet lies on the head, RIGHT HERE.
( Rotating Wobbly Hat That's not a banana. THIS is a banana., Tue 14 Aug 2012, 0:08, closed)