Cars aren't usually grounded though.
The wheels are rubber.
(PsychoChomp, Wed 14 Apr 2010, 11:47, 1 reply, 16 years ago)

very true, but the negative terminal is attached to carrs bodywork, so you could discharge into that.
The reverse can also be true, where you car builds up the charge and then uses you as a grounding strip. you can get grounding strips for your car from any car type shop
(wiggy5 3 goats and a midget, Wed 14 Apr 2010, 11:48, Reply)

doesn't happen to anyone else on my car
and I'm fairly sure it's happened on other cars as well

so it must be me, but as I said below, it's been all different sorts of clothes and shoes.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 14 Apr 2010, 11:50, Reply)

Your car's not earthed
but it is a large conductive object which is at a lower potential than you are, if you've been walking around in rubber soled shoes, and with a sufficiently larger capacitance than you, such that when you touch the metalwork, a current flows from you to the car.
( K2k6 has a proper job these days, Wed 14 Apr 2010, 11:56, Reply)

why should it happen to me loads
and not to other people anywhere near as much. I wear pretty ordinary shoes.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 14 Apr 2010, 11:58, Reply)

It happens to me a lot too
Always has done. I was quite a curiosity at school because of this!

Some people just hold a charge better than others.
( K2k6 has a proper job these days, Wed 14 Apr 2010, 11:59, Reply)

plus
not to be faectious, but long haired/ bearded people seem to hold a charge better. I've got long hair and I'm pretty much walking static on a hot day
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Wed 14 Apr 2010, 12:01, Reply)

I've got short hair
and am clean shaven for the most part. But I can understand your logic.
( K2k6 has a proper job these days, Wed 14 Apr 2010, 12:02, Reply)

I get a lot, I put it down to all the shell suits I wear
eh, eh, eh...
( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Wed 14 Apr 2010, 12:03, Reply)

so basically what you are saying
is that we are better than most other people?
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 14 Apr 2010, 12:12, Reply)

Yes.

( K2k6 has a proper job these days, Wed 14 Apr 2010, 12:13, Reply)

I suspected as much

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 14 Apr 2010, 12:14, Reply)

As an undergraduate
during one afternoon lab, I managed to blow three electronics experiments with my massive static charge.
( K2k6 has a proper job these days, Wed 14 Apr 2010, 12:16, Reply)

one of my mates
zapped the headphones on a listening station in WHSmith and broke it

I saw the spark. it was awesome.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 14 Apr 2010, 12:25, Reply)

Impressive.

( K2k6 has a proper job these days, Wed 14 Apr 2010, 12:34, Reply)

yeah
on account of our sparky goodnature, shocking sense of humour and grounded personality.

I make no apology
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Wed 14 Apr 2010, 12:14, Reply)