Charlie StrossFeb 5

RE: https://nomenloony.com/@nomenloony/116019280517956996

Notes for Americans:

1. Until 1992 you had to wire your own plugs onto new electrical appliances in the UK (they were sold without pre-molded plugs).

2. Mains voltage is 230VAC, not 110VAC. It'll kill ya.

3. If you follow ChatGPT's advice *YOU WILL DIE*.

Show threadSteve Mitchell
@cstross My mum once sent me this photo with an explanation that she had dropped the iron and wanted to know if I thought it was still safe to use. Even though I will inherit the house when she goes, I did tell her not to use it until I had a chance to fit a new plug
Mar 1 at 2:57amWeb
Show threadDanielMar 1
@SteveMino @cstross i mean, if the house burns down then there won't be much left to inherit
Show threadNot The LBC GuyMar 1
@SteveMino @cstross my mum nicked the lawnmower cord so I said β€œI will go unplug, do not touch the cable until I say” two steps later I look back and she’s poking her finger into the cut insulation. Fortunately the conductor was not exposed.
Show threadCliff'sEsportCornerMar 1
@NotTheLBCGuy @SteveMino @cstross negative feedback can correct certain types of problems. Source: 2nd grade me field experience; put his toy wrench (spanner) against electrical outlet to "tighten" slotted screw.
Show threadDeterioratedStuccoMar 1

@CliffsEsport
Well, there's correction by modifying subsequent behaviour, and then there's correction by preventing subsequent behaviour...
I'm pleased yours was the first sort.

@NotTheLBCGuy @SteveMino @cstross

Show threadPeter KreftingMar 1
@CliffsEsport @NotTheLBCGuy @SteveMino @cstross My at age 5 touching an exposed electrical wall outlet that my father was repairing has told me to respect electricity.
Show threadOffbeatmammalMar 1
@SteveMino @cstross doesn't look like the smoke has escaped, it'll be fine
Show threadlabriaMar 1
@SteveMino _because_ you want to inherit an unburnt house? :)
Show threadCadbury MooseMar 1

@SteveMino @cstross

I've seen worse: an acquaintance had a "buy to let" as part of their retirement funding, and one set of tenants made unauthorised (and frankly fucking dangerous) modifications to the electrics, including an outside floodlight for the back garden, connected via "twin & earth" cable to a 13 Amp plug. The cable was too big for the plug so they simply didn't fit the back cover at all. (I should have photographed that in situ but just cut the plug off immediately.) 3:O((>

Show threadFragarachMar 1
@SteveMino @cstross @SoftwareTheron
At least that's visible. I saw someone once with a hairdryer that she was holding the cable up with her free hand,because it cut out as she moved the dryer around 😬
Show threadMichael αš‹αš”αš‰αš†αš“αšαš‚Mar 1

@SteveMino @cstross Yes, before 1992, having to add a plug to every new appliance was a chore and frequently of course one didn't have a spare plug to hand.

So all sorts of dodgy bodging happened.

Anyone familiar with with such bodging wouldn't be put off by your mum's plug.