The one time I've had an issue with our plugs (that would have been solved by something like the British plug design) was when I wasn't paying attention to a remote antenna resting on top of a loose plug. Accidentally caused a short that melted that little bit of wire but nothing else happened. Just had a black spot on that outlet from then onward.

I have shocked myself on one once but just like with the other person replying that was as a child and felt more like a learning experience to not mess with outlets.

[–] XeroxCool@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

This is exactly why I like having "upside down" US plugs where the ground pin is on top. If there's a ground pin in the plug, it prevents pennies and paperclips from falling onto the hot and neutral pins. Unfortunately, this isn't as common because 1. Some contractors beleive it's illegal, 2. Many wall wart adapters and lay flat plugs assume the receptacle goes ground pin down, and 3. It doesn't look like a shocked face.

[–] Thisfox@sopuli.xyz 1 points 11 months ago

If your plug is not plugged in completely flush with the wall power point so a penny (or etc) can fit between the plug and powerpoint and yet the power can get through, then there is something very wrong.