r/mildlyinfuriating • u/Warm_Web3768 • 18h ago

Ruined by Technology Plug got stuck at work

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u/n4ke 18h ago

About 20 years ago, my cousin had an RC car with a cheap ass plug that lost both prongs in the socket the first time he unplugged it. He was so scared that he broke something that he instantly tried to pull them both out. He went flying.

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u/aaronhowser1 PURPLE 18h ago

Fun fact! The reason electricity sends people flying is that it's actually triggering their legs to extend at maximum strength, beyond normal subconscious limits. Completely bypassing the regular motor functions from the brain, it's just sending a message saying ACTIVATE AS HARD AS YOU CAN to whatever it happens to pass through

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u/n4ke 17h ago

Correct. In fact, activating muscles that push you away violently is the decidedly better outcome. The alternative is clamping down hard and being unable to let go.

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u/DSD-CYRO 12h ago edited 11h ago

Been there, done that. Grabbed a broken extension cord outdoors at my grandparents place with my left hand when I was like 6 years old. The electricity (230v) made the muscles in my hand and arm clamp down hard as you mentioned. Was completely unable to let go, dad had to drop the electric hedge trimmer and pull it out of my hand, but I held that sucker for a good 10 seconds. Thank fuck I wore rain boots that day, else I would've won the Darwin award. Got a cool burn scar on my ring finger though.

Edit: typo.