electricity and empty heads

Electricity and dim bulbs

by Grumpy, M.D.

I have 3 kids. None of them even in middle school yet.

And they ALL know that electricity is REALLY dangerous.

When they were younger, we used to have those outlet protector things all over the house. But it was drilled into them that YOU DON'T MESS WITH THE VOLTAGE. And so, by the time my kids were 6, we'd passed those gadgets on to Mary (her kids are younger than mine).

And we've NEVER, to date, had an issue with them trying to do anything stupid with a socket.

So you'd think a kid who's at least 14 years old, who grew up in an an industrialized nation, would grasp the simple concept of DANGER! HIGH VOLTAGE! and NOT do something idiotic. Like, say, attach jumper cables to his chest and then plug them into a wall. Right?

Fat chance.
N.H. teen who zapped nipples during shop class sues
Aug. 31, 2010 07:34 AM
Associated Press
DOVER, N.H. - A New Hampshire high school student shocked so severely in shop class that his heart stopped beating is suing his teacher, the school district and the city of Dover.
Kyle Dubois and his parents claim teacher Thomas Kelley did not warn Dubois and other students of the dangers of the electrical demonstration cords in their electrical trades class.
On March 11, Dubois attached an electrical clamp to one nipple while another student attached another clamp to the other. A third student plugged in the cord.
Dubois was critically injured.
The New Hampshire Union Leader says Dubois' suit contends he suffered permanent brain damage.
Kelley resigned from his teaching position about a month after the incident. He declined to comment on the lawsuit.


I think that what really pisses me off about this is that the family is suing the freaking teacher. Your teenage kid doesn't understand that electricity is dangerous? Who's fucking fault is that?

Of course, in these people's minds, it HAS to be the teacher's fuck-up. I mean, he's known the kid for a whole, what, 7 months out of the kid's life? The parents have only known him for at least 14 years (it doesn't say how old he is, but to be in high school has to be at least 14) and apparently didn't bother to teach him basic electrical safety (like don't put a fork in an outlet).

So he could have done something this remarkably stupid at home, too. But he did it at school, so now they can sue someone besides themselves.

Some are going to write in that I'm a callous bastard, because the kid may be badly damaged (it doesn't say the extent of his injuries). Yes, I feel bad for ANY parent who has a tragedy befall their kids. It's horrible, regardless of what the cause is.

But the bottom line is that to sue someone else for your own failings as a parent is utter bullshit.
I'd like to thank my reader Sarah for submitting the above news story.