[zik]

> Our AC plugs are, however, the safest design on the planet.

Not if you step on them with bare feet - those things are worse than LEGO. They could punch through a horse's hoof.

[gerdesj]

In 55 years I've never managed to do that, nor has anyone else I know. Plugs normally stay in the wall socket because they have a switch - each wall socket for general use must have a switch. The switch is quite hefty and very obviously off or on, with a red stripe. You get a satisfying audible and tactile click feedback when it is switched.

Recently a person brought in a laptop that had apparently been accidentally brushed off a desk, whilst closed, and had apparently fallen on an upturned plug. The plug had managed to hit the back of the screen, left quite a dent and spider cracking on the screen. The centre of the cracking did not match the dent ...

I'll have to do some trials but even if a plug is left on the ground, will it actually lie prongs upwards? I'll have to investigate lead torsion and all sorts of effects. Its on the to do list but not very high.

[PaulRobinson]

Don't leave them unplugged. The standard requires all modern sockets to have switches, so there is no reason to have the plugs lying around on the floor.

[chrismustcode]

I’ve never had an experience in any house or office where there’s been enough sockets to leave everything plugged.

[goopypoop]

they are also really tough to swallow

[rusk]

That’s a nice reminder that they should be respected. Not left lying around.

[marliechiller]

why are you stepping on them?

[robertlagrant]

Sometimes you've just got to put your foot down.

[throwaway290]

because sometimes you unplug it and leave it around. unless you live like a king sometimes there is 2 sockets and you have 5 devices to plug at different times. european and other ones will be on the side so stepping on it is no problem but uk ones will be the pointy end up