Darwin says, "Accepted into the Archive. (near miss, cautionary holiday tale.)"

Witnessed firsthand: I was helping a friend decorate her tree for Christmas. There was a strand of lights that seemed to have a short, so my friend took it upon herself to solve the problem. She stripped the wires in the area and spliced them. While the lights were still plugged into the wall outlet, whe finished up by using her teeth the crimp the bare wires together. Needless to say, she lit up like a Christmas tree...

This I witnessed first hand. I was helping a friend of mine decorate her tree for christmas. There was a strand of christmas lights that seemed to have a short in them. So my friend took it upon herself to find and solve the problem. She stripped the wires in the area where she thought the short was and was attempting to splice them. Well, while the lights were still plugged in to the wall outlet, she thought she could use her teeth the crimp the bare wires together. Needless to say, she lit up before the christmas lights did.

Submitted on 08/15/2009

Submitted by: Robert
Reference:

Copyright © 2009 DarwinAwards.com

Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: Personal Account
While we get lots of stories involving electrocution I think this is good enough for a PA. Most of our electrocution stories involve copper thieves and electrical power stations, not somebody trying to fix Christmas lights without bothering to unplug them first. The image this conjures is quite amusing. Thanks, Robert!

James said:
Definitely Keep: Personal Account
An amusing story which would have done Jean Shepherd ("A Christmas Story") proud! Thanks for submitting!

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