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Sign up with Google Sign up with FacebookQ: Risk of death by electrocution in China?
OK, now that we've got a handle on the risk to westerns posed by XJ terrorists, how about this threat to safety:
I noticed my Ch. friend always unplugs the water boiler before filling it up, as if he doesn't trust it not to electrocute him. Do you take similar precautions? How are the electrical safety standards where you are? I know that the country can produce proper quality things, but there is not sufficient oversight or quality assurance to totally trust it like I would, say, a Japanese or Korean appliance. Then again, compared to the wiring in places like Vietnam, it's quite secure. I saw open wires connected to the shower heating appliance there, sheesh.
9 years 52 weeks ago in Health & Safety - China
That's a good habit to have anywhere anyway.
Your Chinese friends do that because not longer than a decade ago, norms weren't the same and the risks were very real. Even nowadays you never know. Biggest threat is not electrocution, but appliance catching fire because of a short circuit, especially with boilers: deadly combo water + resistance. Most houses don't have insurance.
My water boiler doesn't have a cord, the base for the water boiler does.
I wouldn't fuss about these things. It is much more relevant to look at the dodgy wires hanging on the outside of buildings etc. I have once showered next to a washing machine that had broken cables (e.g. exposed copper) on the ground. I chose to unplug it and was later asked why ?
Oh, back to water boilers, the first one we bought in China failed after not many weeks, it simply kept boiling. Not a problem when you are around and there is plenty of water in the pot, but if it boils dry unsupervised it could be an issue.
Our apartment has HFI/RCD/GFCI (depending on where you are from...standards people) relays of non-Chinese decent. I forgot the company name now and they are behind in my wifes wardrobe, I wouldn't try to dig through that even if I could go to Narnia and have a cup of vodka with the lion. Anyway. There is a chance you'd survive toasting bred in the tub, if only there was a bathtub.
In the older buildings, just don't think about it, your hair will fall off with worry.
As far as I know, no one has ever died from pronouncing words correctly or using the proper pacing.
Some people have been put to death on various forums for incorrect grammar (see 'Grammar Nazis') as they should be (yes, I'm talking to YOU users of lowercase 'i's and sufferers of your/you're, there/their/they're deficiencies, and the Lolcatz who don't know when text/netspeak is appropriate or not.
Accidental elocution sometimes occurs as a result of typing too fast and/or alcohol imbibing.
DO NOT attempt to post whilst your feet are wet (or you're wet behind the ears) and avoid highly-charged threads when your Grammar is incapacitated.
Mrs. Malapropism is waiting to take your calls immediately.