Pro Sound Web: “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.”—Inigo Montoya, The Princess Bride
The Twitterverse was hopping last night with news of Canadian singer Grimes being “electrocuted” during a concert in Dublin. (Go here and #Grimes on Twitter.)
While she was shocked on stage, she definitely wasn’t electrocuted multiple times.
4 comments:
This article has a lot of really good advice, advice on how to work more safely with electricity, advice on how to more accurately communicate electrical phenomenon, and advice on what awesome movies to make references from. It’s a pet peeve of mine when people use the word electrocuted when they mean shocked, and it’s not because I want to be a stickler about that kind of stuff, but I think that any word that indicates someone’s death should hold some weight that every other word in the English language doesn’t have, but that’s just me. But anyway, this article also does a really good job of explaining common modes of failure when it comes to grounding of audio equipment, and also just daily safety good-to-knows. The part where people were getting shocked by the baptismal pool was a helluva story, and knowing that there are people out there who genuinely don’t know how to be safe with electricity is sobering when you consider how vital it is to all of our daily lives.
For a world more and more saturated with technology, basic misunderstanding of electricity sure runs rampant. The fact that basic electrical knowledge is truly a source of confusion for many is a frightening thought to behold. Even more frightening is the fact that this is a problem propagated by the oft bumbling specter that is the American mass media. Whether it be misinformation about how and when electricity is most dangerous, or misguided pointers on what to do during the next thunderstorm, the American media has managed to make a thorough mess of the entire "educating the public" thing. The fact that the media has made these missteps is bad enough, the fact that they've made these mistakes, as they have in the case of something so dangerous as the improper handling of electricity, is simply astounding to me. While Al Roker and the lot can warn adequately, or even a bit excessively about the dangers of letting your child play hide and seek with used household appliances, something a s simple as basic electrical safety can be left behind in the dust. This is a problemthat needs to be rectified, for the sake of anyone with a power supply.
The apparent misuse of the word electrocuted makes a lot of things significantly more hilarious. I’m thinking back to all of the old sitcoms where inevitably someone is playing around with something they shouldn’t, eventually getting shocked multiple times to the tune of laughtrack. But while the misuse of the word electrocuted is a tragedy for grammarians, my main concern that was brought up in this article was the overall lack of regulation on testing equipment and general safety. From the baptismal pool with a current that no one seems worried about, to the lack of enforcement for certain certified outlets, it’s a wonder more people haven’t actually been electrocuted. I don’t understand why laws aren’t being enforced to ensure the safety of everyone who performs. Testing equipment for current or dangerous levels of voltage should be absolutely required before every show. And all older equipment should be required to have a ground, or else it shouldn’t be allowed to be used. It’s sad to hear that something so dangerous as electricity is being so poorly monitored.
Preach. I am so sick of media outlets reporting things incorrectly just to get more clicks, reads, or views. Why can’t reporters just do their job right? I’d be much more interested in reading their articles if knew they were well-researched, unbiased and up to date, than if they have a catchy/false title or some other flash. So I appreciate this author for calling out the media on this one.
Ok, now that that little rant is out of the way… this is definitely a weird thing to happen, and scary! I can’t imagine how shocked (pun intended) I would be if I touched something that was electrified onstage. I don’t want to be a conductor in front of a huge crowd of people! (whoops another pun) Modern stages definitely have a TON of metal and electrical components all thrown in the mix, but as the author notes, most of this should be safe. This equipment is tested and approved for professional use. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t those unpredictable occurrences such as a guitarist showing up with this ‘rad’ amp they’ve never performed with before… yikes. Venue power is another bike safety concern. I always check for voltage levels and proper grounding, and have worked with companies who make sure to properly balance out their equipment across multiple circuits. Sometimes getting trustworthy power is more of a challenge in older buildings, so knowing what you are doing is essential. Just winging it can end up with a shock, or worse.
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