Comment by robocat

I live in a 240 Volt country with reasonably strong regulations.

Yet I'm regularly having to identify and resolve electrical safety issues because other people create risks. Sometimes issues are historical, or have developed over time.

Some of those risks are created by qualified and licensed people.

The most recent: a licensed electrician putting a female supply plug on a friend's bus (I think because he knows houses have female sockets) and then suggesting taking the power supply lead and replacing the female connector with a male one (male to male leads are rather unsafe and illegal for good reason and the friends were skeptical).

I see people that have done the study, training and certification create serious risks. So I don't blindly trust study, training and certification for my safety or safety of those I care for. I do use professionals but I'm very careful when choosing who to trust (for more than just electricity, water and gas).

We learn how to do things correctly because of our own interest in risks. I appreciated the comment because they didn't just say "don't", they also explained the engineering reasons for saying "don't".

However I am a risk-taker, and I take risks that would likely shock you. I am somewhat careful to avoid creating risks for others (when there is a floor level of risk, you can't go below the floor).

It's a balance. The logical conclusion of your world-view is that we shouldn't do anything for ourselves!

Don't fix that leaky tap without training! Too risky. Good example since I lent my pipe wrenches to a friend and told her to have a go at replacing her tap. Very successful. It was outdoors so low risk?

> just proding things until it either works or kills you

I am not suggesting that strawman.