Static electricity

Zifnab

So my latent superpowers have begun to assert themselves, and thus I am generating what seems to be an abnormal amount of electricity on a daily basis. I'm not talking "hey, you shocked me" amounts. I can pull an inch long spark off of a metal bed frame with a key. It's gotten to the point that whenever I take off a coat or sweatshirt, get up after having sat for a while, or just generally go to touch something, I tap something metal with a key first to release the charge or it hurts quite badly. Is there anything I can do to mitigate this, or am I doomed to a lifetime of accidentally shocking friends, pets, and small children?

Sir Red of the Manti

Either become a superhero or add a humidifier to your room. Sounds like it's far too dry an environment wherever you're at.

Everywhereasign

Yeah, it's humidifier season where I live. Buy a hygrometer and see what your house is sitting at. Mine run pretty much 24/7 and manage to keep the place at a reasonable 45-50%

Anarchy Rules!

You can set off petrol using just static electricity, so don't leave a petrol can opened in your bedroom

Zifnab

Hm. The humidifier might be a bit tricky to set up, since I'm still living in the dorms, but I'll talk to my roommate and see if we can work something out. He's been complaining of sore throats in the morning from dryness, so this might work out well. I never thought about the humidity angle, though. What's odd is that it even happens (and badly) in the humidity-controlled music buildling where I spend 80% of my time. Oh well...thanks, guys.

Everywhereasign

If you're allowed to have a kettle you could let it boil for a little while each night. (Make sure it doesn't boil dry) It's a cheaper alternative.

But if your roommate is having sore throats in the morning you really want a humidifier. I got one at Goodwill for 15 bucks when I was in college, paid for it's self making the room more comfy. It also doubled as a nice 'white-noise' maker to cover up backgroud rez noise.

Sir Red of the Manti

As a bit of a topic hijack, how safe is it to have a humidifier in the same room as a computer? I'm tempted to grab one myself, but I don't want to harm any electrical equipment with it.

Everywhereasign

Sir Red of the Manti wrote:

As a bit of a topic hijack, how safe is it to have a humidifier in the same room as a computer? I'm tempted to grab one myself, but I don't want to harm any electrical equipment with it.

Get an evaporation humidifier rather then a "cool mist" one, don't point it right at your computer and monitor the humidity with a hygrometer. I did it for two years in a really small room, never had a problem. I guess if you got it humid enough you could cause water to form on the computer parts, but I think you'd have to try pretty hard.

Gafoto

No more dangerous than having a computer in summer. You're trying to get humidity back up to levels you might see during other times of the year, no need to get it jungle-like in there.

Theungry

you should also drink more water. Your own hydration level is relevant too. Moisturize your hands if you can. Lubriderm is relatively scent free if you're worried about smelling like sun ripened raspberries or whatever.