I run around at the office all the time in my sox - no static for me! It's awful if I wear my shoes, though.

The down side to any anti-static application for a carpet is that it wears off. How fast it does so, of course, is related to the traffic on that carpet.

Humidifiers are a PITA - even the ones for central air.

One thing I learned in the military (aside from the fact that steel-toed boots are a BAD thing around high powered electronics) is that you don't use your hand to discharge static. Use your elbow! The elbow is far far less sensitive than the finger.

What are the disadvantages of humidifiers?

__________________
Not because it is easy, but because it is hard...

There is no way to happiness,
happiness is the way.

I wouldn't put one near anything electronic, I wouldn't put it where it might get kicked over, and you'll need to keep it filled, but other than that, nothing much.

__________________
I'm not completely heartless, the doctor who removed it told me he'd never be able to get it all.

Oh, and you don't actually need a hudifier. I woke up this morning thinking about this thread and had a big "Duh" moment. On any particular day that the shocks get too bad, all you have to do is put a big pot of water on to boil for a while. That will take care of the problem.

BD.

(I hate those shocks myself. Don't get them at home 'cause I have a house full of fish tanks and terrariums.)

__________________
"The beauty of that discussion of averages is that you don't have to be an expert in Apollo or in photography in order to see where this time study "analysis" breaks down. You just have to be, well...not an idiot." -JayUtah

I think most of it shoe material. I would think that the shoe person at Walmart is thoroughly trained and can explain it all.

I get them in 3 places. Getting out of vehicles I fixed as mentioned earlier, when I hit the metal elevator buttons I use the keys that are in my hand anyway, but how do I stop it every time I touch the RAM chips in my computer?

And if 'only electrons move' why do both people get a shock?

__________________
'Sir........, I don't like these numbers.'
'Then hire somebody that can change them!'
("`-/")_.-'"``-.,,
\. . `; -._( );, `)
(v_,)' _ )`-. \ ``'`
_.- _..-/ /((.'
((,.-' ((,/

As to getting out of the car, I habitually open the door, grab onto the top of the open door, and keep holding on till I am out of the car - problem solved.

Another good trick is to (like someone else posted) hold your keys in your hand and, as you approach a door, etc., use the key and ground yourself thru the key before touching the door. This works well - but people look at you kinda 'funny'...

__________________
lines joint in faint discord,
and the Stormwatch brews
a concert of Kings,
as the white sea snaps,
at the heels of a soft prayer,
whispered

I doubt it. Wal-Mart doesn't particularly bother training its employees in the ins and outs of the products they sell, just how Wal-Mart wants them sold.

Why wouldn't they? Since electricity is movement of electrons, they ought to, right?

__________________
Gillian

"Now everyone was giving her that kind of look UFOlogists get when they suddenly say, 'Hey, if you shade your eyes you can see it is just a flock of geese after all.'"

"You can't erase icing."

"I can't believe it doesn't work! I found it on the internet, man!"

Thomas,
When I read your thread, I thought - here's another North American, with the aircon turned up high. Cold weather plus heated air = very dry air that can't condduct static away from you. But NO! You are a Netherlander! Your weather must be similar to mine in North England. In Lancashire we don't do shocks - too damp, and not much heating.

So I think it must be your clothing and/or your furnishing. Or your central heating. Turn that down, out a sweater on, take your shoes off and walk about in wool socks. Shut the car door by kicking it.

But even the maximum protection dosen't work in the worst situations. Operating theatres are built to minimise static, to protect from explosions and fires from inflammable anaesthetics - that haven't been used for forty years. Trolley wheels are conducting, as are surgeons rubber boots and everyone else's shoes. The floors contain conducting strips, layed to Earth.

Then the Hospital buys cheap artificial fibre blankets, and on a cold day, we all get shocks from them!

John