4 ms·

I have plenty of tales of impatient boomer relatives who have jammed up the micro-USB port on their devices by forcing it in the wrong way. It was a lot harder

I have plenty of tales of impatient boomer relatives who have jammed up the micro-USB port on their devices by forcing it in the wrong way. It was a lot harder to do this with mini-USB, and I'm glad the subsequent revision (USB-C) is largely foolproof.

jdietrich 7y ago
My grandmother once jammed a USB-A plug into an RJ45 socket. I needed large pliers and no small amount of cursing to remove it. Note to self: do not tell an elderly person "don't worry, you can't plug it in wrong, the plugs will only fit in the right sockets".
- ebg13 7y ago
  I assume you meant type B, not type A, but anyway, lol. I had a somewhat similar "bad advice that always used to work" experience recently with someone, except this case was a proprietary USB-to-10P10C cable for APC UPS control, and they thought it was a USB/Ethernet adapter. Of course 10P10C and 8P8C modular connectors are exactly the same size and shape.
  - jdietrich 7y ago
    Nope, type A. Both connectors were damaged beyond repair. I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't seen it myself - that woman must have the grip strength of an enraged gorilla.
- imhoguy 7y ago
  Long time ago I jammed headphones minijack into USB-A of tower case computer - you know, one with ports so low just above the floor. There was a spark and the computer powered off instantly. Thanks goodness it powered on fine and the USB port was still working fine. To this day I hate audio ports next to USB-A in some laptops.
- watersb 7y ago
  The RJ-45 socket on my MacBook was right next to a USB-A socket. I once inserted the USB into that Ethernet port, no jamming, and doscovered that indeed they are almost exactly the same width. It wasn't stuck in there. Hmm.
- technofiend 7y ago
  I've actually seen someone plug in a DB 25 upside down! Every pin in the male connector was bent and the metal hood which mated with the socket was flared out.

jdietrich 7y ago

My grandmother once jammed a USB-A plug into an RJ45 socket. I needed large pliers and no small amount of cursing to remove it. Note to self: do not tell an elderly person "don't worry, you can't plug it in wrong, the plugs will only fit in the right sockets".

ebg13 7y ago
I assume you meant type B, not type A, but anyway, lol. I had a somewhat similar "bad advice that always used to work" experience recently with someone, except this case was a proprietary USB-to-10P10C cable for APC UPS control, and they thought it was a USB/Ethernet adapter. Of course 10P10C and 8P8C modular connectors are exactly the same size and shape.
- jdietrich 7y ago
  Nope, type A. Both connectors were damaged beyond repair. I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't seen it myself - that woman must have the grip strength of an enraged gorilla.
imhoguy 7y ago
Long time ago I jammed headphones minijack into USB-A of tower case computer - you know, one with ports so low just above the floor. There was a spark and the computer powered off instantly. Thanks goodness it powered on fine and the USB port was still working fine. To this day I hate audio ports next to USB-A in some laptops.
watersb 7y ago
The RJ-45 socket on my MacBook was right next to a USB-A socket. I once inserted the USB into that Ethernet port, no jamming, and doscovered that indeed they are almost exactly the same width. It wasn't stuck in there. Hmm.
technofiend 7y ago
I've actually seen someone plug in a DB 25 upside down! Every pin in the male connector was bent and the metal hood which mated with the socket was flared out.