To be genuinely frightened of my Oodie!!!!

[SimpleSay]

I have an Oodie that I bought last year. Our house is extremely chilly in winter and hard to heat, so it really serves a purpose.

When I took it off yesterday, by lifting it up and over my head, I got quite a powerful static shock. I wore it again today, thinking it was a strange, one off occurance, but when I lifted it up and over my hair, I could hear audible static. I got it off as quickly as I could once I heard that, but it felt like it might combust. I know I sound crazy, and in all my years on this earth, and having experienced many little static shocks over the years, something just doesn’t seem right.

Am I being totally unreasonable, or is my fear justified. I’m a little afraid to wear it, as the static and friction when removing it tonight seemed so intense.

This. I think it's the combination of man-made fibres. Try wearing a cotton top underneath and see what happens.

Use fabric conditioner or tumble dryer sheets to prevent static build up. Look at what you are wearing underneath or even your footwear as that could be causing the friction, and try different combinations. It's usually your footwear tbh.

When I was younger we used to have Damart vests and we actually turned off the lights just to watch the lightening show when getting ready for bed. Also wiping the TV screen to get the static buzzes. Fun times

I voted YANBU. Largely because the replies are brilliant. Thr original premise is a little bit extreme, and no you should not be afraid of a piece of clothing, but thank you for cheering up my dreary Sunday morning.

I have nothing useful or humourous to add though!

Like some others, in the 80s I had a nylon nightie of some description and hours of fun were to be had by pulling it away from your body in the dark and watching the light display. LOL. I also affectionately remember all the talk about spontaneous combustion.

Try taking it off in the dark 👍

It won't stop the static but you'll get to see the light show too!

Ah I'd forgotten the nylon nightie light show! Slightly scary for a 5 year old but fascinating too!

Definitely the footwear. Wear wellies with it at all times to act as an insulator.

Yes! I remember reading articles/stories about, in particular, older ladies who had spontaneously combusted while watching TV in their favourite armchair. It seemed quite a usual thing to happen in the 80s (or at least to my young mind!).

They reckon that some cases of Spontaneous Human Combustion are caused by static

nods wisely

If you fall to the floor and rolled around would that work? Like earthing yourself? (Know nothing about electricity)

I remember reading a story (as a kid) about a lady in an American of spontaneously combusted and a theory was it was due to the amount of eggs they ate. Was always cautious about eggs after that 😂

OP would be wise to lay off the eggs whilst wearing her Oodie. Imagine just trying to keep warm and being a 3 egg omelette away from disaster. Hope you have some naice slippers @SimpleSay for the newspaper report photos once you’re an SC victim. You don’t want to be remembered for smouldering Shoe Zone bargain slippers.

Actually, thinking about it….. have we solved the mystery of Boris Johnson’s barnet? ⚡️⚡️⚡️ He must have an Oodie on before he goes on camera. No amount of hairspray or brushing willl remove the static.

I’m glad I’m not the only one still haunted by the pic of the charred leg still wearing the granny slipper.

<shudders>

Arthur C Clarke’s Mysterious World magazine!!

I think mine was in The Reader’s Digest Mysteries of the Unexplained!