To be totally 'open' about it, it is totally consistent in the discussion. Its the yin to the yang, the light to the dark. Simply, it is the totality of a concept. If you have shorts that are many times actually opens, then it confuses. To add clarity, this discussion of a short involved generalizations thrown out which perpetuates the ongoing ignorances encountered. Many opens are called shorts, many shorts aren't shorts. In your definition of a short you state that when you get electrocuted your 'shorting' out a circuit. We'll agree to disagree on your assertion that your 'shorting' out a circuit, when in actuality you are just electrocuting yourself. If a circuit your electrocuting yourself with has a safety device called a GFI, it is simply a safety device to limit the current passing through your body so it interrupts the source of electricity to keep you alive. Shorting a circuit almost always results in damage to the parts of that circuit, that is why fuses/circuit breakers (protective devices) are installed. When the current going through the wrong path (short) is not of (or not yet) sufficient to cause the circuit protection device to 'blow' or 'trip', then additional damage occurs. When it happens to very low voltage/current 'signal' circuits, it could take a whole lot of expensive components with it (especially) when it involves a buss connected to many co-located devices throughout the equipment/machine/vehicle (before that circuit protective device trips). As a footnote you CAN correct wiki articles, they allow that when posts are not accurate. I choose not to correct articles like that because quite frankly, I don't need (18, 180, 1800, 18000, 180000, ect...) replies along the same lines as yours about your assertion of your definition that you 'short' out a circuit. So, we'll agree (?) to disagree on your definition of a short. I'm OK with that.