Freddy's 'electricity escapade' closely mirrors one of my own at age 8 or 9. I was getting annoyed with the moths that decided to flit around my bedroom when I was attempting to sleep. (They had doubtless escaped from my father's wallet - more on that another time.) I decided that electrocution was the answer and made up a 'probe' by fastening a piece of wire (from a paper-clip) to one sprung plunger inside a bayonet socket that was at one end of an extension cable used for a table lamp. [The bayonet socket was effectively the same as one still uses in a ceiling light; it would accept a plug with bayonet fittings as found on a light bulb. The other end took a two-pin (unearthed) plug that went into a socket at skirting level. Nowadays, of course, proper 13a plugs and sockets would be the norm.]
The 'probe' would not have worked, even if connected to the live plunger, as no circuit was completed by touching the moth, or anything else unless it was effectively earthed. But, weapon in hand, I advanced on my quarry when it alighted on a table and succeeded in prodding it. Nothing happened, so I prodded harder - and the wire must have twisted to the side to touch the other plunger: BANG, FLASH and all the house lights went off as the fuse was blown. I dropped the probe and I remember it bouncing off my bare leg, so it was just as well that it was then 'dead'. It only took me a minute to retrieve and dismantle the 'evidence' - before dad came into my room to tell me (unnecessarily) that a fuse had blown so my reading light would not work. As such blown fuses were not uncommon (our wiring was then pretty hairy, especially after a few of dad's 'improvements' - another story there to tell) so no suspicion fell on me and the moth lived to flit another day.
I have had a few 'proper' electric shocks over the years, all accidental and arising from a fault or contact with a live circuit that shouldn't have been. Luckily, I've never experienced more than a tingle, probably because I was not properly earthed, but I treat electricity with respect - but not with fear; it can be worked on 'live' if necessary if care is taken.