Polarization of plugs seems to be of far greater concern to the British/Irish committees than in Continental Europe. Even though the French receptacles are polarized, many electricians don't seem too worried about which way they wire them anyhow.

The ironic thing about the lampholder question is that the U.K. -- with its insistence on polarized plugs -- has the double-contact bayonet holders in most table-lamp applications.

There are cases where polarization of the plugs is desirable, but I think that in some instances the case is overstated. If the plug on, say, a portable drill or a kitchen blender is reversible, it doesn't really matter.

(OK, fellow Brits, go ahead and call me a traitor... [Linked Image]).