TV Screen Shrinking Vertically to 1 line

[lynx]

Years ago a neighbour of mine needed to discharge a CRT.
In the stairwell of the block of flats we were living in, I watched, transfixed, as he tied one end of a piece of wire to a metal railing and the other to a large screwdriver, then eased the screwdriver under the cap on the CRT.
He's now a pretty successful systems developer, despite what looked like a death wish.

Why would he do it to the railing.

So he wouldn't fall down the stairs when he got a shock from the CRT.

[Chewie]

Years ago a neighbour of mine needed to discharge a CRT.
In the stairwell of the block of flats we were living in, I watched, transfixed, as he tied one end of a piece of wire to a metal railing and the other to a large screwdriver, then eased the screwdriver under the cap on the CRT.
He's now a pretty successful systems developer, despite what looked like a death wish.

Why would he do it to the railing.

To discharge the CRT through them, via the screwdriver and (electrical) wire.