system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: Why did my highschool and college instal outlets upside down?
gpt
Installing outlets "upside-down" (with regard to standard US outlet placement) is considerably safer.  If the plug is pulled slightly out of the outlet and something falls into the outlet, if the outlet is "right side up" chances are pretty good the object will bridge the hot - neutral prongs.  That can cause the circuit breaker to trip or even set the object on fire.  If the outlet is "upside down" the falling object will strike the ground plug first and it's much less likely for it to short the circuit as it's falling.