I think we have all done something like that. Many years ago, in the days of transparencies and overhead projectors, I was setting the projector up at the start of a Ham Radio class I was teaching. It was early on in the course and the subject was very basic circuits.
I was setting the projector up at the start of a class using an extension cord since the projectors cord was about a foot too short.
When I plugged the two (I thought) together the projector failed to light up. After some head scratching and checking the bulb one of the students gleefully held up the plug end of the projector cord, not attached to anything. I had plugged the 30 foot extension cord into itself. :S