Bare light bulbs in closets are a safety hazard. I know of that first hand. You see that bulb there -- assume that the socket is not loose -- well people do things like use closet bulbs as hangers. I know that one firsthand. My dear departed dad (yes Heather that was great grandpa Lee) once hung his baseball cap on a similar bulb in his closet. Now you can forgive him, he was about 95 years of age at the time. This condition of the bare bulb is common around Bellingham and Whatcom county -- probably everywhere there are older houses.

Anyway, this was years ago and I got a call from my mom. She had smelled burning and found the source. A few days later I installed a covered light fixture for them. 

Even if a person does not hang a hat or a scarf on such a light, there is a risk that clothing will get too close to it and result in combustion. These bulbs get way hotter than people realize. And no, putting a bare fluorescent bulb in the socket is not the right solution either!

Thanks for stopping by,

Steven L. Smith