You only need to Discharge the monitor if you are going to do some work/taking it apart. Same thing with TV if you are going to do some work with the TV tube, just a precaution so you won't get killed by the HIGH CAPACITOR charge within the TUBE, or a KID standing by you that see a HOLE and stick thier fingers in it, you discharge it. I been working with them myself and most of the time I don't discharge it because I put it back together right away, but if I am to leave it apart for just an hour or two that i won't be around, I discharge it and put the tube somewhere so no KIDDIES will screw with it, I just don't want to come home later and find a couple of bodies lying around the tube with the FINGERS in the HOLE. FIRE IN HOLE...LOOKOUT.....