I’ll be assuming the pole is not grounded (electrically isolated from Earth, the earth pin of sockets, radiators, plumbing etc.)
The difference is not DC vs AC but between it being connected across two screws, for which a high current source (hundreds of amps at negligible voltage) will heat the metal up - as opposed to connecting a voltage (like 120V mains for AC or 170V single-diode-rectified & smoothed mains for DC) referenced to ground to the pole. The former will draw a lot of current from the source through the screws and metal between them, heating it up. A car battery could briefly deliver hundreds of amps and several kW, making them glow red hot. The latter will create a potential between the pole and ground, which will only draw current when a load is connected between the pole and the ground. For AC, a person’s body’s capacitance to ground, even with insulating shoes, is enough to feel a tingle. For AC or DC of sufficient voltage (above 60 V), they will get a shock if they touch ground and the pole, completing the circuit.
I’ll be assuming the pole is not grounded (electrically isolated from Earth, the earth pin of sockets, radiators, plumbing etc.)
The difference is not DC vs AC but between it being connected across two screws, for which a high current source (hundreds of amps at negligible voltage) will heat the metal up - as opposed to connecting a voltage (like 120V mains for AC or 170V single-diode-rectified & smoothed mains for DC) referenced to ground to the pole. The former will draw a lot of current from the source through the screws and metal between them, heating it up. A car battery could briefly deliver hundreds of amps and several kW, making them glow red hot. The latter will create a potential between the pole and ground, which will only draw current when a load is connected between the pole and the ground. For AC, a person’s body’s capacitance to ground, even with insulating shoes, is enough to feel a tingle. For AC or DC of sufficient voltage (above 60 V), they will get a shock if they touch ground and the pole, completing the circuit.