Okay, basically Joe's diagrams (those are wonderful, thank you) and path49's directions are the same. No two wires from the same cord on the same pin. That's where the mistake was. Luckily, I have no light wiring involved - it's internal, so I should be able to handle this. It's too bad my son is working in southern Ohio. He's my fix it person.
So the bare copper wires can touch as long as they aren't from the same cord. That's what was freaking me out. I have always been careful to not let uncovered wires touch. Thank you, everyone.