Remember that we're in a time of immensely rapid technological change. It may seem like things have slowed down compared to the 1900s, but it hasn't really; it's the nature of what's changing that's changed. The things to be fixed and worked on have changed, too.
My grandfather had to figure out how to work on cars by himself because his dad didn't know - and grandfather wasn't needful of knowing how to shoe a horse like his father could.
I had to figure out how to get my first computer (a ZX-81) plugged in and working because my folks had no experience there. (And I never did get the $&\(36_* tape drive working...)
I don't think it's bad that we need to learn how to do new things. The important thing is, I think, understanding the process of figuring something out, and also learning to recognize when one is at the point of "ask, because this just isn't looking right!"
But then I guess I'm just feeling extra hopeful or something this morning. Dog asked to be let out at 5am rather than "Surprise!" So there is that. :-)
Us girls of a certain generation had to figure out how to do a lot of things, because mom often wasn't in the home, as she was working. Cooking, cleaning properly, fixing "around the house" type issue and becoming DIYers. I made sure all my kids new all the basics to do for themselves (I homeschooled them all), and they were shocked at all their friends who didn't know how to even wash their clothes or load and run the dishwasher, much less sew an entire Renn Faire outfit from scratch. The ability to "figure it out" is highly valuable in not feeling helpless when something doesn't work right in life.
Excellent point Tiff, I didn't mean to exclude y'all. I made sure both my daughters knew how to check under the hood and how to change a tire before I let them drive by themselves...
No worries! I totally agree with you on what you said, was just including a "yep! That's true for girls/women, too". There aren't parents/grandparents in the home as much to teach those skills or the resilience to figure it out. Good on you for teaching them the "manly" things, too! You don't know when you will need to do that by yourself, whether change a tire for a female, or sew a button for a male.
My dad was 'the guy' folks went to when something needed fixing. I don't know if I'm there myself, but I do know I've fixed a lot of stuff and back when we lived in Sacramento I helped a lot of neighbors with things they couldn't fix themselves.
That goes x10 for those of us who are stagehands. On a regular basis, we are presented with something that has never been done before, and is "designed" by a "designer" (you thing engineers are bad? Clearly, you've never met a "designer"...10x the hubris and ego, and none of the common sense of an engineer...frightening, i'n'it?) Because there's a couple million bucks riding on the show, and we gotta make it work, because no one else can..., that's what makes the job "fun" (for given values of fun) Do we get credit for pulling it off? well, aside from a paycheck, we might get a t-shirt, but that's about it...
I just had to fix my dryer. It's old enough to vote and I have no plans to replace it or its matched washer. They're both infinitely repairable, given parts. Amazingly, they're both still being made. Parts, from a variety of makers, are cheap and readily available.
Now if only I could find a pickup truck with the same qualities.
Older vehicles, especially those manufactured before the mid-1980s without electronic control units (ECUs), are generally considered less vulnerable to EMP effects. This is because they rely on mechanical systems rather than sensitive microelectronics for critical functions like ignition and fuel injection.
Same here, but buying in less rust prone regions is a viable option. The older vehicle parts are readily available, and simpler systems can be easily serviced with basic tools.
My father was a really talented guy when it came to fixing anything. He taught me the most important skill: Figure out how it works, then you can figure out how to repair it. And the attitude: Heck, I'm either going to cure it or kill it.
And so, I learned mechanical repair, carpentry, farming and gunsmithing. Electrical; ummm... low voltage DC circuits, OK; AC is best worked on dead.
Having the tools and knowledge of how to use them is quite helpful as well.
Or it just could be the fact, most men have a strong distrust of authority, including instruction manuals. Unless from a trusted source; "my dad told me how to fix it."
From left field a quote I think nobody has seen, but it fits. As the rabbis said (said its going to out of left field) In a place were there are no men, strive to be a man.
Man is a social animal, with all sorts of different skills, dispositions and strengths. That's part of our nature. So whatever the future brings, some will always be there to step up and say "what about...?"
Spot on. I never thought it unusual that my dad taught me carpentry, plumbing, electrical, and auto and mechanical repairs and maintenance.
And field expedient work arounds. (For example, thanks to dad, I know how to break air wrenched bolts on the flat front tire of a tractor rig on a Florida key on a 4th of July weekend with just a jack, a four way lug wrench and wood chock blocks.)
Till I realized it was. This was really driven home to me several years ago when I came across a couple of guys in football letter jackets on the side of the road looking at a flat tire. I turned around to check on them.
They were ready to cry. There was no cell signal and...THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
Long story short, I walked them through the process of changing the tire with the spare and tools that they had no idea existed under a trunk panel.
On the larger question, it doesn't help that cars, electronics, and appliances are being designed to be difficult to work on with just the items in your tool box.
The tough part was finding someone with enough patience to even show you how to do something once, let alone answer questions. I had to learn how to wrench in high school because my dad was worn out after long hours at work.
Nowadays, YouTube videos are the stand-in for most learning, such as how to replace a brake light on a 2014 Honda Pilot. Mind you, I had to wade through the ones put up by Herby and his Three Hammers to find a good one. 🤦♂️
Remember that we're in a time of immensely rapid technological change. It may seem like things have slowed down compared to the 1900s, but it hasn't really; it's the nature of what's changing that's changed. The things to be fixed and worked on have changed, too.
My grandfather had to figure out how to work on cars by himself because his dad didn't know - and grandfather wasn't needful of knowing how to shoe a horse like his father could.
I had to figure out how to get my first computer (a ZX-81) plugged in and working because my folks had no experience there. (And I never did get the $&\(36_* tape drive working...)
I don't think it's bad that we need to learn how to do new things. The important thing is, I think, understanding the process of figuring something out, and also learning to recognize when one is at the point of "ask, because this just isn't looking right!"
But then I guess I'm just feeling extra hopeful or something this morning. Dog asked to be let out at 5am rather than "Surprise!" So there is that. :-)
Boris, my point is people don't 'seem' to be willing to even try to figure things out, they just go buy another (whatever) and go on... sigh
Us girls of a certain generation had to figure out how to do a lot of things, because mom often wasn't in the home, as she was working. Cooking, cleaning properly, fixing "around the house" type issue and becoming DIYers. I made sure all my kids new all the basics to do for themselves (I homeschooled them all), and they were shocked at all their friends who didn't know how to even wash their clothes or load and run the dishwasher, much less sew an entire Renn Faire outfit from scratch. The ability to "figure it out" is highly valuable in not feeling helpless when something doesn't work right in life.
Excellent point Tiff, I didn't mean to exclude y'all. I made sure both my daughters knew how to check under the hood and how to change a tire before I let them drive by themselves...
No worries! I totally agree with you on what you said, was just including a "yep! That's true for girls/women, too". There aren't parents/grandparents in the home as much to teach those skills or the resilience to figure it out. Good on you for teaching them the "manly" things, too! You don't know when you will need to do that by yourself, whether change a tire for a female, or sew a button for a male.
Truer words were never spoken.
My dad was 'the guy' folks went to when something needed fixing. I don't know if I'm there myself, but I do know I've fixed a lot of stuff and back when we lived in Sacramento I helped a lot of neighbors with things they couldn't fix themselves.
That goes x10 for those of us who are stagehands. On a regular basis, we are presented with something that has never been done before, and is "designed" by a "designer" (you thing engineers are bad? Clearly, you've never met a "designer"...10x the hubris and ego, and none of the common sense of an engineer...frightening, i'n'it?) Because there's a couple million bucks riding on the show, and we gotta make it work, because no one else can..., that's what makes the job "fun" (for given values of fun) Do we get credit for pulling it off? well, aside from a paycheck, we might get a t-shirt, but that's about it...
Wow, I knew y'all worked your butts off, but I didn't realize the depth of your problem... wow...
Our job is to make the magic happen...whatever that takes...
I just had to fix my dryer. It's old enough to vote and I have no plans to replace it or its matched washer. They're both infinitely repairable, given parts. Amazingly, they're both still being made. Parts, from a variety of makers, are cheap and readily available.
Now if only I could find a pickup truck with the same qualities.
Older vehicles, especially those manufactured before the mid-1980s without electronic control units (ECUs), are generally considered less vulnerable to EMP effects. This is because they rely on mechanical systems rather than sensitive microelectronics for critical functions like ignition and fuel injection.
Unfortunately, highway maintenance in my region dissolves cars and trucks.
Same here, but buying in less rust prone regions is a viable option. The older vehicle parts are readily available, and simpler systems can be easily serviced with basic tools.
Sigh... don't get me started on that one... I found a nice 60s pickup, but they wanted WAY too much for it...
My father was a really talented guy when it came to fixing anything. He taught me the most important skill: Figure out how it works, then you can figure out how to repair it. And the attitude: Heck, I'm either going to cure it or kill it.
And so, I learned mechanical repair, carpentry, farming and gunsmithing. Electrical; ummm... low voltage DC circuits, OK; AC is best worked on dead.
Having the tools and knowledge of how to use them is quite helpful as well.
Maybe this innate tendency is what disinclines us to ask for directions, read instruction manuals, and assembly directions.
These things have all become tropes that contribute to the emasculation of the American male.
Or it just could be the fact, most men have a strong distrust of authority, including instruction manuals. Unless from a trusted source; "my dad told me how to fix it."
My husband is the fix-it guy, and our youngest daughter has it as well. We fix things to keep them going, she’s getting her bachelors for electrician.
Spent the first summer we lived in Tiny Tiny Dying Town teaching the Minion how to repair and disassemble things.
Spent last summer teaching the manly art of salvage to a couple of 16 year olds.
Next week I start teaching it again to one of the now 17 year olds and an 18 year old.
Fun times.
Oh, and 21 years ago in the land of sun and fun I was teaching young Marines how to properly swing a hammer. . .
From left field a quote I think nobody has seen, but it fits. As the rabbis said (said its going to out of left field) In a place were there are no men, strive to be a man.
You are 100% right. As sad as it is.
Bear in Indy
Man is a social animal, with all sorts of different skills, dispositions and strengths. That's part of our nature. So whatever the future brings, some will always be there to step up and say "what about...?"
Spot on. I never thought it unusual that my dad taught me carpentry, plumbing, electrical, and auto and mechanical repairs and maintenance.
And field expedient work arounds. (For example, thanks to dad, I know how to break air wrenched bolts on the flat front tire of a tractor rig on a Florida key on a 4th of July weekend with just a jack, a four way lug wrench and wood chock blocks.)
Till I realized it was. This was really driven home to me several years ago when I came across a couple of guys in football letter jackets on the side of the road looking at a flat tire. I turned around to check on them.
They were ready to cry. There was no cell signal and...THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
Long story short, I walked them through the process of changing the tire with the spare and tools that they had no idea existed under a trunk panel.
On the larger question, it doesn't help that cars, electronics, and appliances are being designed to be difficult to work on with just the items in your tool box.
The tough part was finding someone with enough patience to even show you how to do something once, let alone answer questions. I had to learn how to wrench in high school because my dad was worn out after long hours at work.
Nowadays, YouTube videos are the stand-in for most learning, such as how to replace a brake light on a 2014 Honda Pilot. Mind you, I had to wade through the ones put up by Herby and his Three Hammers to find a good one. 🤦♂️