The ability to fix things would be sexy, masculine ability to have, but regrettably testing confirms that I possess low spatial intelligence and therefore have no business getting my hands dirty. My only chance to acquire enough resources to be able to trade for the needed repairs.
I don't fix things. I make things. I have artistic ideas but that's all lol
Deliberence from evil wrote:
The ability to fix things would be sexy, masculine ability to have, but regrettably testing confirms that I possess low spatial intelligence and therefore have no business getting my hands dirty. My only chance to acquire enough resources to be able to trade for the needed repairs.
No, because im really good at fixing things...... like a man
Jimmy21 wrote:
Deliberence from evil wrote:The ability to fix things would be sexy, masculine ability to have, but regrettably testing confirms that I possess low spatial intelligence and therefore have no business getting my hands dirty. My only chance to acquire enough resources to be able to trade for the needed repairs.
No, because im really good at fixing things...... like a man
Same. Same x 2... and I feel great about it. Thanks for reminding me, OP.
Dude you have the internet with millions of hours of instructional videos. How hard could repairing shit be, you have seen the guys that repair things for a living, right?
My father tried to make me feel bad about my lack of mechanical inabilities but it did not get to me. I've never felt lesser because I can't choke a carburetor with my bare hands, a paperclip and a two inch piece of Duck Brand Duct Tape.
can give her a dugital release wrote:
My father tried to make me feel bad about my lack of mechanical abilities but it did not get to me. I've never felt lesser because I can't choke a carburetor with my bare hands, a paperclip and a two inch piece of Duck Brand Duct Tape.
https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/44bffe81-eb71-43dd-ba29-90731a38bbf8_1.de5c2d03b3b2d040ac6019598f4423ad.jpeg?odnHeight=450&odnWidth=450&odnBg=FFFFFF
But I do feel poorly about my inability to write a sentence that makes sense.
That's because you don't take the time.
People ask me all the time "how did you know how to do that?".
My standard response is "I didn't, but now I do.". So you just have to start doing things until you figure it out. I wouldn't choose a kitchen remodeling job as your first handy man task though.
A big problem for beginners is the tools. You know all those tools you see at Home Depot, the ones where you have no idea what they do... well you need ALL of those. I have a basement full of tools but every project I'm buying more. Lack of the right tool will make many home repair projects impossible.
In addition to needing tools, you need space. Car repair isn't a game for apartment dwellers, nor is woodworking.
once you have basic tools and space, fixing stuff is more about leaning and practicing a bunch of specific tricks than it is about spatial reasoning.
I can't fix anything and no, it doesn't make me feel like less of a man. I am an Ivy League graduate. Unless they were engineering majors, Ivy League graduates don;t fix things.
I did once change a tire and then drive at 85 mph on the Interstate and no one, including me, was killed. I thought that was pretty amazing.
Mr Doesnt Fix It wrote:
I can't fix anything and no, it doesn't make me feel like less of a man. I am an Ivy League graduate. Unless they were engineering majors, Ivy League graduates don;t fix things.
I did once change a tire and then drive at 85 mph on the Interstate and no one, including me, was killed. I thought that was pretty amazing.
Getting a degree from an Ivy tells us what again?
Yes, I suck at fixing things. I've done a bunch out of necessity, youtube is a savior, but I have no skill and no patience for it.
Every time I start fixing something my wife goes "oh thank you, that's so good... you're trying so hard..." like I'm a six-year old. Thank me when I'm done. Or not, since I usually screw it up.
I redid every floor, countertop, and electrical outlet and switch in our house, and have fixed many of our crappy appliances, but it takes me a loooong time and many mistakes along the way (fortunately none serious).
Mr not fix it wrote:
I redid every floor, countertop, and electrical outlet and switch in our house, and have fixed many of our crappy appliances, but it takes me a loooong time and many mistakes along the way (fortunately none serious).
Why do you say you are no good at fixing stuff then? This is the common experience. It takes time and you make a lot of mistakes the first time. The second time is the charm though because you already bought the tools and got the beginner's mistakes out of the way so it goes quickly and cheaply.
3hr-marathoner wrote:
Mr not fix it wrote:I redid every floor, countertop, and electrical outlet and switch in our house, and have fixed many of our crappy appliances, but it takes me a loooong time and many mistakes along the way (fortunately none serious).
Why do you say you are no good at fixing stuff then? This is the common experience. It takes time and you make a lot of mistakes the first time. The second time is the charm though because you already bought the tools and got the beginner's mistakes out of the way so it goes quickly and cheaply.
Totally agree. Start small, and look for minor accomplishments and "practice"-- for me, that included helping build stage sets for my kid's drama productions and volunteer-day projects at senior citizens' houses. (Usually more-skilled people around for help, and mistakes aren't on your house/item.) As others have mentioned, many online resources to guide you.
I'm no good w mechanical stuff either but am cheap. If I can fix something myself not only do I feel proud to have sort of overcome an area of weakness but I also save money. My wife is the one always telling me to just take the thing in , etc. Example recently--a frozen mtn bike headset, which I fixed and replaced myself while she shook her head the whole time I was wrestling w it
DiscoGary wrote:
People ask me all the time "how did you know how to do that?".
My standard response is "I didn't, but now I do.". So you just have to start doing things until you figure it out. I wouldn't choose a kitchen remodeling job as your first handy man task though.
A big problem for beginners is the tools. You know all those tools you see at Home Depot, the ones where you have no idea what they do... well you need ALL of those. I have a basement full of tools but every project I'm buying more. Lack of the right tool will make many home repair projects impossible.
I think another problem is lack of interest/effort. For some people it seems daunting because they don't know where to start. But you're right- anyone can start by taking the toilet tank lid off and learning what makes it flush. They'll figure it out eventually.
A lot of projects aren't really even that hard, especially considering the amount of YouTube instructionals and forums for pretty much every hobby and car. I think there's a certain intimidation factor that stops people from even starting though.
Deliberence from evil wrote:
The ability to fix things would be sexy, masculine ability to have, but regrettably testing confirms that I possess low spatial intelligence and therefore have no business getting my hands dirty. My only chance to acquire enough resources to be able to trade for the needed repairs.
Sometimes. But I feel better about my ability to pay someone else to when needed.
In a small way fixing stuff is a little like running. There are those who fuss about how hard it is and how they are no good at xyz and have no talent. And then, there are those who just go out and do the damn thing without giving it any thought.
Is there a rule against attaching a helium balloon to yourself while running a road race?
Am I living in the twilight zone? The Boston Marathon weather was terrible!
How rare is it to run a sub 5 minute mile AND bench press 225?
Move over Mark Coogan, Rojo and John Kellogg share their 3 favorite mile workouts
Mark Coogan says that if you could only do 3 workouts as a 1500m runner you should do these
Red Bull (who sponsors Mondo) calls Mondo the pole vaulting Usain Bolt. Is that a fair comparison?
