You Know What Really Grinds My Gears? Now with 3x more gears...

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by bc-chris

this made me think of this pic (there is definitely a bit of truth in the pic)....
1733105138511 by bc-chris

Now now, plenty of time in the day for both

[Party Elephant]

Originally Posted by bc-chris

^^wouldn't know.... i've never used facebook





i don't understand why there isn't a course in high school for this (that you need to take to grad - maybe there is, i gradded 30+ years ago so i have no clue)... just basic life skills that so many kids don't seem to have.
maybe i'm lucky that my dad was handy and would fix stuff himself (and of course he had his trusty sidekick there helping him - so i learned a ton of that kind of stuff growing up), but i am amazed at how many people (even younger buddies of mine in their 30s) just don't have some basic 'life knowledge'.
basic vehicle mechanics/maintenance
basic plumbing
basic electrical
basic house maintenance (whaaa?? there is a filter in my furnace?!?!)
basics to making a household budget
stuff like that

Mechanics is offered in a lot of the big high schools in Calgary. I took mechanics in grade 10 and I'm a stupid useless millennial.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by bc-chris

^^wouldn't know.... i've never used facebook





i don't understand why there isn't a course in high school for this (that you need to take to grad - maybe there is, i gradded 30+ years ago so i have no clue)... just basic life skills that so many kids don't seem to have.
maybe i'm lucky that my dad was handy and would fix stuff himself (and of course he had his trusty sidekick there helping him - so i learned a ton of that kind of stuff growing up), but i am amazed at how many people (even younger buddies of mine in their 30s) just don't have some basic 'life knowledge'.
basic vehicle mechanics/maintenance
basic plumbing
basic electrical
basic house maintenance (whaaa?? there is a filter in my furnace?!?!)
basics to making a household budget
stuff like that

Electrical and plumbing vs changing a filter in your furnace is is a significant difference.

[curves2000]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

You measure the air pressure of Ubers and taxis?

Jesus. Hope you tip.

Serious question. When you know modern cars have digital screens that show a multitude of car information, why argue?? You know that they show tire pressure, oil life percentage, advanced driver assist features and a lot more.

What would you think if you were in a car that was making a warning noise and flashing low tire pressure and indicating the pressure? Are you just incapable of figuring that out by glancing over? Do you have a drivers license? Or do you think that a TPMS warning light/pressure indicator is indicating how many minutes until liftoff to go to the moon?

If your actually this dumb as a person and as a driver, please indicate year, make, model and plate of your car to warn other drivers. You probably shouldn't be on the road if your not capable of reading warning signs.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by missdpuck

Let’s see. I bought it myself. My previous 2 vehicles were higher end-albeit used- than my present Hyundai, and they came with inflators.

They did come in handy, so my little brain decided I should buy one for this car.

Tire pressure? What’s tire pressure? I just wait til
they’re almost flat.

I don’t even know. I drive until I hear a weird flapping sound or the people behind flash their high beams and then drive up beside me pointing at the tires.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Vehicle maintenance is actually very straight forward once you've taken the time to learn to do it properly.

You save so much dough and it doesn't take a lot of time. Certainly much less than waiting hours for a dealership's servicing department to get around to your car to swap out a filter and rotate tires and charge you an exorbitant rate for what amounts to not much labour.

Even changing and inspecting brakes can get down to just an hour or two when you've got the hang of it.

Mind you it works for me because I bought a dependable vehicle that doesnt need a lot outside of regular maintenance. If you're driving a dodge or jeep with a reputation of things breaking down then you'll be taking it in regardless.

[curves2000]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Electrical and plumbing vs changing a filter in your furnace is is a significant difference.

100% there is a difference but there is a lot of truth to what BC Chris is saying too. There is a generation of guys who are beyond useless with these type of things. I am talking about basic basic basic things and there is zero excuse.

I see it with some my friends and tenants I have. Panic calls about power out/electrical plugs not working. You go over and see that it's the breaker. Friends who are too lazy/scared/stupid to unscrew by hand a leaky faucet aerator and literally go next door to Canadian Tire to buy a new one and hand screw back on. When I mean next door, I mean next door. "I'll just call a plumber who knows what he is doing" I have 4 guys in a rental who couldn't tighten the screw on a loose oven handle, " it broke off" they said.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

What's sadder though is that none of them got even the orientation, let alone home maintenance 101 course from their parents.

While yeah, they could take the initiative to figure some of these things out, many didn't get taught ####.

I had a handy dad who did nearly everything. But he wasn't a good teacher so only some of it was absorbed. It's enough to make me handy enough to handle basic issues, but really unless you're going into that field for work then you need the right type of upbringing and mentoring to have a chance to learn those practical skills.

It really should be incorporated into schools. So many useless option classes exist when kids could be learning basic life skills and go into adulthood with a modicum of confidence. Instead, kids are clueless and don't have role models to show them the ropes of how to live and survive.

To disparage them while discounting the environment they were raised in (where commonplace stuff from decades ago is no longer commonplace) is a little unfair.

[bc-chris]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Electrical and plumbing vs changing a filter in your furnace is is a significant difference.

i'm not talking wiring up or plumbing a house - ha!
stuff like

- replacing the flapper valve in a toilet
- replacing the toilet tank fill valve
- realizing the water in the toilet tank is clean (not waste water)
- changing a light switch to a dimmer switch
- knowing why an old dimmer switch doesn't work with leds
- replacing a faucet
- basic home maintenance

i don't know... it's hard for me to think of stuff becuz to me it's just common sense

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by curves2000

Just for clarification purposes, I don't go around checking other peoples tires randomly. This is friends cars, Uber and taxi's and more. One Uber driver had his tire pressure in the teens and early 21's. These are suppose to be professionals. Nobody cares with their TPMS going crazy, especially during the cold snap. It's a safety issue, a fuel economy issue and more.

My gear grinder still stands. Men should be taught or know how to do the most basic of things for their car maintenance. What is the argument here? Learning basic life skills?

What is the other argument about? Show of hands who's wife, spouse, girlfriend looks after their own basic car maintenance? If they do, great. If your having your wife/spouse go out in -30 weather for tire pressure your a real winner in my book.

Is this a feature in the Uber app, seeing the tire pressure of the driver’s vehicle? Can you set minimum tire pressure you’ll accept before accepting the ride?

[Jason14h]

Once you know how to use tools YouTube can basically Show you how to fix anything .

But it’s crazy the amount of people who have never used and / or don’t own a basic tool set compared to 30 years ago

With the internet and YouTube you would think handyman and trades would be dieing jobs , but instead they are the highest demand ever

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by curves2000

Serious question. When you know modern cars have digital screens that show a multitude of car information, why argue?? You know that they show tire pressure, oil life percentage, advanced driver assist features and a lot more.

Cool, I actually didn’t know that. For one, because my vehicles as a few years older and don’t have those features (I’m not worried about keeping up with the Joneses like you and your friends) and two, because in all the times I’ve been in an Uber or a Taxi I’ve never seen or heard warning lights go off. Maybe you’re exaggerating (first time for everything!) or just have terrible luck. But it seems really weird to make this a whole generational thing because of a few instances.

Instead of calling these people dumb, perhaps you could put your wealth of knowledge on the subject to some use and politely inform them of the issue and how to deal with it? Might make nice conversation. Even if they’re women, because you may not know this, but women can and should be taught these things too. They’re very capable. They can even be trusted to put air in a tire (I know, crazy).

Originally Posted by curves2000

I see it with some my friends and tenants I have. Panic calls about power out/electrical plugs not working. You go over and see that it's the breaker. Friends who are too lazy/scared/stupid to unscrew by hand a leaky faucet aerator and literally go next door to Canadian Tire to buy a new one and hand screw back on. When I mean next door, I mean next door. "I'll just call a plumber who knows what he is doing" I have 4 guys in a rental who couldn't tighten the screw on a loose oven handle, " it broke off" they said.

Can you list your rental properties so we can inform them that instead of doing your job without fuss you’re doing it and then putting your tenants on blast online?

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

Once you know how to use tools YouTube can basically Show you how to fix anything .

But it’s crazy the amount of people who have never used and / or don’t own a basic tool set compared to 30 years ago

With the internet and YouTube you would think handyman and trades would be dieing jobs , but instead they are the highest demand ever

There are a few complex things or things requiring expensive tools (or tools with limited use) that I’ll weight the cost on, but otherwise you’re right, YouTube can teach you 90% of any work you’d need to do on your vehicle or home.

It’s really been great.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Instead of calling these people dumb, perhaps you could put your wealth of knowledge on the subject to some use and politely inform them of the issue and how to deal with it? Might make nice conversation. Even if they’re women, because you may not know this, but women can and should be taught these things too. They’re very capable. They can even be trusted to put air in a tire (I know, crazy).

Hilarious piece of advice coming from you.

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

There are a few complex things or things requiring expensive tools (or tools with limited use) that I’ll weight the cost on, but otherwise you’re right, YouTube can teach you 90% of any work you’d need to do on your vehicle or home.

It’s really been great.

For sure - or some things that aren’t worth the risk . I bought a new sink off the internet and then hired a plumber to come install because after watching videos it seemed like it would end up taking a full day and causing me many swearing moments and potentially have to still call a plumber (was going from a duel side sink to single drain so needed to change the config of piping)

But so many things are quiet easy once you know the basics and you can usually order the part(s) online and have them on your doorstep the next day or so

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

For sure - or some things that aren’t worth the risk . I bought a new sink off the internet and then hired a plumber to come install because after watching videos it seemed like it would end up taking a full day and causing me many swearing moments and potentially have to still call a plumber (was going from a duel side sink to single drain so needed to change the config of piping)

But so many things are quiet easy once you know the basics and you can usually order the part(s) online and have them on your doorstep the next day or so

This is true. I was intimidated by a lot of home reno things, like swapping out toilets, but once you watch enough YT videos it’s pretty easy to accomplish. It’s always a balance between cost of tools and time vs hiring somebody. Or even just stuff you acknowledge a lack of aptitude for. I cannot come anywhere close to how fast or good a drywall person can tape and mud, so I don’t even bother. But changing out a light fixture or adding a water filter is easy peasy. There is really no need for high school classes any more. If I want to change my own oil, I can ask a friend how or watch a video specific to mu car of motorbike.

[NinePack]

Cancer, it took my mom today
Such a disgusting terrible suffering disease. On the bright I am so glad she free from it now. I was terrible to watch, lucky I was able to spend over month with family. I am out of town.

[keratosis]

Originally Posted by Wormius

This is true. I was intimidated by a lot of home reno things, like swapping out toilets, but once you watch enough YT videos it’s pretty easy to accomplish. It’s always a balance between cost of tools and time vs hiring somebody. Or even just stuff you acknowledge a lack of aptitude for. I cannot come anywhere close to how fast or good a drywall person can tape and mud, so I don’t even bother. But changing out a light fixture or adding a water filter is easy peasy. There is really no need for high school classes any more. If I want to change my own oil, I can ask a friend how or watch a video specific to mu car of motorbike.

Most of my home car repairs are thanks to YouTube video's. Most home repairs still take some sort of skill. I remember more than one occasion while delivering concrete to weekend warriors wanting to pour patios.
Welp, here you go. 12 tons of concrete maybe put your rubber boots on and work fast mkay?

[Party Elephant]

Originally Posted by NinePack

Cancer, it took my mom today
Such a disgusting terrible suffering disease. On the bright I am so glad she free from it now. I was terrible to watch, lucky I was able to spend over month with family. I am out of town.

Sorry for your loss

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

Once you know how to use tools YouTube can basically Show you how to fix anything .

But it’s crazy the amount of people who have never used and / or don’t own a basic tool set compared to 30 years ago

With the internet and YouTube you would think handyman and trades would be dieing jobs , but instead they are the highest demand ever

In a lot of cases it’s simply learned helpless. “I don’t know how to do any of that stuff (and can’t learn)” is a way to get people to do stuff for you.

My sister is in her late 50s, single, and I’m pretty sure has never picked up a screwdriver, wrench, or hammer a single time in her life. I doubt she has even put together a piece of Ikea furniture.