2 Feb
2006
2 Feb
'06
2:01 p.m.
On Thursday 02 February 2006 11:40 am, Joe R. wrote:
I was talking to a buddy of mine about this at
lunch. He's an old ham and
used to build a lot of stuff. We were noting how people don't buy their
kids things like Tinker Toys or Erector sets or anything that encourages
them to build things. I don't know all the reasons why but I've been
noticing for years that FEW people build or repair things. I've tried to
sell electonic companents and tools at the hamfests and no one is buying. I
had a big box of top quality Utica tools for $3 each that I took to three
hamfests and I sold ONE tool. When I was growing up MOST men repaired their
own cars (at least minor repairs) but now very few people even change their
own oil. I look at the modern hot roders and laugh. They hang a different
exhaust tip on their car and think they have a race car! I BUILT my first
car (Meyers Manx dunebuggy). I think the small size of the components
deters SOME repairs/projects but I think that's only a small part of the
problem. Most people are totally clueless about repairing or building
ANYTHING.
Joe
It's a cultural thing. And for as long as I can remember those that worked
with their hands were looked down on by those who didn't, and that attitude
seems to have carried over into the present day, even though most of those
"white collar" jobs I see are a freakin' joke, and most of the folks who
hold that attitude couldn't say why they do. It also appears to be a very
much urban vs. rural thing, too -- the more rural you are, the more likely
you are not to have that attitude.
At 01:12 PM 2/2/06 -0800, you wrote:
>One thing I've been concerned about for a while is what seems to be the
>lack of electronics building skills. *My* feeling is the desire to work
>on this stuff is going away and I'm not sure why. I DO NOT BUY the
>argument that components are so small now that nobody can build or hack
>equipment anymore as I view that more of an excuse for not building.
>
>It also seems that most (not all) of the people I know that collect
>computers now (and used them in the 70's and early 80's) are fairly
>competent at working on electronics.
>
>Are kits at all desireable to build by newer entries into electronics
>and computers? Or existing builders?
>
>Comments?
--
Member of the toughest, meanest, deadliest, most unrelenting -- and
ablest -- form of life in this section of space, a critter that can
be killed but can't be tamed. --Robert A. Heinlein, "The Puppet Masters"
-
Information is more dangerous than cannon to a society ruled by lies. --James
M Dakin