Date: Thu, 14 Aug 2008 09:49:11 -0700
Reply-To: neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Are Today's Young People Mechanical Nitwits?
In-Reply-To: <c803c1a70808140836m389e1c11hb657af5ff826ec24@mail.gmail.com>
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I can totally agree with 4.
Amongst other things, my Dad was a decent carpenter. Not so good with
cars though. He wasn't a man of words, but he tried to be patient with
me and relay what info he could. Regardless, I had to learn the hard
way getting my seized '58 Beetle, unstuck and running. Great
experience which continued into having several more of them. Having
more "crusty old guys" to dispense information, would have been a big
help though.
In fixing up/converting my Vanagon, thankfully, there are people on
this list, crusty or otherwise, who have dispensed a lot of great info
to me and others. Sure has set a lot of my self taught, uh, skills,
straight! And I've learned many more.
I say take the time to teach the young if possible. I don't have
offspring (the world will thank me later) but if I had, I would hope
I'd be able to impart some mechanical wisdom.
For the most part, the "crusty old guy" cycle has been broken, due to,
in part, disposable cars and the perception that one always has
"money" (credit cards) to pay for work needed, or just get a new car.
Bad news all round IMHO.
Neil.
On Thu, Aug 14, 2008 at 8:36 AM, Jeff Lincoln <magikvw@gmail.com> wrote:
> Ed,
>
> I think the issue here has several factors:
>
> 1) Car companies place warnings like that as to not void certain warranties
> (possible)
> 2) It is a ploy to provide more revenue to the dealers. (probable)
> 3) Cars aren't quite as simple as they used to be. (True but should stop DIY
> repairs)
> 4) It requires a crusty old guy to teach the young ones how to do such
> things. (true so true)
>
> As for number 4 well I can attest that I would be a lot further along had
> someone taught me how to do certain mechanical things when I was young.
> Becoming a driver will come along with home courses on changing oil, tires,
> bulbs, checking and filling fluids, etc etc. when my son reaches that age.
> All things that I was never shown at home. Sure a lot of these things seem
> simple no brainers but when your "young and inexperienced" that may not be
> so evident.
>
> Great topic.
>
> --
> Thanks,
>
> Jeff
> '90 Carat (Grover)
> '86 (We call this one Parts)
> '78 Bus (Melissa) Patty's Bus
>
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