I’m jumping in here pretty much knowing that I’m going to end up being a sacrificial lamb, but I’ll forge ahead and attempt to speak on behalf of all the guys who month after month, year after year, post the same repetitious questions about basic, elementary problems and then leave here bloody when they don’t ”get it” the first time. Most of these guys are wanting to “learn how to fish”, but, like me, they are starting from such a basis of ignorance that the learning curve is very protracted.
Most of these guys, like me, did not grow up learning how to set ignition points, kit carburetors, grind valves or change out seals and bearings. I had no one to learn from: even my Dad, who could build or fix damn near anything out of wood or steel, and who had two N tractors, knew very little about motor mechanics. We had a dairy farm, and between milking twice a day and going to school, I had little time to learn on my own.
In the later lean years simple economics forced me to learn how to do lots of things. I bought Chiltons manuals and learned how to do my own brakes. Chilton also taught me how to replace clutches in my 67 Cutlass and my 65 Falcon, as well as water pumps, steering pumps, etc. For many years I lived in the city, worked in an office, and had no equipment to maintain other than my auto. Now I have a few acres in the country, a couple of tractors and a couple of mowers, but I’m still basically ignorant on many aspects of N mechanics, especially the electrical part, but I try…
I recognize myself in many of the guys who post here; they want to learn, but the discussion on many of these questions---especially the electrical---pretty quickly leave them (us( in the dust.
To complicate matters for a newbie (or a “dumbie”) there are often conflicting responses. A newbie has no idea which poster to trust.
Another complication is that the guys here who know their stuff too often assume a level of understanding that does not exist on the part of the newbie. They tell the newbie to execute a procedure or test assuming he knows what to do and how to do it, or they use jargon or trade terminologies that (we) don’t understand. Really, guys, this stuff is not as intuitive as some of you seem to think it is---you need to speak very slowly. I think I’m correct in assuming that you gurus are here with the intent of conveying helpful information to the more developmentally-challenged who seek your counsel.
Often the newbie is scolded for not referring to the manual; well, here again, that manual can be pretty hard to understand if you ain’t been-there-done-that. Some guys, like me, are pretty much visual: I just about have to see it done.
And now, the biggest complication of all: some of the guys who know this stuff inside and out and who respond to questions simply are not effective communicators (BruceVA, who threw out the idea for this thread, is a notable exception). Whether it’s by mangling the language (purposely or unintentionally) , speaking in code or shorthand, or by the inability to make a point in a straightforward, logical way, some guys fail to convey what they understand so well themselves.
To the newbies, the dumbies, and all those truth-seekers who have had their feelings hurt by the way they got manhandled here, I’ll offer this:
Remember the “Soup Nazi” on Seinfeld? Well, it’s a lot like that here. But all in all, the boys who field your questions here generally serve up a pretty good bowl of soup. Sometimes, though, it will leave a bad taste in your mouth.
Apologies for the lengthy post. You can drum me off of the board now.
