The kiwi can-do attitude. Is it dead?

[Whynot]

As a do it yourselfer totally agree. Practical Skills are going out the window and theres a serious shortage of people learning new ones. Having a go and the "fix it with no. 8 wire" was a real kiwi attitude but it seems to be becoming a thing of the past. Obviously not everyone can do but there seems to be way less people willing to try.

I have yet to see anyone "fix" something with no. 8 wire that wasn't just a shitty bodged job. Most of the people who claim they can fix everything just end up making it worse before having to call someone in who actually has a clue ....

[Ixion]

Lets not forget compliance, OSH, ACC.

Besides, my time is worth far more then what I'd pay a mechanic to do the job properly, I just can't take time off work, and I have a family I would rather spend time with.

...

This is actually somewhat of a red herring. Firstly, those on salary don't get paid more (or less) for more (or less) hours spent. I could argue that instead of doing my own maintainence, I could take on more private work (I charge out at $150 per hour for private stuff), and use the proceeds to pay someone else to do the maintainence.

But that's not a simple trade off. Taking on more work means more stress, more dealines. I'm answerable to someone else, a customer. I usually have to do most or all of it away from home. Doing it involves me in commitments into the future (upgrades etc). And it's more of the same stuff I do all week. So I never get a break, a change of pace.

The $150 an hour is more than I'd have to pay an outsider to do the maintainence. But, consider:

Working on the bike , I'm my own master. i do what I want, when I want. I have no deadlines or commitments other than those I set myself. I do it at home. I can enjoy a beer while I work. or stop and put my feet up. I can knock off any time and join Mrs Ixion for a coffee or glass of wine. She can wander down occasionally, "how is it going dear, oh my you are very dirty, please don't get grease on the carpet AGAIN".

And if it be some task relating to house, building this, painting that, fixing t'other, then she is pleased .And grateful. If I spent the hours that I spend on handyman stuff working for money, she'd never see me. I'm sure she prefers it this way. And, as she says "It keeps me off the streets and out of the pubs". (Oh. Bugger. I never noticed that draw back before!)

Those with children may of course include the bonding experience of father and son mutually bashing each others fingers with hammers. When I was a very small lad, I always "helped" my father - by nailing some pieces of scrap timber together, with a very small hammer and very small blunted nails. I still remember how much pleasure "helping dad" gave me. I hope he also enjoyed it, I like to think he did. A far richer experience than watching dad go off to work to make some more money to pay someone else to do those things.

[Ixion]

Technology is certainly becomming more and more complex - I'd like to see the 'can-doer' who can fix his/her own cellphone/computer/'pretty anything electronic' if it starts to go tits up.

..

Why? I fixed a busted cell phone over the weekend. The other week, Mrs Ixion's stereo. And one evening this week I will have to fix my lap top which has died to the accompaniment of a ghastly eldritch shriek.

Some electronics is unserviceable. By anyone. That doesn't affect the basic premise. If it CAN be done, I'll do it. or, at any rate , assess the practicality.

[Badjelly]

Im by no means an 'old' bugger

"Old bugger" is a state of mind really. You sound just like one of the geezers on "Grumpy Old Men". Welcome to the club!

[Horse]

I fixed my laptop a couple of weeks ago... after I broke it. Had to take it apart to reset the CMOS (only way to do it is it remove the battery), and when I tried to remove the battery the whole battery holder lifted off the motherboard - complete with one of the PCB pads! One new soldering iron with extra-extra-fine tip later, the laptop lived once more, without losing its mind every time I turned it off.

I don't really know my way around engines - but I wouldn't buy a fully made up name-brand PC for the home or office (being self-employed I get to make these decisions) on principle.

[Thunder 8]

I have yet to see anyone "fix" something with no. 8 wire that wasn't just a shitty bodged job. Most of the people who claim they can fix everything just end up making it worse before having to call someone in who actually has a clue ....

I Know what you're saying but i did'nt actually mean use no.8 to fix something just the idea of having a go.Can be quite surprising what can be achieved with a little effort.

[avgas]

Its pretty much a combination of all of the above.
To be honest there is also a negative aspect of the 'can-do' kiwi attitude as well.
I have time and time again seen people NOT bite the bullet to get a professional to do the job because of their own arrogance. I have even become victim to my own self confidence.
The only people that have more can do attitude than NZ is China. And look at the quality that rolls out of there. Makes you think about how the world see's NZ sometimes.
Are we a nation of Innovative Geniuses or one of half arsed "She'll-be-right" yokels?
Its the age old argument - built not bought?
Seen to many cars with chopped springs, poor paint jobs, stick-on tinted windows and rangi welded big bores to say that NZ'rs always get it right.

[avgas]

I once fixed an fence with No. 8 wire. Next time i will hire a professional fence person. Or shoot the animals.

[Ixion]

I Know what you're saying but i did'nt actually mean use no.8 to fix something just the idea of having a go.Can be quite surprising what can be achieved with a little effort.

Actually , #8 is overrated. #12 is much more useful. #8 just got the rep cos it was universally available, along every road.

[Thunder 8]

Actually , #8 is overrated. #12 is much more useful. #8 just got the rep cos it was universally available, along every road.

Hahaha yea i reckon.

[martybabe]

Those with children may of course include the bonding experience of father and son mutually bashing each others fingers with hammers. When I was a very small lad, I always "helped" my father - by nailing some pieces of scrap timber together, with a very small hammer and very small blunted nails. I still remember how much pleasure "helping dad" gave me. I hope he also enjoyed it, I like to think he did. A far richer experience than watching dad go off to work to make some more money to pay someone else to do those things.

What a lovely memory, I'm sure the old fella enjoyed it as much as you, everyone of my kids has helped me build stuff, with varying degrees of success/disaster but I wouldn't have missed a minute of it even though quite often, I had to fix there help after they'd gone to bed.

[Squiggles]

Those with children may of course include the bonding experience of father and son mutually bashing each others fingers with hammers.

Hell yeah, he got me good one day , got em back though

Ill do most myself, till i cant or its impractical to do so (like changing tyres, tis easier to have cycletreads do it with the tools i dont have)

[avgas]

What a lovely memory, I'm sure the old fella enjoyed it as much as you, everyone of my kids has helped me build stuff, with varying degrees of success/disaster but I wouldn't have missed a minute of it even though quite often, I had to fix there help after they'd gone to bed.

I helped dad put the carbs on the XS850 when i was about 3. He found out the hard way doing 130 on the motorway back home one night. Seems a mystery nut fell in the carb when dad fired up......carb didnt close.
With a pull off the clutch, flick into neutral and kill of the motor dad got her off to the side of the road to inspect the carb. He said that was the FIRST time i had tried to kill him.

[martybabe]

I helped dad put the carbs on the XS850 when i was about 3. He found out the hard way doing 130 on the motorway back home one night. Seems a mystery nut fell in the carb when dad fired up......carb didnt close.
With a pull off the clutch, flick into neutral and kill of the motor dad got her off to the side of the road to inspect the carb. He said that was the FIRST time i had tried to kill him.

I'd think at three years of age you'd know how to put a carb back together fer cripes sake. Good one mate.

[fridayflash]

Talked about this very same thing yesterday to a mate who is into HSV's.(sad but true). He reckons the employment contracts acts has stuffed NZ. Longer hours for the same pay means no time to fix anything or learn how. If you need family time you have got to pay someone to do the vehicle stuff for you. Plus the dads don't spend as much time with their kids, so no role models. Throw in a record divorce rate and a handout society and you have heaps of leaderless kids.

My mate pays for his HSVs by doing the work himself but sadly he sold his last bike this month. No time for both.

I reckon the DIY culture is slowly dying piece by piece.

totaly agree with you, lots of throw away products and 7day trading compounds the problem