Do guys do "guy stuff" anymore?

ohskigod

there are a lot of factors involved in this. I, for example, dont really turn wrench on my car. I dont have auto mechanic skill.......at least to a point that I have confidence in it. If my life depended on changing my brakes I could research how to do it and do it.....but if I eff up...I have no brakes. thats bad.

I have little mechanical skills in some ways, but alot in others. depends on the situation and mood. I actually built a Bass Guitar on a Lark. Just wanted to do it for sh*ts and gigglez........it's the best sounding Bass in my Arsenal (not the prettiest though..lol). thanks to the skills I gleaned in doing this, I can do my own Bass setup....Intonation, neck adjustment. I rarely have to see the set up guy unless it's something really nutty. Probably related to my onvious ability to set up and do things AV related to the point I do it for all my friends....(yet i suck balls at car audio....go figure)

I used to be useless for home repair, though i have improved significantly in this regard since owning my own home......don't do electrical on my own no matter how simple it is. I have some plugs I want to upgrade to 3 prong before Polkfest....I will proobably get an electrician to do it. again, if life depended on it I could figure it out, but I panic about being wrong and I am not as proficient as I would like to be in it.

I can fix simple plumbing stuff thouggh (emphasis on simple) I have changed drains, have unclogged some nasty **** clogs myself with a snake and a lot of determination). I take solace in the fact that in the 2 times in the last decade I called a plumber for a clog.......it was none to easy a job for him.

I call a Heat/AC company to do meintenance on my central air/heat unit twice a year...I want it done right.

I can change my own tire though....but when I put new wheels and tires on the Mustang, I will probably have someone mount and balance them....again...want it done right.

mystik610

bobman1235 wrote: »

That's a load of crap. Most "guys" i know who have a lot of money have nothing but time. And more to the point, doing things themselves would SAVE them time. See my post above about waiting 45 minutes for a tow truck to change a flat rather than spending (at most) 10 minutes doing it yourself.

Most 'guys' I know who have a lot of money, have a lot of money because they work. Hence: no time.

There are things that I do myself if its faster for it to do myself....I do more automotive work on my own cars than most people do. Most of the improvements in my house, including re-tiling the kitchen and fixing the drywall in my garage when my AC crapped out and leaked water everywhere....I did myself (with help). I'm sure most of the guys here are doing their own home theater installation and wiring.

One thing I don't do myself is cut the grass...or any kind of yard work. I fertilize and water my lawn and thats it. Not that its anything terribly complicated, but I'm working AT LEAST 40 hours a week right now, and taking grad school classes two nights a week. There are better things I can do than spend my saturday morning outside in the 100 degree texas heat. I'd much rather spend what little time I have left with my wife and 2 year old son then save a few bucks.

In my wife defense...I dry clean most of my clothes...even things that don't necessarily need to be dry cleaned. She works pretty long hours too (shes a nurse), and there are better things she can do with her time then iron my work clothes all day.

We also do take out a lot (though we always keep it healthy). My wife and I actually enjoy cooking (cooked a mean blackened chicken pasta last night), but with me getting home around 6:30, and her getting home an hour later on days she works, there's flat out no time to cook. So we pay someone else to do it!

There are a lot of other things that I've paid someone to do before (nothing I can think of at the top of my head), that I probably could have figured out, had I taken the time to learn....but time isn't a luxury that a lot of people have.

snow

There is very little given the time and proper tools that I cant fix or build, but we have became a world of specalists, it used to be many years ago that if you needed something done you either did it yourself with the tools and supplys you could find locally or it didnt get done. I cant say that it is a guy thing either I know women who arent afraid to tackle virtually any job but they are getting fewer.

People used to be jacks of all trades because it was neccesary, if you lived on a farm or out in the woods you not only drove the tractor you also learned how to repair the tractor and build that shed, there wasnt a hardware store within 5 minutes of climbing in your vehicle nor were there skilled craftsmen that were only a cell phone call away.

People now are absolutley paralyzed at the thought of attempting to do something themselves, and to me its easier than it ever was, with the internet you can find detailed instructions on how to do almost anything and a store that will sell you the tools needed is only a few minutes away for most.

On the other hand I see things that people have tried to fix and they would have been far better off calling someone to do it for them, I once went out to help a lady out with some work on her house and seen a lawn tractor that was laying there in about 300 pieces and she asked me if I could fix it, I said sure but its going to take a few hours considering she didnt have a repair manual and I wasnt even certain if all the parts were there. It is far easier to put something back together if you are the one that took it apart.



REGARDS SNOW

PhantomOG

I find it fascinating that a bunch of people who spend hundreds, thousands, and possibly hundreds of thousands of dollars on audio equipment and countless hours listening to that equipment would point to another group of people and belittle them on how they spend their disposable time and income.

Time does equal money. Sure I agree its good to know how to change a flat or fix a leaking toilet. But everyone has their own line in the sand. Just because you personally find it worth your time and effort to tile your own bath tub and I pay someone else to do it, I'm less of a man? F that. :rolleyes:

mrbigbluelight

No Time + No Money + No Energy + No Knowledge = I-Don't-Give-A-Crap-It-Has-to-Get-Done-And-Get-Done-Now-So-Get-It-Done =


Like the Nike slogan:


JUST DO IT

Jstas

PhantomOG wrote: »

I find it fascinating that a bunch of people who spend hundreds, thousands, and possibly hundreds of thousands of dollars on audio equipment and countless hours listening to that equipment would point to another group of people and belittle them on how they spend their disposable time and income.

Time does equal money. Sure I agree its good to know how to change a flat or fix a leaking toilet. But everyone has their own line in the sand. Just because you personally find it worth your time and effort to tile your own bath tub and I pay someone else to do it, I'm less of a man? F that. :rolleyes:

Um, no.

Number one, I don't sit and listen to my audio equipment for hours on end. I rarely take the time to do that. I'm usually doing something else at the same time. There are those here who look down on me for that but, it's my stuff, I'll use it as I please.

Secondly, I didn't say that you were less of a man because you don't do it. I said I find it baffling that what I've known all my life as "guy stuff" other guys seemed totally perplexed by not only the stuff but that I actually do it myself. Your attitude is the prevailing attitude it seems and it confuses me. I'm just looking for insight. Not whiny people being **** about it nor people of lesser character attempting to belittle me over what I can do.

LessisNevermore

Jstas wrote: »

Well, you could be but to be like me, you'd have to hate you and you seem too shallow to be able to do that.

That was deep.

Is a virtual slap in the nuts still manly?:D:D

PhantomOG

Belittle? The whole premise of this thread is chest thumping. If that's what you want to do, I say go for it. Just own up to it and be prepared for people to call you on it.

And if it truly isn't chest thumping the what the hell are you perplexed by? The fact that not everyone in the world is exactly like you? That maybe some people were raised in families that were different than yours? That people had parents who worked hard and had more time than money to do things around the house? That people worked hard so they could have the money to not have to do the things they dislike doing or have no desire to learn how to do? This honestly baffles you??

Pauly

Jstas wrote: »

Secondly, I didn't say that you were less of a man because you don't do it. I said I find it baffling that what I've known all my life as "guy stuff" other guys seemed totally perplexed by not only the stuff but that I actually do it myself. Your attitude is the prevailing attitude it seems and it confuses me. I'm just looking for insight. Not whiny people being **** about it nor people of lesser character attempting to belittle me over what I can do.

Go back and read how you come off. That you are BETTER because you can, vs the people that pay to have it done. Thats how I read it.

There will always be people that WANT to and people that will pay or dont want to.

Lets see how you spin this one....

Pauly

snow

PhantomOG wrote: »

I find it fascinating that a bunch of people who spend hundreds, thousands, and possibly hundreds of thousands of dollars on audio equipment and countless hours listening to that equipment would point to another group of people and belittle them on how they spend their disposable time and income.

Time does equal money. Sure I agree its good to know how to change a flat or fix a leaking toilet. But everyone has their own line in the sand. Just because you personally find it worth your time and effort to tile your own bath tub and I pay someone else to do it, I'm less of a man? F that. :rolleyes:

In defense of John.... Never thought I would be saying that I think what he was surprised by is not that people dont have the time to do a lot of things for themselves or that there any less manly for choosing to hire someone but that most people are amazed that that he has the ability to do these things because their unwilling to even try and in fact are completely overwhelmed by the thought of doing it themselves.

I see people every day that would perish within weeks or less if there were any sort of real disaster, they simply dont know how to or even have the willingness to try to hunt, fish, grow a garden, cut firewood or do any of the things that would be needed to survive in a world without electricity and fuel let alone actually fix or build something.



REGARDS SNOW

concealer404

I ate Chinese Food that was delivered to my place of dwelling last night, because i wasn't manly enough to go out and kill my own food.

That said, eating chinese food out of a cardboard box is pretty manly. So it still qualifies as "guy stuff."

jflail2

I do as much as I can on my own; I am only limited by my lack of skillz. I've helped my dad lay tile in his basement and bathrooms, helped build a fence from scratch, helped build a storage shed, laid brick for a retaining wall and cut more wood than I'd ever want to admit to.

We did these things b/c we simply couldn't afford to have someone come do them for us. Sure my dad could afford the tile, but he couldn't afford the tile AND having someone else do the work for him. So he went to Home Depot, took one of their free classes on laying tile, read a couple books and then a group of us got to work.

It was simply necessary due to budgetary constraints.

I've never had anyone else change a tire for me in my life. I think everyone's perspective is different based on their skill set. While my uncle is a plumber, the idea of possibly f'ing up a pipe job and having a leak in my house scares the stuffing out of me; as does electrical work (as you mentioned.)

My dad is an aircraft mechanic going on 42 years in the field. I think we were instilled with a can do attitude b/c of his "it must get fixed and I must fix it" attitude that he carried over from work to home.

Jstas

PhantomOG wrote: »

Belittle? The whole premise of this thread is chest thumping. If that's what you want to do, I say go for it. Just own up to it and be prepared for people to call you on it.

And if it truly isn't chest thumping the what the hell are you perplexed by? The fact that not everyone in the world is exactly like you? That maybe some people were raised in families that were different than yours? That people had parents who worked hard and had more time than money to do things around the house? That people worked hard so they could have the money to not have to do the things they dislike doing or have no desire to learn how to do? This honestly baffles you??

No, it's not chest thumping.

I already spelled out what perplexes me.

Fine, you can't do anything that I can do. So what? I don't look down on you for your lack of ability. Hell, I've posted pages upon pages of "long-winded" and "know-it-all" posts here helping out people just like because I know how to do something and you don't. How is that looking down on you? What's the saying? Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime.

What I wanted to know is why people are perplexed by my abilities and why they are so amazed by the things I am willing to accomplish that others aren't.

What's so hard to understand?

I have worked hard. I have the money to pay others to do for me. I choose not to because I don't see the point in spending my money when I could accomplish something myself. That concept baffles others. What perplexes me is why people like you are baffled by people like me.

Jstas

Pauly wrote: »

Go back and read how you come off. That you are BETTER because you can, vs the people that pay to have it done. Thats how I read it.

There will always be people that WANT to and people that will pay or dont want to.

Lets see how you spin this one....

Pauly

Yeah, and you know what? You should read how you come off.

How you take it is on you. Especially after I've attempted to clarify my point several times and you still come at me with this BS. I don't really care how I come off anymore because it's people like you that have a problem no matter what I write. It was nice when you weren't here. It was one less jerk to deal with. You should go away again so I can continue to not miss you.

snow

concealer404 wrote: »

I ate Chinese Food that was delivered to my place of dwelling last night, because i wasn't manly enough to go out and kill my own food.

That said, eating chinese food out of a cardboard box is pretty manly. So it still qualifies as "guy stuff."

You could have at least killed the delivery driver

REGARDS SNOW

concealer404

Good point. I'll dress in camo and track him tonite using only my nose and my eyes.

PhantomOG

Jstas wrote: »

What I wanted to know is why people are perplexed by my abilities and why they are so amazed by the things I am willing to accomplish that others aren't.

No.... that's not chest thumping. People find my abilities perplexing and are amazed at my accomplishments!!!!

Jstas wrote: »

What perplexes me is why people like you are baffled by people like me.

I can positively say that I am neither baffled nor perplexed by you. Does that baffle or perplex you?

szhleppy

As a guy named Courtney, it's mandatory to do as much "guy stuff" as possible.

Seriously though, it depends on the task and time involved. This last weekend I installed a water softener by myself...a project I had no business taking on in the first place, just ask Bill. On the other hand, I pay someone to take care of my pool and landscaping. A few years ago I put up rain gutters by myself on the backyard side of my house....all they did was collect water and eventually drip in the corners. Ended up paying a guy to replace them a few months ago.

PhantomOG

szhleppy wrote: »

A few years ago I put up rain gutters by myself on the backyard side of my house....all they did was collect water and eventually drip in the corners. Ended up paying a guy to replace them a few months ago.

A couple years ago I put up vinyl gutters bought from Home Depot as well. If I had to do it again, I would definitely pay someone to do it right the first time.

concealer404

PhantomOG wrote: »

A couple years ago I put up vinyl gutters bought from Home Depot as well. If I had to do it again, I would definitely pay someone to do it right the first time.

You're quite obviously not a man, nor good at "guy stuff" if you can't put up gutter by yourself in a correct manner. Turn in your man card, pansy. ;)

sucks2beme

My old man didn't have a mechanical bone in his body. Of course, the world
was pretty much all "horses" when he was young. He learned how to drive in
WWII.
You get the skill from doing. Start anywhere and build up. Given the amount
of information on the internet and DIY stuff on tv, you'd think everyone would
be doing it. But in my neighborhood, most people write the check.
No time because they work 60 hours a week in an office.
I personally avoid mechanics like the plague. I could shotgun around and change a lot of stuff and still cost me less. And most of the time I can get pretty close the first time via a little research. And with son #1 being a former mechanic, I could always ask him.

Pauly

Jstas wrote: »

Yeah, and you know what? You should read how you come off.

How you take it is on you. Especially after I've attempted to clarify my point several times and you still come at me with this BS. I don't really care how I come off anymore because it's people like you that have a problem no matter what I write. It was nice when you weren't here. It was one less jerk to deal with. You should go away again so I can continue to not miss you.

Well if you don't care they why all the splainin Lucy? Sorry if you have thin skin and cant take a little Criticism. You don't always have to get your panties in wad when someone disagrees with you. Its called opinions and just like a$$holes, everyone has one......

BTW I think i'll frequent more. Kinda miss it around here :cool:

Pauly

Jstas

PhantomOG wrote: »

No.... that's not chest thumping. People find my abilities perplexing and are amazed at my accomplishments!!!!

No it's not. Mainly because, for one, I can't find where I wrote those words in this thread. I can only assume that those words are how you perceive my posts. Why, I do not know because I've written my questions and intentions in plain English. You are choosing to assign meaning to my words that aren't there and now you are going to argue with me about something I did not say. You can cram your smileys where the sun don't shine for all I care.

PhantomOG wrote: »

I can positively say that I am neither baffled nor perplexed by you. Does that baffle or perplex you?

I honestly don't care. Next time I see you on the side of the road with a flat tire, I'll keep going.

szhleppy

concealer404 wrote: »

You're quite obviously not a man, nor good at "guy stuff" if you can't put up gutter by yourself in a correct manner. Turn in your man card, pansy. ;)

Ha...exactly what I thought! It was a pretty good laugh though the first time it rained after I installed them myself....very little water coming from the downspout, but plenty rolling over the sides of the gutter....

potee

I'm 70 years old I take care of my lawn do the mowing edging and weed whiping, maintain the pool and do anything else that needs doing. Changed a tire in the parking lot of a resturant that was across the street from a repair place I had time why waste money. 3 years ago I built a privacy fence around the yard a board at a time. Could I afford to have it done? Yep but I enjoyed the work. So to each his own. 2 of my sons think I'm nuts 1 of them is the same way. It's not money it's what you like.

snow

szhleppy wrote: »

As a guy named Courtney, it's mandatory to do as much "guy stuff" as possible.

Seriously though, it depends on the task and time involved. This last weekend I installed a water softener by myself...a project I had no business taking on in the first place, just ask Bill. On the other hand, I pay someone to take care of my pool and landscaping. A few years ago I put up rain gutters by myself on the backyard side of my house....all they did was collect water and eventually drip in the corners. Ended up paying a guy to replace them a few months ago.

Wow!! That is a very mean thing to do to a boy. Have you ever considered a name change? If it hasnt been done due to a lack of money I will offer to pay for you to change your name to something like Ghengis Rambo Wayne the third to make up for the years as Courtney.

REGARDS SNOW

concealer404

How about "Tiberius Jagger Thor III?"

Jstas

Pauly wrote: »

Well if you don't care they why all the splainin Lucy? Sorry if you have thin skin and cant take a little Criticism. You don't always have to get your panties in wad when someone disagrees with you. Its called opinions and just like a$$holes, everyone has one......

BTW I think i'll frequent more. Kinda miss it around here :cool:

Pauly

It's not criticism you're offering. You're putting words and intentions in my post that aren't there and now you're being insulting about it. You're trolling.

concealer404

I'm manly enough to not argue on the internet.

szhleppy

snow wrote: »

Wow!! That is a very mean thing to do to a boy. Have you ever considered a name change? If it hasnt been done due to a lack of money I will offer to pay for you to change your name to something like Ghengis Rambo Wayne the third to make up for the years as Courtney.

REGARDS SNOW

concealer404 wrote: »

How about "Tiberius Jagger Thor III?"

Name change? Maybe if I had really low self-esteem I'd give it some consideration...on the other hand, Gunner has a nice ring to it....