I wonder what they think of us ... (Non-Valk)

[Lyn-Del]

I had a piece of equipment to assemble this afternoon.  I pulled out the instructions and it said that it required two persons and to allow 1-2 hours for the assembly.

Well, drat.  I don't have a second person, so I decided to try it on my own.

45 minutes later, I was done.  Didn't even break a nail.  Heck, I didn't even chip my nail polish.

What do they think of us that it should take twice as many people and possibly twice as long as it took me to do it alone?  Are people really that inept at assembling things?

Also interesting to me was the fact that the first language on the instructions was German (marked D) and the second was English (marked GB).   No Asian language directions of any kind on the papers.

[old2soon]

Was this thing you assembled gubmint funded?  RIDE SAFE.

[Lyn-Del]

nope.  if it were, surely it would have required permits, surveys, and OSHA compliance! 

It was just a different type of dog crate I wanted to try out in the truck for travel.....

[Bighead]

Lyn-Del they teach folks today to not think for themselves so it probably would take twice as many and twice the time for someone who don't know how to reason

[Michvalk]

The answer to your question is, Yes, people are that inept, and incapable of following instructions. With two people, the chances are better they will accomplish the task at hand. That's why handymen are so busy...LOL

[Lyn-Del]

That's embarrassing.  Granted, the directions didn't make much sense but most parts could only fit one way. 

To think that a lone no-longer-young woman could do the task that easily yet they believe it takes two.

Did I mention I didn't even break a nail?  Long nails can get in the way, but I survived.

[Michvalk]

Most people are not even sure which end of a screwdriver to hang on to

[old2soon]

I've met you and ridden with you darlin. You strike me as a very capable woman. Those directions are aimed at folks that sue cause the coffee is too cursed hot!  Those directions are aimed at folks that don't have a clue!  Need I go on??  RIDE SAFE.

[da prez]

  I stopped one late afternoon to help a stalled motorist. I found the problem and he asked if he could help. In the front box in the service truck is a phillips screwdriver. If you could get it ,I can get you on the road. After a few minutes ,he came and gave me a pliers. I asked for a phillips. He hung his head down and said " I do not know what a phillips is".  I got it  ,showed him , fixed the car and left. He tried to pay me. I wouldn't take anything.

                                                da prez

[solo1]

That is also why there are YIELD signs at railroad crossings.

[Willow]

Phyllis, in my opinion it's not so different than those recommended speed signs on curves.  Sometimes you or I see a curve matked thirty miles per hour and wonder where that came from.  Truth is they set those signs for the worst possible (within reason) scenario, worst driver in the least maneuverable vehicle.

Maybe those assembly estimates and instructions are along the same lines.  Now and then it's nice to prove to ourselves that we're in the upper half.   

[musclehead]

it took me six hours to install a set of air horns the first time 

[Patrick]

Yep, what Michvalk says.  Thats a problem that appears to be getting worse.

[Odin1]

 Maybe after an extensive case study during Octoberfest it took 2 Germans 2 hours to put it together.

[czuch]

Remember "SHOP CLASS"??
Theres your problem. Heres your sign. When they stopped shop class, the blue collar pool started drying up. There is no motivation to fix your own car, house or what have you.
Everyone wants to be an indoor in the air conditioned type guy. They even have classes on ettiquite in collages now. How to hold a fork and knife. My Mom taught me that, and Dad made sure it stuck.
I even took Home Economics. Came with breakfast. Learned to balance a check book and cook.
In a blind world, the guy with glasses is king. I work with engineers.

[Lyn-Del]

I took Wood Shop in high school, first girl in school's history to complete the course.  I was one of four students that didn't have a textbook (not quite enough to go around for some reason).  My agreement with my mother was that if I made an *A* in the course, she'd quit panicking when I went out to work in my dad's workshop in the garage.

I did, she didn't.  Oh, well.....

It was mostly stuff my dad had taught me long before.  The guys used to lock me out of the shop, the teacher would know where to find me if he didn't see me in the shop.  No problem.  I understood even then that some males are uncomfortable working with/being shown up by the female of the species.