"Cheap" and the Australian Ethos

[bitingmidge]

We seem to have a reputation for inventiveness, but also for not developing inventions to commercial success.

Well there was the Iced Vo-Vo.


P (and we do have about 230million people too few for raging commercial success too.....)

[zenwood]

Well, EXCEPT for the iced Vo-Vo

lol

[Schtoo]

Dunno bout the younger generation ever being multiskilled to that eaxtent as the eddication system seems to be ever insisting that yer incapable less'n yer qwalifried and the guvvymint seems to tink so too.

But doing the impossible can be lotsa fun

Please define 'the younger generation' for me.

I keep hearing it, and want to know if I am it or not.


Inventiveness? Who the heck do you think gets asked to fix stuff around here? 2 weeks ago, I got nearly 10 calls in 3 days about broken stuff, to the point that I sarted answering the phone with "What's broken now?".

I do notice that the mentality stems from exposure though. A few of the guys I know here came from homes where dad did more than just go to work, so they have a go at some things, even if what they try doesn't always work. Those who come from homes where dad went to work, came home and went to bed don't try anything they don't understand completely.

My grandpa was a 'general dogs body' I guess, stuck in a workshop, but could fix anything from engines, hydraulics, electrical, etc, etc, etc. Not just a bodge repair either. I definietly inhereted that, even if I missed out on some of the patience.

I'd like to know that when I get planted, I at least had a shot at almost everything, and, if not an expert, at least competant.

Sure, I could just go and buy whatever, but I'm too cheap to pay for it up front (preferring to defer the cost over materials and tools!) and don't trust some half-trained monkey to do it for me either.

What was the word for this on site? Demarkation or something? :confused:

[Dion N]

There's a sense of quiet satisfaction in knowing you did it yourself (regardless of any money saved or not). Tinkering or pottering in the shed pulling apart a broken object (regardless of whether you have the tools or skills to repair it) is one of life's simple peasures. Even if you never fix it, you will have probably learnt how it works and , if it was some sort of mass produced low quality item, how YOU would redesign it to work better.

[Zed]

what an intersting topic midge!

I like getting the good gear, I also like to "Improve" it. I like to get cheap gear and give it a once over to make it as good as the good gear. I think this is universal not just aussie. I think its more to do with mechanical eptitude and nessessity rather than a measure of dinki-di-ness.

I love to go to bunnies with a bolt or something and "bit of job in progress" and mull over the solution with the various options available from the racks. I lay it out in front of me and fiddle for up to an hour... theres one bloke who works there comes up and asks me for advice and makes a point of discussing my project for the hell of it.... good bloke.... sometimes other shoppers ask me for advice as the teenage pubesents dont know jack and I suppose I look like I do in me greasy, dusty clothes and bits and pieces strewn about....

just today i fixed the aiconditioner with some telco 6wire and some packing tape... the aircon mechaninc wanted to charge me wife $200.... the @rsehole...

[AlexS]

just today i fixed the aiconditioner with some telco 6wire and some packing tape... the aircon mechaninc wanted to charge me wife $200.... the @rsehole...

Would you like to come & do mine?

PS Please BYO wire - or will hayband do?

[echnidna]

Please define 'the younger generation' for me.

I keep hearing it, and want to know if I am it or not.


Inventiveness? Who the heck do you think gets asked to fix stuff around here? 2 weeks ago, I got nearly 10 calls in 3 days about broken stuff, to the point that I sarted answering the phone with "What's broken now?".

I do notice that the mentality stems from exposure though. A few of the guys I know here came from homes where dad did more than just go to work, so they have a go at some things, even if what they try doesn't always work. Those who come from homes where dad went to work, came home and went to bed don't try anything they don't understand completely.

My grandpa was a 'general dogs body' I guess, stuck in a workshop, but could fix anything from engines, hydraulics, electrical, etc, etc, etc. Not just a bodge repair either. I definietly inhereted that, even if I missed out on some of the patience.

I'd like to know that when I get planted, I at least had a shot at almost everything, and, if not an expert, at least competant.

Sure, I could just go and buy whatever, but I'm too cheap to pay for it up front (preferring to defer the cost over materials and tools!) and don't trust some half-trained monkey to do it for me either.

What was the word for this on site? Demarkation or something? :confused:

Schtoo,
You're obviously immune from the over eddication problem as you are makin the grey stuff twixt yer ears work to your advantage.
Have fun fixing and making things and doing the impossible!!

[havenoideaatall]

sometimes other shoppers ask me for advice as the teenage pubesents dont know jack and I suppose I look like I do in me greasy, dusty clothes and bits and pieces strewn about....

Do you tour other Bunnings by any chance? If so, I'll look you up.

[Bodgy]

Back from the dead!

What was it all about?

[ozwinner]

Maybe havenoideaatall likes arrousing dead things.

Al :eek: