Quote:
Originally Posted by Freeshadow
It's very kind of you to call the savvy ones "tinkers", since it shows acknowledgment and respect to knowledge and craftmanship. I've heard a bunch of less friendly names for that (references to bomb makers included).
As a "tinker" I'm among the lesser ones: I know very Little about programming, and am lousy enough with the soldering irom, to try more than to build myself a custom cable when needed.
And yet altough my personal "activity radius" is very limited I could name you several cases, for both, successfull attempts to help myself and/or others out of troubles or enhancing devices fumctionality, as well as failing to do both due to lack of information or physical access needed.
IMHO it is frightening, when somebody as small as I am in these matters already can reach out high enough, to feel the cage he is put inside...
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I hear where you're coming from, but I don't think most consumers want control (or complexity) for many electronics.
I do respect people who have those kind of abilities. My Dad was a tinker in younger days. He repaired electronics, often for money, and made me and my brother watch, so we'd know how, too. I can solder, do basic plumbing and and wiring, thanks to him, though I don't want to do any of them nowadays.
One possibility you might consider: You could teach kids basics. My husband, for instance, mentored a boy through work. Instead of just playing games and doing homework with him, he would bring electronics kits and show him basic programming.