how come men think they can put things together without reading the directions? do they think they're born with an ingrain sense of knowledge women don't have? i mean, i believe we read instructions and follow them but men think they can just put anything together with just brute strength, does anyone agree, at all??????
2006-11-29 01:17:12 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
and who taught you how to play with the tinker toys, your Dad, of course. there's that man thing rearing his head before you knew you were a boy.
2006-11-29 05:09:22 · update #1
yes, women. i'm far from saying we can't put things together without directions, but if we run into a snag at least we will look at the instructions, but men...
2006-11-29 09:05:40 · update #2
As a male, and one who actually "can" put most things "together" I applaud your Q.
It has to do with the evolution of the gender, and ego, and within that context "Not being thought inept."
In our defense, I will surmise this however. WE are most often ASKED "to do" or it may be assumed that we CAN? No offense to your gender at all,,, I'm well aware of my LACK of certain abilities and try to shy away from those issues that might cause me to look the fool.
An example of an issue we most often avoid is "asking for direction" That may mean during travel, or "Hey Honey can you help me figure this bookcase out?"
I use mapquest for travel,,,SMILES... LOST is something I personally enjoy however.
As I mature I also learn, and as I learn, I mellow, and as I mellow I do sometimes ASK.
Again, and in OUR defense,,, some instructions are truly "alien" and what I find often is pictures are often opposed to the direction text. I also dislike the fact on some level that a manufacturer assumes I may "lose" a part, though they add and extra screw or two sometimes. The opposite of that is even more frustrating to a DIY guy, in that more likely than not, I'll end up SHORT a part or piece of hardware. Beyond that I totally detest "Furniture" especially, crafted out of swept up saw dust and glue to form a bookcase, etc. Quality is no longer a well defined experience.
In any cases, I ask only that you "forgive" US, move on about your own explorations, muffle the sounds of cursing coming from us, in our frustrations, and when all is said and done, offer help, when you see a grown man squatting on the floor, tearfully surrounded by parts "A" which is supposed to attach to parts "H", but doesn't seem to "fit".
Pat us on the head, offer solace, sympathy, and get involved. Life should be all about "sharing"; anyway. I promise we may "seem" remedial, but we too can evolve, albeit at what may be a slower pace than your gender.
Rev. Steven
2006-11-29 01:44:17 · answer #1 · answered by DIY Doc 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Men generally dont read the instructions due to previous experience, for example l was asked the same question a few weeks ago, when i was making up some Ikea furnature for a friend. I did not even take the manual out out of the packet, i did not have any problems. the problem comes when you make something or do something and it is wrong. l suppose it could also be a challenge to see if you are smart enough to do it without any help.
2006-11-29 01:27:05 · answer #2 · answered by Nicholas H 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well engineered products are intuitive, so directions are unnecessary for assembly, if you are mechanically adept. Some products come with poor instructions that are more confusing than helpful. And some products are non-intuitive, but have great instructions that allow anyone to assemble it, if they follow the direction. If I am assembling an intuitive product, I won't use the instructions because I enjoy the process of discovery. If I am assembling a non-intuitive product, or a product that will cause great damage if improperly assembled I will use the directions to ensure that I have things assembled properly.
2006-11-29 03:46:50 · answer #3 · answered by nathanael_beal 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's genetic. Men are visual processors. We can look at a diagram or a map and convert it to three dimensional reality fairly accuratley.
Look at the fundamental differences in how men and women actually comminicate with members of their own gender.
Women use a lots and lots of words to describe things, paragraphical descriptions as it were.
Men on the other hand, use a few well chosen words, a few well chosen grunts, some well understood physical gestures and if need be they draw a picture.
2006-11-29 05:16:54 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It comes from boys playing with Tinkertoys and Lincoln Logs as kids. Reading instructions does come in handy if you've not done something before.. It's not a matter of "THINKING" we can put things together, It a matter of "KNOWING" we can. the difference is in the KNOWING and not the thinking. KNOWING allows for action.THINKING about allows for INACTION.. If you want something put together don't have a woman do it.
The instructions that come with many things are cryptic and meant for idiots that don't understand the basics of Tinker Toys!!
2006-11-29 02:42:20 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, I was shocked to see a co- worker (male) setting up some new office equipment and he had another co-worker (male) READING him the instructions! LOL. Should have taken a picture.
Seriously, men cannot multi-task like women do. Reading the instructions while assembling something is multitasking!
2006-11-29 03:38:32 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Remember men can't do two things at the same time or they read or they put things together. Haven't you seen them when they are driving and talking on their cells they just have to lower their speed because they can't do both at the same time. That is something that has to do with their brain. We use both sides they only use one. Take it easy on them it's not their fault.
2006-11-29 01:32:10 · answer #7 · answered by teresita 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
because we have been tinkering with stuff since we were born, learning how to take things apart and put them back together, some things do rub off,, with electronics my wife is the pro at that, i will get pissed off and throw it in the garbage. and go and sulk. according to her,but who am i to argue, yes dear you are right and i am wrong, im sorry and love you....... she would love to read this Mary.
2006-11-29 03:06:30 · answer #8 · answered by COSMO 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
depends on the item...and sometimes directions can actually make things worse...yes i said worse...(30 yrs of putting things together)....whoever made most of the directions i think were women cause they have no mechanical sense or order when sequencing steps..or in picturing the items
2006-11-30 12:10:00 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No you are right. As a bloke I will throw away the destructions and go on a build it because it can't be that hard.
Until it falls apart or drops off the wall then you feel very unmasculine because you have failed
2006-11-30 00:51:18 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋