The Lawnmower Incident
Every day we fix computers. And when we’re not fixing computers, we’re working on tips 
and tricks for computers. Almost every day is spent working on or with computers. So, to us computers are pretty simple devices, which can get annoying -but we don’t look at them as complicated, frustrating, mysterious devices. However we know that some of you do and we try not to forget that. That’s why we try to make our newsletters and articles simple and easy to understand. We know that many of the computer tech sites seem more bent on impressing other geeks than on giving the typical computer user information they can use.
Sometimes though, as we go through our day, we sometimes forget how mysterious and complicated computers seem to many of you.
Yesterday, I had a great reminder though. For a few days I’ve been trying to find out how to drain the old oil from my OLD riding lawnmower. After doing some research on my COMPUTER, I found out which bolt – or is it a nut – I had t to loosen to drain the old oil from my riding lawnmower.
Now keep in mind that I have never changed the oil in this lawnmower and it’s about 9 years old. A week ago I started it up and saw billows of blue-black smoke shooting out from everywhere. I turned the engine off right away as I didn’t want to take a chance of ruining the darn thing.
I figured that the nine- ear-old oil had pretty much been used as much as it could be – it was blacker than tar 🙂 and that if I did not put new oil in the thing this year, the engine would seize and possibly the piston (pistons?) would fly out and conk me on the head killing me and ending my vacation here on Earth.
I know nothing about riding lawnmowers or gasoline engines. I don’t know if they blow up if they run out of oil, or just top working. I don’t know if my lawnmower has one or two or three or four pistons. All I know is I sit on it, turn the key and put it in gear. Then, when i get to the grass I lower the blade and it chops the tops of the blades of grass off making it look like the grass is mowed and someone really cares about his lawn.
But I knew the oil was too old because, heck, nine-year-old oil has got to be too old. But you think I could get that nut or bolt off to drain the oil? Nope. I tried every socket wrench in the garage. (People used to by me tools for Christmas and stuff because I was a man and all men need tools?) I have about 5 or 6 socket wrenches and 50 or so sockets – is that what you call those steel thingies you stick on a socket wrench? That nut or bolt would not budge.
I called someone to come over and do it. Took him less than 2 minutes. I felt like a fool but I stood there oohing and ahhhhing at his impressing skills. I was awestruck. Cost me $20, but now I have new oil and I’m not afraid of the piston (pistons?) shooting out and blowing off my head. I figure at my age, I may never have to change the oil again 🙂
And it dawned on me that my lack of even basic knowledge of riding lawnmowers does not stop me from using one or in my case abusing one. And this reminded me that many people don’t understand how computers work, but that does not stop them from using them and enjoying them and it shouldn’t.
And just because I know a lot about computers and you don’t doesn’t make you stupid, just like me not knowing anything about cars or riding lawnmowers does not make me stupid.
The lawnmower incident reminded me again to empathize with all of you who come to Darcy and I for help – I was humbled by my experience enough that I will remember that not everyone can be experts in all things. So don’t feel badly if you think computers are complicated and mysterious and frustrating – after the lawnmower incident…
We feel your pain!
Sometimes I feel that I know more about lawn mowers than I do about computers (Zilch.) However, I enjoy working on computers more because I don’t get my hands dirty!
Enjoyed your story. I could not help laughing. I’m glad it made you understand why we ask such questions which must seem so trivial sometimes to you. I want to thank you for ALL the help, tips and information you have given me since the 90’s when I found Cloudeight. I am 80 now so I don’t think I will be with you another 15 years but I will be around for as long as I use my computer. I now have a Samsung tablet which I could use some tips on. I am using it to read my email and write to you now. Thanks again, Luana
Riding on a lawnmower how grand is that. King of all you survey, who could ask for more than that. Enjoy the moment and be thankful that you are there and I am here otherwise h m m m m m m m m I might even ask you for your telephone number and you could then do mine. Just remember age is just a number and another phase in life to experience. Good luck to you, lawnmower and all. One of your long time followers.
Thumbs up!
I grew up with Mr Fix most thing that use ‘the hand tools in a shed’, my father, Mr DIY, then I discovered his brother was the same, and my mother’s brothers, why, because back then ‘House Husband and Handy Harry’ were not around until much later when people paid them to fix things because they couldn’t DIY (or DIT = themselves.)
I learned a trade and being surrounded by DIY- ers , I became a DIM (do it myself) with lots of help to begin with.
So it is with computers, I bought a computer, the books, pushed the mouse and keyboard buttons, and yelled at the books because only the geeks knew how to ‘do it right’, but i didn’t do a course, I floundered and fell many times, brushed off and started again, and then ‘found’ Cloudeight.
As time went by, with tips and tricks, newsletters on a regular basis from TC & EB, every tip, trick, and advice was explained step by step and I became ‘somewhat’ of a DIM with a computer, but, it is from the mainstream of information from TC & EB that I when I flounder I am able to wriggle out of the ‘stuck’ to become ‘unstuck’, and even help family and friends, feeling good that I remember ‘that’ problem, and the solution, right on—- Thanks to TC & EB……and it ain’t over yet…..;-)
Just Love this Article! We all look forward to Your Helpful Information!
You just explained why if you ever go away we will come hunting and when we find you we will bring you back kicking and screaming because you and EB started this mess and it don’t stop until we say it stops because without you guys most of us are like a ship without a rudder. So if you want to see tears shed all over this country and other parts of the world then just give it a try big boy. Naw TC you know that i joke but you do know down deep people like me appreciate you guys more than we have money to prove it and more than you can ever imagine so for you guys to ever get out of the business of helping all of us just remember that some of old codgers will pass away and we will come back to haunt you so put that in your pipe and smoke it.
Thanks a million guys.
HogMan
If every one knew everything and could do everything then no one would need anyone. sounds cold to me
Isn’t that the truth, though? It doesn’t take much for us to realize what it means to be more humble. I was used to fixing my own car – everything from oil changes to rebuilding the transmission – but, for the life of me, I can’t figure out the newer cars nor do my hands have the strength to fix them anyway. It was the same with everything mechanical that I had in my life – fix it or lose it. Then it was computers and with the help of others or with research online, I learned how to fix program errors using DOS – remember those days? lolol Then, with more complicated program language, I quickly lost touch with the fast pace of things. My knowledge is dinosaur-age but it helped me learn not to be too afraid of the machine and it’s workings. Thanks to you two, I can safely obtain applications that help do what I used to spend HOURS to do manually. Thank you both!