I think you need to separate the question into:
1. Should the person know how to do it if necessary?
2. What is the opportunity cost?

I think the everyone should learn strive to learn, life is a never ending processing of experimenting and learning. I think every person should have basic knowledge of science, math etc etc. when they leave school. However the current North American public education system just values volume vs quality or area of education. In the end, I think it gives students too much control of their destiny, without giving them the tools to properly determine their destiny. Hence the "coddling" phenomenon, because it is much easier to let things slide than to call people when they are not performing. We end up with the majority of people who love making loud noises but don't know what they are talking about (and the worst part is they think they have all the knowledge they need).

The need to calling professionals varies with places, BC still have a relatively low population density vs other metropolitan areas, it simply takes time for trades people to get from one location to another. vs other cities like NY, HK etc where you can get a trades person within a day. So you have to factor the time loss into the question.

Now finally there is opportunity cost: Say if you are a surgeon that makes $600/hour billable to MSP and you only have 2 hours free to spend a day and your toilet goes pop. Would you rather spend the 2 hours with your kids vs fixing the toilet? Recently, I find a lot of my friends hires "nannies" (it is more like personal assistants / housewife / maid / nannies) for $50/hr.. so they can make maximize the time for the family to be together.

I think guys should have some basic knowledge in various tasks around the house or with cars. There's enough how to videos on youtube that you can look up to get alot of things done.

But you have to know when you're in over your head and need to call a pro. There's certain things you shouldn't do yourself such as electrical if you have no idea what you're doing.

Plus alot of women find it sexy when they see a guy working with tools :)

^I noticed, a lot of home owners (housewives) hire nannies so that they can leave the kids and go shopping all day.
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It depends on what you value as well. Sometimes you can't really put a price tag on knowledge. There are people out there who enjoy the never ending learning process. And then there are some who just don't bother. Besides, spending time with family doesnt always have to be going to the shopping mall or PNE. Fixing the toilet can be a fun family activity that involves everyone as well. The kids can boast to his friends the next day that he/she fixed something. I know when I was a kid I like to boast to little David sitting next to me that my dad know more shit that his.

It's one thing to change the oil in the car, but another to get things like suspension tuning work or paint jobs done on it...

There's things you can fix where it's mostly knowledge based (only basic skills reqd) and there's things that requires practice and experience on top of the base knowledge. I'll leave that stuff up to the pros.

Edit: don't even make me get into the value of time.. For example, if you're making $100/hr doing your job, and have to get your AC fixed for a technician that costs $70/hr it'd be stupid to not hire someone. Plus, it might even take you 5 hours compared to a pro doing the job within 2 hours.

I think the OP is just insecure about his masculinity and gender roles.

I think if you suck at doing stuff, don't do it. There are a lot of DIY'ers out there and and lot of DIYers out there that suck and make things worse than they were. If your boiler is broken, you could be "handy" and fix it yourself. Problem is, if you're not a professional and don't know the building codes in your city, you might use the wrong tools, wrong hoses, and blow up your house with a gas leak... not to mention time is money, if you've never done a something before it could take you days to do it where calling a pro for 5X the price could do it in 1 hour.

If you're talking about mowing the lawn, painting the house, cleaning the gutters, changing your oil, those are easy things that anyone can do so to an extent everyone should pull their weight, but it would be silly to think that you should be doing everything "handy" yourself.

What I am surprised is the sophistication of the agencies (some of them have their own ERP type software).. and the education of the sitters. One sitter that used to home stay with my gf and I has a MA in German and is teaching kids foreign languages etc.

I am impressed of the entrepreneurs in that field. They make are like Babysitter Inc rather than Babysitter Club.

Think this sums up the thread.
If you suck, don't bother. Although nowadays, youtube teaches you pretty much everything you need to know.
And it's probably worth the risk to attempt it "DIY" unless it's potentially dangerous enough to kill you or leave you cold for days (busted heater), etc

I think maybe it's not so much what is simple and he knows so he should do it, but rather what are the things that are simple enough that he SHOULD learn to do.

I think as a guy, you should learn to cook. Most the girls I know can't cook worth a damn anyways. If you don't want to get fat and broke from eating out all the time, learn to make some simple healthy meals.

LOL, interesting thread, since i am sitting in the middle of my living room with the all the appliances pushed in from a recent paint job i did yesterday (tomorrow will be the flooring).

Should everyone learn to be handy, sure (within their scope). Is it a must? no. But from me doing all these little things around the house, it made me a well rounded person which will ulimately benefit me in the end.

If you hate doing handy-kinda work, then don't do it. But if you're remotely interested, do some reserach and try before calling someone to do it for you.

i'll just go watch youtube and be an instant handyman..

i replaced a toilet bowl all by myself all by watching youtube videos on replacing a toilet lol. hardest part was the toilet itself being heavy.

Time is valuable. If you have more money than time, just pay a professional and occupy yourself with more important shit.

If you've got an interest and some time, go for it. Just realize you still might need to pay a professional when/if you fuck it up.

If you're wondering about how manly it is to do either, realize that a more important manly feature is not giving a fuck about frivolous opinions on what you choose to do.

I dunno, ask this guy, he looks legit

http://www.tnt-audio.com/jpeg/tim.jpg

this guys an idiot.

http://www.revscene.net/forums/vls-g...ntractors.html

http://www.revscene.net/forums/relat...ing-house.html

http://www.revscene.net/forums/vanco...ml#post7194116

http://www.revscene.net/forums/campu...loans-jan.html

http://www.revscene.net/forums/vanco...dit-limit.html

you dont necessarily have to do or do the tasks, but at least you should know how to..

:lol this guy has a lot of retarded issues it seems...
Especially that high credit limit one. I missed a good entertaining thread.

not as idiotic and girly as this

http://www.revscene.net/forums/campu...ck-school.html

weren't you the guy who doesnt make much and leased a TL?? atleast im way ahead of you

oh he mad

inb4fightclub

if they don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy



- RedGreen Show

hey joe45 never fought back!

ibfc

If by jobless with a high credit lemit is ahead of me, then you are bounds and leaps.