So today my car battery died, couldn’t even be revived with a jump. I was able to walk to an auto store to get tools and a new battery (damn that mfer was heavier than I expected). I had never had to replace my own car battery before.

I screwed the fastener nuts the wrong way for like 5 minutes, cut my hand, and ultimately accidentally crossed the positive and negative terminals with a wrench that exploded in sparks. I don’t even know what stopped me from being electrocuted but I didn’t feel a thing.

While I’m happy I was able to take care of it myself and will be able to in the future, I also feel like such a dunce for not knowing wtf I was doing and almost shocking myself

kitty-birthday-sad

  • Sulv [he/him, undecided]@hexbear.netOPMEnglish
    7·
    3 days ago

    I left home like about 20 years ago

    Yeah I moved away from family and close friends for the first time like 4 months ago, I spent my entire life within an hour drive.

    I think as we settle into imperial decline and become intermittently discinnected from various supply chains, having curiosity and an attitude for tinkering is going to be crucial as things contract into some kind of neo-mannorialist whatever the fuck.

    I think that’s partially why I feel bad for not knowing these things. Shit feels like its hitting the fan and at some point you really do need to be able to rely on yourself.

    • came_apart_at_Kmart [he/him, comrade/them]@hexbear.netEnglish
      4·
      3 days ago

      I wouldn’t feel bad, we all start somewhere and it’s a continual, slow process of learning how new things work, repurposing old things to serve new needs, and one is never done learning.

      if I had any advice it’s to cultivate patience with yourself as you learn, because if you do you can become exceptionally talented/knowledgeable as you incrementally grow your capacity.

      learning in these situations can be extremely frustrating, especially if it doesn’t solve the way you needed it to. but you learn what doesn’t work, what’s a “dead end” and that’s just as important too.