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Re:A minimalist lifestyle does not make you a better person by roel_v on Thursday October 07, 2010 @11:38AM (#1768199)
We're going off on a tangent here, but I don't agree. I mean, most people do have only one or two Phillips screwdrivers and use them on all screws they see that have a 'cross' on them, and I guess it'll work in the majority of cases like you say, but it's uncomfortable to work with the wrong size, and will damage your screwdriver and/or screws to boot. 'right tools for the job' and all. Having 3 sizes is not excessive IMO, and having only a #2 is not an example of a minimalist lifestyle. For disassembling an Xbox or other piece of consumer electronics you need a #1, for putting up drywall a #2 and for mounting a heavy bookshelf a #3. All fairly regular tasks I'd say.
Re:A minimalist lifestyle does not make you a better person by dagw on Thursday October 07, 2010 @12:18PM (#1768325)
All fairly regular tasks I'd say

The vast vast majority of people I know have never done any of those things, and probably never will. If their xbox is broken, they either send it off to get fixed or throw it out and get a new one. If they need drywall or heavy bookshelves put in, they call someone.

I would consider owning no tools and and getting other people to handle all your repair work to be a fine example of a certain type of minimalism.

Re:A minimalist lifestyle does not make you a better person by roel_v on Thursday October 07, 2010 @12:55PM (#1768446)
"I would consider owning no tools and and getting other people to handle all your repair work to be a fine example of a certain type of minimalism."

Ah yes, good point, and I agree. I guess I was too fast in making a generalization on my own behavior re: the tasks for which one would use a screwdriver. I guess I own many tools because I'm frugal :)