Ask HN: What are some skills you have that are worth learning?

Re:Ask HN: What are some skills you have that are worth lear... by jjice on Tuesday July 07, 2020 @10:03AM (#23759380)

Definitely a good, broad list that can apply to everyone. I feel like the last two are especially relevant today in a world where the internet dominates my generation and we're in a culture that replaces instead of repairs.

I am definitely guilty of failing on your second to last bullet, and I should work on that.

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Re:Ask HN: What are some skills you have that are worth lear... by Cthulhu_ on Wednesday July 08, 2020 @07:28AM (#23768855)

Re: replace instead of repair, one issue is that replacement parts for e.g. electronics can end up being more expensive than a new and updated replacement (with factory warranty).

I've tried to fix a deep fryer I got for free, the switch was broken but it was a pretty generic flip switch with a light in it, the local electronics shop had a replacement for like €2 or so. That didn't fix it though, I suspect there's a temperature safety somewhere inside that isn't working right anymore. So far I've had it filled, warmed up, tried out, turned off, cleaned, opened up, etc four or five times already without having fixed it.

It'll be €40 to buy a new one. It's probably fixable, or I could probably replace only the heating unit, but just the heating unit (that is compatible with this one) is likely impossible to get and no cheaper than a new one.

But that's just one example. I for one am interested in seeing products that cost more but that are of provable higher quality and repairability.

There's some youtube channels that disassemble electric tools and point out at all the small or big things that make it good or bad / cheap, things like the kind of plastic used, bushings vs bearings, open vs closed bearings, etc.

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Re:Ask HN: What are some skills you have that are worth lear... by oldsklgdfth on Tuesday July 07, 2020 @10:26AM (#23759614)

I used to have a similar list of things to do daily on my whiteboard. These are items that I can easily stray from and have to remind myself to come back to and reinforce.

In my personal experience, these things have a much great impact on my well-being and quality of life and they are within my control. In contrast with ideal of how I think society/world should be.

If you become accountable to the things that are within your control (ie. thoughts and actions) you will quickly notice that trying to control things beyond that is futile and a source of frustration.

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