He's 'SUPPOSE' to know that stuff!

[PantyFanatic]

Yesterday, a close friend asked a favor, for me to go over to a rental home he has and find why his tenant didn't have power in the outlets at the back of the house. A quick check confirmed our initial suspicion that the not-too-sharp tenant didn't understand how to reset a circuit breaker. With his absence I took the wife/girlfriend to the service panel and pointed out how when the breaker is not COMPLETELY in the 'on' position, you first have to flip it to the 'off' position, THEN to the 'on' position, so the mechanical linkage can engage and close the contact until an overload current causes the magnets inside to open it and prevent over heating. She made a disgruntled comment about "He's a man. He's spose to know bout dat! :mad:"

Two things ran through my mind as I drove home, about the comment. :confused: Why in this age of 'equality' and political correctness, does being born male, intuitively endow that person with technical knowledge and why does it exclude another gender from minimal functioning abilities of the world they have equal ownership/management rights and responsibilities in?

Understanding the exclusion of old attitude holdovers and also that there are people who's learning capabilities are much lower than others, the question becomes how much of our expectation and personal responsibilities are still shrouded in gender based views of life. Why is it still the 'understood' job of the man to connect the new DVD player into the cable-VCR-home theater-stereo-TV system? Why are we still surprised/impressed when a lady pops open the hood of another car and correctly connects jumper cables to start it?

We all know of exceptions to some of these stereotypes, but is our view of "the division of labor" only focused in the work place? You may not feel the need to know the internal workings of a circuit breaker, but as a home owner, does your gender preclude or obligate you to or from knowing the basic operating functions?

Or has the whole technical nature of our environment become so overwhelming that we use the subconscious gender designation as a default to relieve ourselves of basic responsibilities of everyday function? This thought can expand to many aspect of our 'western social structure' (as it USE to be known ;) ), but do you feel there are areas of unconscious gender biases, outside the work place, for expectation, limitation and excuse in all of us? :rolleyes2





;)

[ReaperWoman]

I completely agree that there is definatley an underlying gender bias still very prevailant in today's "equal" society. In my house, for example, despite the fact that my mum and I are probably the ones with the most technical know-how, it's clear that my dad still feels that it should be his role in the family.

In broader terms though, it was mentioned in another thread (http://www.pixies-place.com:81/forums/showthread.php?t=30195) recently about women paying their way on dates. There are many things like this where we often automatically fall into our stereotypical gender-based roles.

Being someone who's always found myself in conflict with gender stereotypes, I can actually find it quite hard sometimes when people expect me to fall in line with my gender. And I'm not completely masculine either...

I also feel like it's going too far against the original "oppressors" and forgetting to keep up with the previously "oppressed", much like what I can find with anti-racism sometimes... For example, at a mixed-gender workplace the men and women decide on separate nights out. If the men choose to go to a strip-club it would likely be frowned apon, but if the women decided on Chip'n'Dales, then it would be less so. Perhaps a poor example, but I can't think of a better right now.

Anyway, just my :2cents:

[maddy]

I don't know, I think it's all about survival. Since I'm a single homeowner, twice, I'm forced to know as much as I can about how things work in my house or pay to have some experience tradesman everytime something ticks or flickers.

Oddly enough, my Dad tries to help me with things when he's available (lives 1000 miles away) but for the most part I need him for a second set of hands or the physical strength he has. I think it makes him both proud and sad all at once that I'm capable.

But I can easily see where women who don't ever have the NEED to take care of the house simply don't bother learning about it.

Also, when it comes to cars. My Dad made it a point for me to know how to change a tire and jump a battery in the event that I ever needed to do those things. It was so long ago that I'm not certain I'd be able to now. That's why when my car started giving me fits it got traded in on a new problem free model.

[osuche]

The world is complicated, and so are gender relationships. The old stereotypes are changing, but at a slower rate than one might think. Perhaps because there's so much complexity in the world that adding more is simply something that most people tend to avoid...and changing the roles adds complexity too!

I know about circuit breakers and cars and installing DVD players. I do all this stuff at our home. Not because Mr Osuche can't...more because I'm typically more attentive to the details of life. He's an absent minded scientist.

He still opens jars and kills spiders, though. He does these things because I cannot or I hate doing them...as a gesture of respect and consideration for me. Not because he's a man.

And I do most of the cooking and cleaning and shopping. Not because I am a woman, but because I am better at it. He sucks at the little details of life, but I love him anyway.

As a person...I tend to adapt my style and expectations to my companion's beliefs, needs, and abilities. If my partner were a master chef, I'd encourage him to cook. If my partner liked re-wiring the house or doing remodeling, I'd be happy to encourage him. It's about respecting your partner and letting them participate in the relationship, in the way they want to participate. Heck with the gender bias.

[Sharni]

If i wanted to fix circuit breakers, mow the lawn or other crap...i'd have a dildo as a partner!

[Oldfart]

How much of this is what we've been taught, not what we've learned?

[IowaMan]

How much of this is what we've been taught, not what we've learned?
Hmmm, that's a tough call OF.

After my folks divorced when I was 11 yrs. old, I basically was "the man of the house" and my "duties" were pretty much everything that my dad had done while they were together. (Actually, I did a bit more than he ever did but that's another story.)

With my mom, it wasn't that she didn't want to know how to do some of the "typical man duties" it was that my dad simply wouldn't allow her because he felt as if, "Men should be men!"

I wanted so badly to be different from that man that I learned pretty much everything I could. When mom was working I cooked, cleaned, did yardwork, laundry, etc..... Paid off in the long run since I never did get married but I never once looked at any of those "duties" as being gender specific. Just look at them as things that need to get done and well, if I'm the one who can do it or if there is a woman who is able to do it then as long as it gets done............. what's the difference?

[Oldfart]

Perception.

[IowaMan]

Yep, that pretty much sums it up. :nod:

[Oldfart]

Yep.

[Lilith]

While I can do almost anything he can do, I have found he is more likely to choose to do something if it involves any hint of danger (real or imagined) or/and a machine to tinker with to make the process take significantly longer than it needs to.

[Oldfart]

He's also a nice fellow.

[LixyChick]

Ain't "the double standard" a pip?

I think it does have everything to do with parenting or the lack thereof.

I'm very mechanically inclined because I had to be. Dad was never around even when he lived with us. And then I doubt he was all that mechanical anyway. I can't remember him ever tinkering with anything around the house. I did watch as he attempted to add a dormer to the upstairs bedroom. That dormer never got finished and stayed a dormer for 17 years after it's conception. But...lotsa beer got consumed! From that experience I learned how NOT to build onto a house and how to curse like a sailor on shore leave and how to drink anyone under the table...LMFAO! Thanks dad!

So anyway...I had to take the bull by the horns and learn what I needed to know to get things done. I still do it to this day at work. Anyone that needs a sewing machine "looked at" at work comes to me first. If I can't get it back on track we have to call a mechanic and send it off site for major repairs or wait several days till the mechanic can fit us in. That usually leaves a good machine down for too long...so I learned how to fix most problems by watching mechanics through the years and asking LOTS of pertinent questions.

LMAO@Sharni's reply! I leave the mechanical things at home to Mr. Lixy. He's an amazing teacher though. We did the walk through a few times and he showed me the things I'd need to know around the house should he not be there and there was an emergency.

It's funny what you learn when you don't know you are learning too. I think I could wire a new fixture if I had to. Mr. Lixy and I started from scratch and wired a ceiling fan/light in our living room where there was nothing before. That process sticks in my head.

So yeah...it's a learned or neglected thing. Simple life lessons in our formative years, forgoing gender, can go a long way in helping us to find that circuit breaker box. It's a shame Mr. Lixy's mom didn't teach him to cook!

[jseal]

Sexual stereotypes, like most other cultural assumptions, can take many years to change.

[Oldfart]

Mother Oldfart didn't teach me to cook, a simple cookbook and hunger taught me to cook.

[WildIrish]

I cook more often and better than Mrs. WI. I do it because I love to cook and she's perfectly happing letting me.

I have always done my own laundry, since I was old enough to reach the knobs. If something needs to be done, there's no benefit in waiting for someone else to do it for you when you're perfectly cabable.

I've always been mechanically inclined, and that's something that my mother took advantage of. When the wire attached to the heating element in Mr. Coffee corroded & broke off, I had to fix it. When the clothes drier needed a belt replaced, I had to fix it. When the portable mixer smelled funny, I had to take it apart & clean the caked on powder from years of recipes out of it. I was but a wee lad at the time, but that's an excuse and excuses are not allowed.

Now that I own a home, I'm somehow magically supposed to know how to do everything just because I have a penis. I should "just know" how to install windows, cut holes in the roof for a dormer, replace brakes, lay down a tile floor & build kitchen cabinets from scratch. Well I have news for you, when things don't come out perfectly...it's because I'm not an expert and I'm learning this stuff as I go. You saved a boatload of cash by having me do it, and you got what you paid for. It leans a little to the left and there's a slight squeak. Get over it.

Wow...I musta needed to say that. ha ha

[Eastern]

Mr. Eastern does most of the cooking as he is soo much better than i am.. I can do simple meals but he can watch the cooking shows and repeat the meal. I do the laundry and picking up the girl child at day care and put her bed.Why becuase i can do this.. We are a couple i guess that do not believe in stereotypes.. I guess its a good thing to say the least as we are good couple.
He is 9 years younger than me so hey it works. :thumbs:

[Winston77]

necessity is the mother of invention

[scotzoidman]

Have a whole collection of thoughts on this one, but I'm gonna need to save em for when I can come back with a little more time on my hands...

[PantyFanatic]

Excuse him ^^^ :) I think he's busy trying to get the door open on the service panel. :D









:roflmao:

[1nutworld]

at least he was able to FIND the service panel PF!

[dicksbro]

Also, when it comes to cars. My Dad made it a point for me to know how to change a tire and jump a battery in the event that I ever needed to do those things. It was so long ago that I'm not certain I'd be able to now. That's why when my car started giving me fits it got traded in on a new problem free model.

I did that with my daughters. I had them actually change a tire so they'd have the experience ... just in case. Still, I would hope they wouldn't have to unless they simply wanted to.

Of course, being old fashioned, I still hold the door for my wife (most of the time) when she gets into the car. It just feels right to me to do that. I guess if she complained, I would stop, but would probably feel a bit uneasy about it. In fact, I generally hold the door open for ladies entering a store or offer my seat if I'm sitting in a waiting room and notice a lady standing because no chairs are available.

I guess I don't think about that being gender bias. What do you laides think?

[Loulabelle]

Some things are to do with physical strength and capabilties. He mows the lawn because his upper body strength means he can actually push it along without killing himself. He also does the electrical stuff because he has the diploma in electrical and electronic engineering. For the same reason he does the computer stuff.

However, we've both been a parent for exactly the same amount of time and in fact he's had more contact with babies and children than me, so how come, when the baby needs something other than food (the only job he physically can't do) it is me who has to assess what that need is, communicate it to him and then specifically ask him if 'he minds' taking care of it?

The lack of inequality in life works both ways and always will. A lot of it is to do with necessity, differences in brain physiology and biological programming. I am programmed so that I can't ignore the baby cry, I notice the second he stops and I can't think of anything but his needs when he is in distress. He is programmed not to be able to live without the home theatre system, therefore he knows how to hook it up to the TV!

OK, so I chose a trivial example but it's true.

[Mark Vieth]

After a read of the previous posts and a little laugh at some I have to have my say on this. Girls what I am about to say is in no way a slur at your gender, but it hints at something that one of the other's said about tyre changing. I was going to blockbuster one day and as I traveled up the road I noticed a parked car with a flat tyre. I thought nothing of it as I am sure that we have all seen flat tyre's on cars before. Anyway after I had finished at blockbuster and I was on my return home I saw the owner of the car who was wearing a red dress and heals, clearly going out somewhere notice that she had a flat tyre. During this observation of mine, I saw an RACV service van parked nearby and the guy going through the job of changing over the tyre.

Now it annoys me when people do this. Changing a tyre doesn't require strength. It comes down to correct leverage to undo the lug nuts that are on the tyre. Once they give the rest is easy. I think most males can change a tyre and there a quite a few women who can as well. What makes me laugh are the ditzy ones who just have no idea why their tyre is flat and expect it to change over on its own.

Another thing is fluid levels. Now we all know that their are important fluid levels that we are suppose to check in a car. They vary depending on the type of transmission and if the car has power steering or not. Just a quick run down:

Oil, water for the wipers, radiator fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, if it has an automatic transmission then their is the transmission fluid to check as well. Some manuals or stick shifts to those americans here also require transmission fluid as well.

The average person can read and in the owner's manual it shows you where these points are and what to use. It even shows you how to change a tyre and where to find the necessary components for this, i.e. jack and spare.

But alas people don't read and wonder why they have problems with the car. I have seen girl P plate drivers here, with a flat tyre on the phone ringing their boyfriend or dad to "come fix it".

These are just observations that I have seen nothing more, so make of it what you will.

[Loulabelle]

I have never had a flat tyre or been in a car when someone else has had one, therefore have never had an opportunity for anyone to show me how to change one. I can do most things once I've been shown how, but if I were on my own with a flat tyre I'd call the AA for help.

I think there are more men out there who eat 3 meals a day, who don't know to cook, than women out there who have flat tyres on a regular basis and don't know how to change them.

As I said before though, I think men are interested in 'how things work' and women are more interested in 'how things make them and others feel' which means kids go to Dad when their bike needs fixing and Mum when they've scraped their knee.

What BOTH sexes tend to forget is that the other gender doesn't spring pre-programmed from the womb knowing how to do gender specific tasks, but that a lot of people come pre-programmed with a propensity to learn those tasks.

[WildIrish]

Why in this age of 'equality' and political correctness, does being born male, intuitively endow that person with technical knowledge and why does it exclude another gender from minimal functioning abilities of the world they have equal ownership/management rights and responsibilities in?


I guess the answer is "It shouldn't, and doesn't always, but sometimes still does."

[Neige]

I am another woman who would have no clue how to change a flat tire. That said, my boyfriend would have even less of a clue than me. When we are together, I am the one who does the "how things work" stuff - he just doesn't pay attention to detail enough to want to bother with it, or he's never been faced with a problem of that nature before and isn't interested in solving it. I usually end up phoning my dad to know how to fix things since Lake would rather hire someone to do it than do it himself.

As an archaeologist, I am studying in a field which for a long time was dominated by men. However, more and more women are studying archaeology. In fact, my professors (most of which are male) are wondering what an archaeological excavation will look like in 10 years. They worry because there will be less and less men to carry buckets and do the heavy lifting, which is a big part of the work. I admit that in general, the average women are not as physically strong as the average men, and that my professors may have a point.

[PantyFanatic]

....... I have seen girl P plate drivers here, with a flat tyre on the phone ringing their boyfriend or dad to "come fix it"........:eek: I didn't even know "P plates" had wheels.

:rofl:




...I have never had a flat tyre or been in a car when someone else has had one, therefore have never had an opportunity for anyone to show me how to change one. ......
We need better roads over here!!! :banghead:
;)



........ men are interested in 'how things work' and women are more interested in 'how things make them and others feel' .....What BOTH sexes tend to forget is that the other gender doesn't spring pre-programmed from the womb knowing how to do gender specific tasks, but that a lot of people come pre-programmed with a propensity to learn those tasks.
Thank you, Loulabelle.:) THAT... is exactly what this thread is about.:thumbs:

[Loulabelle]

:D Glad to be of service sweetie! x

[PantyFanatic]

....As an archaeologist, I am studying in a field which for a long time was dominated by men. .....
Don't tell that to Mary Leakey or Margaret Mead. ;)
(Yes. I know Peggy was an anthropologist, but she did a lot of "heavy lifting" in her field work. :) )

[jseal]

A society’s customs and traditions seldom change as quickly as the advocates of a change would like. Visionaries must swim against the prevailing current to make change happen. Fortunately for the rest us, they often do.

[ReaperWoman]

You might find this (http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/sex/add_user.shtml) link interesting.

The first time I did this a few years back, my score was 0, meaning I was not more feminine that I was masculine. When I redid this test in January my score was +25, which makes me more masculine... I agreed with both of these scores at the time of sitting them, I really felt they reflected my own impressions of my life and how my mind works.

[Oldfart]

Mary had Louis and the assistants to do her lifting for her.

"P-plates" are provision driving plates for new drivers.

[Lilith]

I was a 0.

[IowaMan]

I'm not even going to say what I scored.

[LixyChick]

After a read of the previous posts and a little laugh at some I have to have my say on this. Girls what I am about to say is in no way a slur at your gender, but it hints at something that one of the other's said about tyre changing. I was going to blockbuster one day and as I traveled up the road I noticed a parked car with a flat tyre. I thought nothing of it as I am sure that we have all seen flat tyre's on cars before. Anyway after I had finished at blockbuster and I was on my return home I saw the owner of the car who was wearing a red dress and heals, clearly going out somewhere notice that she had a flat tyre. During this observation of mine, I saw an RACV service van parked nearby and the guy going through the job of changing over the tyre.

Now it annoys me when people do this. Changing a tyre doesn't require strength. It comes down to correct leverage to undo the lug nuts that are on the tyre. Once they give the rest is easy. I think most males can change a tyre and there a quite a few women who can as well. What makes me laugh are the ditzy ones who just have no idea why their tyre is flat and expect it to change over on its own.

Another thing is fluid levels. Now we all know that their are important fluid levels that we are suppose to check in a car. They vary depending on the type of transmission and if the car has power steering or not. Just a quick run down:

Oil, water for the wipers, radiator fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, if it has an automatic transmission then their is the transmission fluid to check as well. Some manuals or stick shifts to those americans here also require transmission fluid as well.

The average person can read and in the owner's manual it shows you where these points are and what to use. It even shows you how to change a tyre and where to find the necessary components for this, i.e. jack and spare.

But alas people don't read and wonder why they have problems with the car. I have seen girl P plate drivers here, with a flat tyre on the phone ringing their boyfriend or dad to "come fix it".

These are just observations that I have seen nothing more, so make of it what you will.
I got something other than a laugh at this post Mark...because I think your disclaimer that this wasn't gender biased was proven false throughout. Despite what I think of the disclaimer...here's what I think of the statements above.

Changing a tire in which the lugs have been tightened by hand (the hand of either male or female) is so much easier than one where the lugs were tightened by a power tool (impact gun). It's especially more difficult if the tire has been on the wheel for any length of time.

And, to one-up that statement...a man has more upper body strength than a woman and it takes upper body strength to loosen the lugs. I know this from experience and also because my hubby used to be a diesal mechanic and has hand tightened my lugs and/or used his air powered impact gun. In both cases I had difficulty loosening the lugs, but a much easier time in the hand tightened case. I actually put a lug wrench on an air tightened lug nut once and had to literally stand/jump on it to get it to "give".

Regardless of that...I must come to the defense of the girl in the scenario you gave us. You stated she was dressed in a red dress and heels, "clearly going out somewhere". Now this is just my thought if I had been in her situation. Here I am on a traveled road, alone, cars passing me by, dressed to the nines and trying to get to my destination. I get a flat, pull to the side and try to loosen a lug nut with a dirty lug wrench. My lovely dress is being blown up over my head as the wind from the cars that are passing me by stir up fine dust that makes me look grey haired. I feel foolish because of my ego in the knowing that I can change a damn tire...I am not a "frail" woman! All the while I am thinking of that unused subscription to the road service club which I purchased years ago. Oh hell...I'm ringing those bastards up!

Hey...I had to be the devil's advocate!

And BTW...you assume the "girl P plate driver" is on the phone calling her dad or boyfriend to "come fix it". I highly doubt you can hear the conversation. If you can hear their conversations...have you ever eavesdropped on a man on the side of the road on a cell?

And another thing...why wouldn't you stop to help someone (anyone...male or female) on the side of the road in distress? It's just common courtesy and human kindness to ask if someone needs assistance. With good judgement and awarness of my surroundings...I'd stop and crack a window to at least make sure they were ok or if I could call someone to help them. But hey...that's just me!

It seems to me that you see more of what YOU want to see in your observations. It sounds more like assumptions to me! You assume a woman is pulled to the side of the road with a flat and possibly on a cell crying to a man and so she's dumb and weak and a cry baby...and yet, you don't really know the circumstance. Do you?

P.S. Us Americans know what a manual transmission is...tyvm!





















*looks down at that fuckin soapbox*


OK...who shoved that under my feet again?

[Lilith]

Me :D

[PantyFanatic]

No! I did. :D



.....My lovely dress is being blown up over my head as the wind from the cars that are passing me by .....
...and I had to go:car: around the block 3 times to get enough breeze working. :undies:
:loveshowe :thumbs: :p



;)

[LixyChick]

LIL!!!!!!!!!!

PF is "breezing" me again"!















^^^being those bad kids in the back seat who won't shut up so mom can drive!

[Lilith]

*reaches one arm behind me getting nothing but air as I grit my teeth trying to swat at any and every one in the back seat :p

[maddy]

I sure am glad I brought up that tire example :)

Just for the record, my only responsibility in chaning a tire is knowing who to call and being able to show them where the jack and spare are. I don't trust myself enough to get the jack in the correct place on the frame, and I refuse to be the foolish girl jumping on the tire iron on the side of the road ... I'm lacking the upper body strength Lixy mentioned.

But have a light that needs re-wiring... as long as I can find my way to the circuit box, it's all good, I'll play with the wires. I've been zapped once I won't make that mistake again.

I still think much of this is in the way we were raised and our personal circumstances. I'd love to have a man take care of all the "manly" things, but until I allow one to do all those things after years of being independant, I'll handle it all on my own or pay someone.

[PantyFanatic]

:yikes: *ducks from the swatting arm*





Am not!! :(














:horny:

[LixyChick]

LIL!!!!!!!!!




















I can feel the breeze...he is too!


















Oh wait...I think I'm liking it now!
















Nevermind!















*ticks-a-lock and sits back to be breezed fully* Weeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!














*giggle*

[PantyFanatic]

She started it, Ma! :rolleyes2


















Well, ........... she did. :rolleyes:

Look at that ass. :slurp:





:tongue:

[sodaklostsoul]

Thanks Lixy!!!!! You said everything I wanted to before I got here.:D


/me leaves before I say something I should'nt.

[Jude30]

I didn't read every response.

But the renter should have known how to flip a breaker. It doesn't have anything at all to do with being a male or female it's just basic living skills everyone should know. It's one of those things I didn't know it was possible not to know once you got past a certain age.

[Neige]

You might find this (http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/sex/add_user.shtml) link interesting.

The first time I did this a few years back, my score was 0, meaning I was not more feminine that I was masculine. When I redid this test in January my score was +25, which makes me more masculine...

I scored +50! :huh:

[PantyFanatic]

I didn't read every response. .....
Ya should've. ;)

[Sharni]

After a read of the previous posts and a little laugh at some I have to have my say on this. Girls what I am about to say is in no way a slur at your gender, but it hints at something that one of the other's said about tyre changing. I was going to blockbuster one day and as I traveled up the road I noticed a parked car with a flat tyre. I thought nothing of it as I am sure that we have all seen flat tyre's on cars before. Anyway after I had finished at blockbuster and I was on my return home I saw the owner of the car who was wearing a red dress and heals, clearly going out somewhere notice that she had a flat tyre. During this observation of mine, I saw an RACV service van parked nearby and the guy going through the job of changing over the tyre.

Now it annoys me when people do this. Changing a tyre doesn't require strength. It comes down to correct leverage to undo the lug nuts that are on the tyre. Once they give the rest is easy. I think most males can change a tyre and there a quite a few women who can as well. What makes me laugh are the ditzy ones who just have no idea why their tyre is flat and expect it to change over on its own.

Another thing is fluid levels. Now we all know that their are important fluid levels that we are suppose to check in a car. They vary depending on the type of transmission and if the car has power steering or not. Just a quick run down:

Oil, water for the wipers, radiator fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, if it has an automatic transmission then their is the transmission fluid to check as well. Some manuals or stick shifts to those americans here also require transmission fluid as well.

The average person can read and in the owner's manual it shows you where these points are and what to use. It even shows you how to change a tyre and where to find the necessary components for this, i.e. jack and spare.

But alas people don't read and wonder why they have problems with the car. I have seen girl P plate drivers here, with a flat tyre on the phone ringing their boyfriend or dad to "come fix it".

These are just observations that I have seen nothing more, so make of it what you will.
That is definately a slur.....

That lady had RACQ subscription...whats the point of having the damn thing if ya gonna get down in ya heels and dress and fix the bastard yaself!!...Ya paying them all year...so they can cum fix the freaking thing

I could change a tyre is pressed i spose...never done one in a car....done a bike tyre though *L*...and i DO read the manuals!

And shock horror i know where the relevant oils water and other basic stuff the car requires goes..

My point is i can do alot of what might need doing....but i CHOOSE not too...thats what Bilbo is for *L* (or RACQ for that matter)

And if he cant do it...i certainly dont diss him for it....we send the damn car to a mechanic or get someone to come in and fix the problem

*damn ya for making me get the soapbox out*

[PantyFanatic]

YEAH! :box:







:roflmao:

[scotzoidman]

I know how to open the damn panel, dude...AND I know enough about electrical stuff to know that I don't wanna go inside it...

The reason I couldn't take the time to answer in detail is that for the past week or two I've been heavily involved with a major home demo/renovation project, & was very busy watching the subs who were doing the heavy-duty work...hard workers, every one, but also hard-headed about doing things their way, & on more than one occasion I had to remind them who was paying for all this, & wouldn't be paying if he wasn't happy with the end product...

In the meantime, I see that most everything I could think to say has been well-said by others...the division of gender-based labor in our house has been a constantly shifting battleline for 3 decades now, & further complicated by the fact that our respective self-images started out kinda skewed, at least by common standards...as newlyweds, it was her that sat around the house in shorts & a tee watching TV sports (something I didn't really notice till our best friend pointed it out)...long time I have taken care of the grocery shopping, her job is write out a list & pull coupons...I carry the laundry downstairs, run the washer & dryer, & bring it back up while it's still warm for her to fold & hang...she's never been the fragile flower of womanhood in any case, being a prime example of the Strong-willed Southern Woman...as a young girl she tossed around #60 bales of hay, but she'll rebuke me if I forget to hold the door for her ;)

I believe that each gender has its own tendancies & preferences for what is needed to know to get by, but I think of it as a tilted slope rather than being a wall that neither can cross...

& I've seen the proof that little boys have the "vrooom" gene at birth...they know, without anybody telling them, that you run the toy car across the furniture & go, "Vrrrroooooommmmm"....

[Sharni]

& I've seen the proof that little boys have the "vrooom" gene at birth...they know, without anybody telling them, that you run the toy car across the furniture & go, "Vrrrroooooommmmm"....
*LMAO*...i got that gene too...and i aint a boy

[Lilith]

that of course is the gene better known as the "pow-pow stick" gene

[Loulabelle]

I think 'vroooom' is instinctive in every child, but I do know what Lil says about the 'Pow-pow stick'. Even with my little one, I can see he's A LOT happier playing 'rough and tumble' being tickled and moved about, than looking at a book or making eye contact with someone. I have to work quite hard to get him interracting with people - he'd rather be working on learning to sit and crawl.