Where I preach heresy (now with one less "a" in the title)

"No, I don't thank you for the fish at all" (notindetroit) 08/27/2014 at 00:45 • Filed to: None

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With the widespread availability of roadside service and many cars not even offering a spare tire anymore, is it such a big deal that kids don't know how to change a spare tire?

I must admit, in the one time I've gotten a flat tire, I didn't change it. I took advantage of Hyundai's roadside assistance instead. I mean, it's a part of their famous warranty, of course I'm going to use it.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > No, I don't thank you for the fish at all 08/27/2014 at 00:49

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Allstate Roadside assistance, because I have a spare tire with no rim. Also, I haven't purchased a High-Lift jack, so I can't jack it up to change it.

Conan > No, I don't thank you for the fish at all 08/27/2014 at 00:49

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I think it should happen due to financial status. I have students who could never afford AAA.

Jeff-God-of-Biscuits > No, I don't thank you for the fish at all 08/27/2014 at 00:49

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Added in the location, just for good measure.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > No, I don't thank you for the fish at all 08/27/2014 at 00:52

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Yes. When roadside assistance is two hours away and you need to be somewhere in half an hour. Oh and let's not forget survival situations such as extreme weather or acts of God.

Tohru > No, I don't thank you for the fish at all 08/27/2014 at 01:01

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Look at Mister Moneybags here with his factory warranty and roadside assistance and shit.

Man, fuck that noise. I've NEVER owned a new car. Never had AAA or any of that shit.

When shit goes down, I get it done.

Flat tire? I got this.

Alternator dies at night miles from home? I GOT THIS.

Timing belt tensioner shits itself 40 miles from home on New Year's Eve in a snow storm? YOU BEST BELIEVE I FUCKIN' GOT THIS.

While you're dialing your phone and waiting for your knight in shining tow truck to come rescue you, I'm gettin' my shit fixed and back on the fucking road to go fuck bitches and get money.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > No, I don't thank you for the fish at all 08/27/2014 at 01:07

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But what happens when the terrorists win and you have no power, no cell towers, etc. What then? You must soldier on by foot or change that fucking tire. Your choice of walking 40 miles or changing that tire.

Yes, that scenario is very unlikely to happen but its still great knowledge to have if you have no service or dead cell phone in a remote area.

midengineer > Jeff-God-of-Biscuits 08/27/2014 at 01:07

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But you still have wifi!

/s

mcseanerson > Jeff-God-of-Biscuits 08/27/2014 at 01:12

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My wife is always going on about what would we do this in a zombie apocalypse and what would we do that. Why will you do when there is no AAA?

And in the usual style of marital reversi I flip her question back on her as to what will she do when the only working car she can find is a manual? Like many wives she refuses to learn stick.

Goggles Pizzano > Tohru 08/27/2014 at 01:15

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I go through a mental process. I learn, I exercise, I experience, I live.

And if I ever find myself with a new vehicle or AAA, I'd still it do.

PS9 > No, I don't thank you for the fish at all 08/27/2014 at 01:16

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How does one not 'know' how to change a tire? Jack up car, bolts come off, tire goes on, bolts go back. The level of skill involved is equivalent to snapping two legos together and turning a door knob.

Svend > No, I don't thank you for the fish at all 08/27/2014 at 01:27

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In the U.K. It's part of learning to drive that you know how to change a tyre, check the radiator, oil and windscreen wash levels and even though our latest car somes with full roadside assistance and a can of 'wheel sealant' (which is only useful if you get nothing larger than a nail in the wheel) I told them to keep the sealant and paid for a full size spare wheel for piece of mind that it's there should I choose or need to use it.

Jeff-God-of-Biscuits > midengineer 08/27/2014 at 01:31

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Shuuuuuuuuush!

desertdog5051 > No, I don't thank you for the fish at all 08/27/2014 at 01:43

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Roadside Assistance, western wilderness style.

Derpwagon > Tohru 08/27/2014 at 02:43

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Starter dies in the middle of a cruise far from home and you're staying at a campground, resulting in you driving to o'reilly's (who miraculously have the right starter in stock), then back to the campground, and changing the starter with no lift and minimal tools, in the dark? I got this.

Derpwagon > Derpwagon 08/27/2014 at 02:43

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boo, i'm back to being grey. :/

Tohru > Derpwagon 08/27/2014 at 03:18

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I've fixed a bad oil pressure sender at a campground, but never a starter. I could do it though. Gotta get it done

GhostZ > No, I don't thank you for the fish at all 08/27/2014 at 04:17

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Just because McDonalds exists and you can go out and get a 'burger' (if you can call it that) for $1, doesn't mean you shouldn't learn how to cook a regular meal.

It's not so bad, but failure to know how makes you a worse (in terms of ability, not 'morality') person. You don't have to be 'taught' but you have to know enough about the world (and how things work) to be able to know how to do it, or that's a sign that you're fairly ignorant about the rest of the world around you.

The thing, when it comes to changing a tire, if you have to be sat down and shown the entire process from start to finish before you get it, then you're already too far gone that learning to change a tire is going to improve your life much.

GhostZ > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 08/27/2014 at 04:19

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Machines are going to fail. Then the system's going to fail. Then... Survival. Who has the ability, to Survive?

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 08/27/2014 at 05:46

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I would advise against using a Hi lift to change your tire (if you're by yourself) on the side of the road. Those things are fucking dangerous if you're not careful. Just get a bottle jack with a plate on it and jack your truck up on the axle.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > No, I don't thank you for the fish at all 08/27/2014 at 05:53

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It's a huge deal, next you'll be saying that we shouldn't bother to teach people how to check their oil or brakes.

crowmolly > No, I don't thank you for the fish at all 08/27/2014 at 08:54

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In my opinion it's good to know- for a reason not mentioned.

It is always good to be somewhat informed about services you pay other people to do. Be it auto repair, plumbing, electrical, and even your own health care.

You do not need to do it yourself, and in some cases if you can afford to pay somebody to take care of things that's great. If you know at least a little about what's involved in the process that can keep you from getting ripped off.

Changing a tire is not something that people really pay others for (other than AAA fees mostly) but it represents a disconnect of knowledge. "I'll just call somebody " has replaced the need to understand the problem you are facing and taking somebody else's word for it can really bite you in the ass.

One shining example is something I heard from Hugo, who used to be my old HVAC guy. He told me that one of the most common things he deals with is clogged furnace filters. His company charges $99 for a service call and then $40-50 for the filter. So $150 to come out and change a $20 filter from Home Depot, that usually takes 5 minutes and *zero* tools to complete. One of the first things he asks before showing up at a house is "when was the filter changed" and 9/10 times it's dead air on the other end of the phone.

If you understand what's involved in a task you can better evaluate what a service provider is offering you for the money you are paying.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. 08/27/2014 at 10:40

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That seems a bit dangerous on it's own... Front diff housing, sure because it has a flat place, but the rear?

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 08/27/2014 at 12:09

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That's what I meant when I said plate, probably should have been more clear:

Here is what I mean.