Explaining things to non-car people

"StudyStudyStudy" (jesterjin) 12/10/2015 at 18:12 • Filed to: None

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Just wondering how many of you other oppos like explaining things to other people.

I work on cars with a friend sometimes, his parents come out and try to engage with small questions, like “what are you doing,” or “what does that do?” Friend likes to go with the typical answers “you wouldn’t understand” or “it would take too long to explain.”

Not sure why, but I enjoy explaining the purpose behind things. Anyone firmly in one camp vs the other?

CB > StudyStudyStudy 12/10/2015 at 18:14

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I like explaining things, but that’s because I like talking.

StudyStudyStudy > CB 12/10/2015 at 18:16

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Fair enough, I’m quite verbose my self. Maybe it just predetermines the topic so it is comfortable for me to talk about.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > StudyStudyStudy 12/10/2015 at 18:21

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I find it’s good practice for simplifying language, clarifying thought, and explaining presuppositions and concepts at the same time as the topic itself.

TheAnswerIsAlwaysCitroën > StudyStudyStudy 12/10/2015 at 18:22

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If they genuinely want to listen, yes. If they aren’t actually interested it’ll bore them to death, and you should just give them a quick, polite explanation. Me, I usually don’t notice that they’re bored until they’ve lost the will to live.

“So that is how the hydraulic steering works in a Citroën SM!”

PowderHound > StudyStudyStudy 12/10/2015 at 18:27

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I prefer to not be asked questions about what I’m doing. Usually if one of my roommates asks what I’m doing I just start mumbling and stick my head further in the engine bay.

RallyWrench > StudyStudyStudy 12/10/2015 at 18:27

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This is quite literally my job. It’s difficult at best, but I’ve become pretty adept at simplifying things and making analogies as necessary.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > StudyStudyStudy 12/10/2015 at 18:34

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Basedoff my rather taciturn nature I tend not to explain things very well, especially to people who don’t really understand cars and related things.

Mercedes Streeter > StudyStudyStudy 12/10/2015 at 18:35

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Depends!

If it’s a hobby or a passion (like how I love to rebuild smartphones and computers), then I’ll talk about it until they get annoyed with me. I love explaining things and spreading good information.

But I can’t *teach* someone on a subject, not unless they learn as fast as I do. I had to teach my mum how to send an email at least 50 times...and around the 25th time, I confirmed that there’s no way in heck that I’d ever become a computer teacher.

StudyStudyStudy > TheAnswerIsAlwaysCitroën 12/10/2015 at 18:37

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That is my constant concern, I try to pickup on hints, but sometimes I get so into it that I don’t notice. I wonder if I’m boring my friends parents...nice to know I have someone in my camp!

StudyStudyStudy > Mercedes Streeter 12/10/2015 at 18:38

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Fair enough, not too much point in talking if it goes in one ear and out the other. My mom unfortunately picked up on texting pretty easily, still a strange feeling getting texts from her.

StudyStudyStudy > PowderHound 12/10/2015 at 18:39

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Just irritating? Or just not productive? I’m obviously an explainer so I would very much be interested as to why. Then again, I guess you would have to explain that to me.

PowderHound: *Sticks his head closer into computer and mumbles*

Me: ...walked into that one....

StudyStudyStudy > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 12/10/2015 at 18:41

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Ah, very much agreed, I guess it can be an exercise in summarizing a task. I can see that someone else may find it prolongs the task at hand though.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > StudyStudyStudy 12/10/2015 at 18:43

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It is important to realize when to say “it doesn’t matter” on detail stuff, of course. Because TMI is a huge consideration.

TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts > StudyStudyStudy 12/10/2015 at 18:49

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I definitely like explaining. Problem is I think I spin it out too much. I need to learn to stop when their eyes glaze over.

PowderHound > StudyStudyStudy 12/10/2015 at 18:52

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I think I tend to not be productive when talking to people or they are watching me. Shit, maybe I’m paranoid.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > StudyStudyStudy 12/10/2015 at 18:58

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I like to explain how/why something works more than “which one is better?”

Scary__goongala! > StudyStudyStudy 12/10/2015 at 19:10

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When I try to explain to them that sports cars aren’t solely about going fast and having impressive numbers.

MM54 > StudyStudyStudy 12/10/2015 at 19:45

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I enjoy explaining things if the person has some remote clue of understanding. My mom? Not worth the time, she won’t know what I’m on about. My dad? He’ll probably follow for the most part.

Now, in terms of trying to explain that I’d rather have three cars that only work 33% of the time and work on them regularly than one new warrantied appliance, I don’t even try anymore beyond “I’d rather have three cars that only work 33% of the time than some new warrantied appliance” as I’ve never found anyone (other than some close friends) that even remotely accepts that.

MM54 > Scary__goongala! 12/10/2015 at 19:47

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Or the never-ending “Why do you need a car that can go that fast?”

Mercedes Streeter > StudyStudyStudy 12/10/2015 at 20:15

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I taught my mum how to take selfies roughly three months ago. There are now about 1,000 selfie videos on her PC because not only does she not know how to take a picture on her phone (so she takes a ten second video selfie), but she also doesn’t know how to delete things.

BUT! At least she knows how to import the files to her PC?

StudyStudyStudy > Mercedes Streeter 12/11/2015 at 00:37

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Oh goodness me, that sounds like my mom and apps, I had to put her on basic simple mode to stop her from downloading every app in the world out there!

StudyStudyStudy > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 12/11/2015 at 00:38

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True, you can talk someone’s ear off. I say as long as you are still turning a wrench and you give them an out every minute or so, maybe that’s ok?

StudyStudyStudy > Scary__goongala! 12/11/2015 at 00:39

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“How fast does it go?”

“Don’t know, that’s not why I bought it.”

“Why would you buy that if you didn’t want to go fast?”

“...for fun?”

Scary__goongala! > StudyStudyStudy 12/11/2015 at 00:48

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Especially when I tell them I didn’t want a fast car.

Reason being I’d already be dead if I had one.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > StudyStudyStudy 12/11/2015 at 08:03

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Depends who is asking, how stupd the question is, and how many more stupid questions have been asked that day.

StudyStudyStudy > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 12/11/2015 at 14:03

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Ah the stupid question threshold. That is a consideration.

ResidentPony > StudyStudyStudy 12/13/2015 at 18:01

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I’ve filtered all my mom’s emails out of my inbox and directly to spam.

They’re mostly cute puppies, funny, jokes, and Internet wisdom that have been circulating since 1994.

Besides, right after emailing she calls me to make sure I got it, so I don’t miss important information anyhow.