I would like to get my phone screen fixed.
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This isn't very rational. The biggest mistake of companies and markets is ever thinking that people were rational at all.
There are things we need, experiences we want that can't go on a list of features.
Repair is a ritual that speaks to deeper needs than a working phone, or the latest camera lens configuration.
To repair electronics, to watch them be repaired is an almost religious experience.
And no matter how much I'm willing to pay it seems this cannot happen.
Another example of this are the compasses at my school. The 9th grade students use compasses and I spend a lot of time fixing the compasses.
"we could just buy a new set"
A new set would cost less than the ostensible hourly rate for my time. But I'm not paid by the hour, and happily everyone agreed that throwing away broken compasses was disgusting. It would set a bad example for the children.
But every year I have to fight over this.
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Another example of this are the compasses at my school. The 9th grade students use compasses and I spend a lot of time fixing the compasses.
"we could just buy a new set"
A new set would cost less than the ostensible hourly rate for my time. But I'm not paid by the hour, and happily everyone agreed that throwing away broken compasses was disgusting. It would set a bad example for the children.
But every year I have to fight over this.
At my limit, I added "understanding the repair and operation of tools such a drafting compass" to the educational standards. Thus, it's now a part of the mission to find all the little screws and file the leads to a point.
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At my limit, I added "understanding the repair and operation of tools such a drafting compass" to the educational standards. Thus, it's now a part of the mission to find all the little screws and file the leads to a point.
@futurebird there was a great equipment rental shop where I used to take the lawn mower blade to get sharpened and while the guy was doing that I'd poke around looking at all the fascinating machinery. He retired, shop's gone, and I have to do a half-assed job of sharpening the blade by myself.
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@futurebird there was a great equipment rental shop where I used to take the lawn mower blade to get sharpened and while the guy was doing that I'd poke around looking at all the fascinating machinery. He retired, shop's gone, and I have to do a half-assed job of sharpening the blade by myself.
I am increasingly the person who people brings things to when they want them fixed. I have discovered why such people are acerbic. Why does everyone assume I can "just fix" everything? Why should I fix all of these things when it feels like repair isn't really deeply valued in our culture?
Oh NOW you want me to fix it!
But, I think I should fight the temptation to be cynical and angry, remember that repair serves a deeper need a purpose.
Don the monocle.
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I am increasingly the person who people brings things to when they want them fixed. I have discovered why such people are acerbic. Why does everyone assume I can "just fix" everything? Why should I fix all of these things when it feels like repair isn't really deeply valued in our culture?
Oh NOW you want me to fix it!
But, I think I should fight the temptation to be cynical and angry, remember that repair serves a deeper need a purpose.
Don the monocle.
And I know that people keep bringing me more things to fix because I keep fixing things.
That's how that works.
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And I know that people keep bringing me more things to fix because I keep fixing things.
That's how that works.
@futurebird @akamran When I was a child, a family friend repaired watches, clocks, and astronomical equipment for places like Harvard University. He showed me some old timepieces with the engraved signatures of generations of skilled clockmakers. He also signed his work. At the time, it struck me as a sort of vandalism. Now I understand and salute the practice.
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This isn't very rational. The biggest mistake of companies and markets is ever thinking that people were rational at all.
There are things we need, experiences we want that can't go on a list of features.
Repair is a ritual that speaks to deeper needs than a working phone, or the latest camera lens configuration.
To repair electronics, to watch them be repaired is an almost religious experience.
And no matter how much I'm willing to pay it seems this cannot happen.
You might enjoy checking out your local repair café.
These folks rate phones by repairability, and provide free manuals. Which doesn't help with your current one, but can help guide future purchasing decisions. https://www.ifixit.com/repairability/smartphone-repairability-scores
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You might enjoy checking out your local repair café.
These folks rate phones by repairability, and provide free manuals. Which doesn't help with your current one, but can help guide future purchasing decisions. https://www.ifixit.com/repairability/smartphone-repairability-scores
We run one at our school!
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I want to go to a little grubby shop, cluttered with parts and watch an acerbic guy with a monocle cluck at the crack and then fix as I sit on an old diner stool fixed with layers of duct tape.
I want to watch the subway cars pass on the elevated, and run off to get cash to pay since it's the kind of shop where you get a discount when you pay cash.
I do not want to go to the "genius bar" I do not want to mail it in and probably just get a different phone back.
I want MY phone fixed.
@futurebird You want to visit Tony, yes? Although he only does mechanical cameras.
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Another example of this are the compasses at my school. The 9th grade students use compasses and I spend a lot of time fixing the compasses.
"we could just buy a new set"
A new set would cost less than the ostensible hourly rate for my time. But I'm not paid by the hour, and happily everyone agreed that throwing away broken compasses was disgusting. It would set a bad example for the children.
But every year I have to fight over this.
@futurebird Crazy thought probably, but maybe show your students how to do it? The hands-on will give them a deep understanding of how and why they work.
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@futurebird Crazy thought probably, but maybe show your students how to do it? The hands-on will give them a deep understanding of how and why they work.
I do this when I have the time. But it's important to point out that this isn't saving time in the short run. This solution takes more time.
And at the end of the year someone needs to count the compasses and account for how many work, fix the broken ones and maybe buy one or two new ones.
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I am increasingly the person who people brings things to when they want them fixed. I have discovered why such people are acerbic. Why does everyone assume I can "just fix" everything? Why should I fix all of these things when it feels like repair isn't really deeply valued in our culture?
Oh NOW you want me to fix it!
But, I think I should fight the temptation to be cynical and angry, remember that repair serves a deeper need a purpose.
Don the monocle.
@futurebird @akamran I'm that person in my family too - and it brings me joy to see people getting more use out of something they thought was unfixable.
Someone once said to me that it's a bit of a gift to be able to look at something that is broken, poke at it a bit and watch what happens, and then have a pretty good idea of what's wrong and how to go about proving your guess
It's almost like having XRay vision, so you are actually Superman
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I am increasingly the person who people brings things to when they want them fixed. I have discovered why such people are acerbic. Why does everyone assume I can "just fix" everything? Why should I fix all of these things when it feels like repair isn't really deeply valued in our culture?
Oh NOW you want me to fix it!
But, I think I should fight the temptation to be cynical and angry, remember that repair serves a deeper need a purpose.
Don the monocle.
@futurebird
We need to get you a t shirt with "Don the Monocle" your mascot on it.(Don is a monocle in overalls who wears a monocle and fixes things with tiny screwdrivers)
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I want to go to a little grubby shop, cluttered with parts and watch an acerbic guy with a monocle cluck at the crack and then fix as I sit on an old diner stool fixed with layers of duct tape.
I want to watch the subway cars pass on the elevated, and run off to get cash to pay since it's the kind of shop where you get a discount when you pay cash.
I do not want to go to the "genius bar" I do not want to mail it in and probably just get a different phone back.
I want MY phone fixed.
@futurebird There is a place that fixes phones not far from where I live. Replacing screens, batteries and even broken charging ports is their bread and butter. No acerbic old guy there though, maybe a couple of young Persian guys. But they will smile and say "again?" when you manage to crack the screen less than a month after they replaced it!
