Fastsporty
02-15-2004, 10:40 PM
I didn't want to hyjack Nads post...
But his post got me thinking, must be that time of the month.
Why do I like working on old stuff? There is a lot of history in old stuff, If you pick up a old part, it has a weight and feel that is entirely different than of somthing new. Technology has advanvced 100 fold even in the last ten years but new parts do not have 'art' old technology has. Form follows function but with rapid advances in technology, the 'function' is there but form is lagging way behind. The computer that created a new part doesn't have a soul. Its only purpose is to produce a functional product. It has no desire to out shine its fellow computers and modify or improve artisticly the part it is making. It doesn't have to.
I was appalled a few years ago listening to a early newscast on the radio.The newscaster was broadcasting a story about how "Durable Goods" sales were on a up swing. He than said something that gave me a reality check. "Durable good are items designed to last three years." I grew up around stuff that was designed to last a life time, Hell I have some condements in the fridge that can be considered "durarable goods'. We live in a "Throw Away" society or a "ADD" society as I like to call it. Why build qaulity when we are going to throw it away when we get borded or somthing new comes along? It's reallly a vicious circle, society has sacraficed quality for cheaper prices. We want cheaper prices to afford more things, cause it makes us feel better. The movie "Fight Culb" is a great view of modern society, A view I don't think most people got or really cared.
Our country is turning into a distribution country, with our imports far exceding our exports. We are losing our manufacturing as well as the skills to go with it. My dad was a white collar worker for the phone system, but even so he had enough skills to build some nice furniture when we didn't have the money to afford to buy nice furniture. He also would change his own oil and give his cars a tune up every year. Those were basic skills everybody used to have. Now we have laws preventing people from changing there own oil. A thought that people would have fell over laughing 15 years ago. I now find myself helping neighbors with simple little tasks that I feel anybody can do, but you know in your heart most can't. I think that gene is finding itself quite dormant.
In science fiction you often find in the future after we rebuild the world after the shit hits the fan Asia is the dominating force. I used to imagine the authors intent was just because of sheer numbers of populas. I am begining to rethink that thought. If shit does ever hit the fan, which could be as severe as a nuclear war or a mild as a failed economy. We will not have the skills or the equipment to pull ourselves out into recovery. Who has those items? just pick something up within arms reach and turn it over, It will say "Made in China".
When I pick up something old, I am picking up a piece of history, something with soul and value. When I take these same Items and I am restoring them to new or better I am adding to their history and giving them new life. Maybe in my mind I it represents what I feel modern times should be.
That's why I like working on old stuff.
But his post got me thinking, must be that time of the month.
Why do I like working on old stuff? There is a lot of history in old stuff, If you pick up a old part, it has a weight and feel that is entirely different than of somthing new. Technology has advanvced 100 fold even in the last ten years but new parts do not have 'art' old technology has. Form follows function but with rapid advances in technology, the 'function' is there but form is lagging way behind. The computer that created a new part doesn't have a soul. Its only purpose is to produce a functional product. It has no desire to out shine its fellow computers and modify or improve artisticly the part it is making. It doesn't have to.
I was appalled a few years ago listening to a early newscast on the radio.The newscaster was broadcasting a story about how "Durable Goods" sales were on a up swing. He than said something that gave me a reality check. "Durable good are items designed to last three years." I grew up around stuff that was designed to last a life time, Hell I have some condements in the fridge that can be considered "durarable goods'. We live in a "Throw Away" society or a "ADD" society as I like to call it. Why build qaulity when we are going to throw it away when we get borded or somthing new comes along? It's reallly a vicious circle, society has sacraficed quality for cheaper prices. We want cheaper prices to afford more things, cause it makes us feel better. The movie "Fight Culb" is a great view of modern society, A view I don't think most people got or really cared.
Our country is turning into a distribution country, with our imports far exceding our exports. We are losing our manufacturing as well as the skills to go with it. My dad was a white collar worker for the phone system, but even so he had enough skills to build some nice furniture when we didn't have the money to afford to buy nice furniture. He also would change his own oil and give his cars a tune up every year. Those were basic skills everybody used to have. Now we have laws preventing people from changing there own oil. A thought that people would have fell over laughing 15 years ago. I now find myself helping neighbors with simple little tasks that I feel anybody can do, but you know in your heart most can't. I think that gene is finding itself quite dormant.
In science fiction you often find in the future after we rebuild the world after the shit hits the fan Asia is the dominating force. I used to imagine the authors intent was just because of sheer numbers of populas. I am begining to rethink that thought. If shit does ever hit the fan, which could be as severe as a nuclear war or a mild as a failed economy. We will not have the skills or the equipment to pull ourselves out into recovery. Who has those items? just pick something up within arms reach and turn it over, It will say "Made in China".
When I pick up something old, I am picking up a piece of history, something with soul and value. When I take these same Items and I am restoring them to new or better I am adding to their history and giving them new life. Maybe in my mind I it represents what I feel modern times should be.
That's why I like working on old stuff.