An Examined Life

I assembled a power washer the other day. I made a point of reading the instructions. Oddly, unlike the number of times I put together IKEA furniture, or kids bikes at Christmas, I wasn’t left with any spare bits and pieces. Once I was done I read the ‘starting’ details and, sure enough, it fired up on the 2^nd pull.

On the other hand I took my lawnmower in for servicing. I thought something was wrong with it. Turns out my lawnmower didn’t have the feature I assumed it had. It never occurred to me to look at the manual.

I have an unconscious arrogance. I assume I can find my way around cities I have never been in before, I can second guess Swedish bookshelf designers, and I know better than Jamie whatshisname when it comes to braising lamb.

This very software program I am typing with has the ability to do so much, but I still am happy with my one of three font choices and simple cut and paste. To do more would require an online tutorial or something – who has time for that?

And there it is. My arrogance has it’s root in my impatience. I just want to get on with it – taking the time to read will only slow me down. I am not sure what all the rush is, but my logic suggests that five minutes with the manual could be much better spent – doing what exactly, I am not sure.

I also find there is a correlation between me reading manuals, and me listening to instructions from my wife. “did you remember the milk?” “right”… and back out I go. Fortunately I have the time to drive back to the grocery store, since I didn’t waste it reading those instructions for the lawnmower…..