Wiki.answers.com challenges visitors to ask a question, any question; from “What is the meaning of life?” to “Dude, where’s my car?” Realizing that the site’s Google-style entry bar may prove a tad daunting, the webmasters also provide a list of 20 categories for intellectual exploration. Enquiring minds can click on a relevant area and then drill down to see if someone’s been there, asked that (via unfortunately worded questions like “What’s the best food to eat with diarrhea?”). As you’d expect from a wiki site, you can also switch to “Answers” and put questioners out of their intellectual misery. I decided to apply my expertise to the automotive arena. And down the rabbit hole we go.
After signing-up as an expert, I received my first shock: volume. My inbox received 100 automotive questions per day. And then the aftershock: the questions.
“Why won’t my (insert a car name here) start?”
Dozen of surfers sent me this question. Daily. I could have written a long list of possible explanations, starting with the blindingly obvious (a dead battery), working my way to the completely implausible (alien energy abduction). But I was dumbstruck by the idea that hundreds of thousands of people somehow never “got” the basic methodology underpinning “20 questions,” yet still managed to learn how to type.
“Where do I put the oil in a [insert car name here]?”
Again, a popular question. I’ve got one: when did American consumers decide that car owner’s manuals are coated in powdered anthrax? Imagine hundreds of pages of questions with the word “RTFM” next to them. I did.
“Can you drive with a broken radiator?”
Yes but not very far. Back in the day, a TTAC editorialist lamented the precipitous decline of domestic garage skills. He pointed out that the trend had a catastrophic effect on the average motorist’s knowledge of simple mechanical repairs and upgrades. Well no shit.
Hundreds of questioners wanted to know how to change head, tail, stop, turn and dash bulbs. I reckoned it was only a matter of time before “How do I change a tire?” appeared. Equally sadly, there were hardly ANY questions about maintenance issues (changing oil, rotating tires, etc.) or relatively simple repairs (replacing shocks, etc).
How do I put double deuces on 16” wheels?
I want to see THAT buggy rolling down Woodward Avenue. Anyway, don't laugh. Think of all the people who didn't think to check their bling strategy. And of course, LOADS of people wanted to know how to remove/install a sound system. I reckon most of these questions come from midnight auto parts & accessories stores.
And then there were the off-the-wall, left field, where-the-Hell-do-these-people- come-from questions. Questions so bizarre I was constantly tempted to write equally fantastic replies.
“What’s your rpm at zero?”
Somehow I knew that “Your rpm is zero at zero” wasn’t going to cut it. But I didn’t want to launch into a long discussion of engine function, and I couldn’t write “The same as yours” or “Idle tachometers are the Devil’s plaything.” So I simply ignored the question, and many more like it. But how can you ignore a question like…
“How can cheese get on the car engine?”
What’s that you say? You've got goat cheese on your GTO? The question raised an infinite number of possible flippant replies, slapstick routines and jackass misadventures. On the other hand, perhaps he meant the heroin-based drug that that killed a Texas teen last year. If so, a dealer may have hidden the cheese in the questioner’s engine bay to evade the Narcs. Yes, the mind boggles.
“Can right hand drive cars be imported along with their regular left hand drive cars to US to meet needs of deaf person with little money?”
Why would a poor, deaf person want to import a right hand-drive car into the U.S.? You might suggest that they’re also dumb, but I would never make such an insensitive remark.
“How many payments can I miss before they take my car?”
Never mind the infinite spellings of the word "repossession." Again, why in the world would anyone think I could give them specific advice on their personal situation– such as "Who took my car?"– without any specific details? Maybe there's a widespread belief that "they" control the internet; "they" already know everyone's personal details. Which is as close to common sense as most of these wiki wanderers will ever get.
Speaking of "uninformed," I went into this gig expecting to tackle questions like “What’s the difference between all wheel-drive and four wheel-drive?” and “What are desmodromic valves?” and “Who imported the Borgward Isabella?” I now realize that I’m part of an elite group of well-educated pistonheads interested in stuff that most people don’t know exists– and couldn’t possibly understand it if they did. Call me a snob/rivet counter, but one way or another, the truth hurts.
Alas, this is so true. I suspect it has something to do with the demise of the student’s beater. When I was growing up, all I could afford was a piece of crap that required weekly mechanical intervention to keep running. Since I couldn’t afford to have it fixed professionally, I took the time to learn how to do my own work. How many kids do this today?
Welcome to the Internet…
Rue the day when speech recognition is good enough that not even a keyboard would be needed to ask such questions.
Venturing out of his native car geek environs, Mr Flyer has just had a nasty encounter of the modern version of the Dark Ages: Functional Illiteracy.
I once did a stint in law school as the “automotive ombudsman” for the Attorney General’s office here in NY as an internship. I let on that I was a car buff.
Huge error. I could not answer the phone after three weeks…THEY ARE THAT STUPID, and most folk who had a complaint were either way, way out of warranty or just bug-nuts.
Most “drivers” can find the gas hole, and the ignition key hole. Don’t ask beyond that, or listen to the inane Click and Clack show on NPR (a blot on otherwise decent programming).
I pity product support people, no matter where their call center is located.
Say, who did import the Borgward Isabella?
And what are desmodromic valves?
Ha! You should have saved this one for April Fool’s… but then we wouldn’t believe you. Nice piece, thanks Tom.
This is a problem across all areas, not just cars. I used to work tech support for a major computer manufacturer and got inane questions every day. The worst call I had started when I introduced myself and asked the customer’s name. His reply was “Uhh, my name?” I resisted the impulse to tell him to look at the tag on his shirt and read it back.
My most recent job was as service coordinator for a local Volvo dealer. Our customers ran the gamut. One lady wanted a loaner car so we could check why her oil pressure gauge always read low for the first few minutes every morning. I explained Volvo’s do not have oil pressure gauges, and she was looking at the coolant temp gauge.
The most frequent question “How much air should I put in my tires?” Never mind it is not only in the owner’s manual but inside the fuel filler door too.
The old axiom holds that people are dumb and their questions are proof.
Try meeting these ID10Ts face-to-face. I have. I just quit working at a big-name auto “parts” store as a side job for six months. All us gearheads like to crack on some of the morons that work the counters in these places, but trust me they are geniuses compared to the customers. Here’s a typical interaction:
Customer (female): “I needs some plugs for my car.”
Me: “Spark plugs?”
Customer: “Yeah.”
Me: “What kind of car?”
Customer: “Sebring”
Me: “What year?”
Customer: “I don’t know. A 2002 I think.”
Me: “Is that a 4 cylinder or 6?”
Customer: “I don’t know.”
Me: “You really need to know that if you are going to change the plugs. Have you ever done that before”
Customer: “Nah. But a friend of mine told me it wasn’t hard.”
What’s even worse are the ones that want YOU to install them for them.
“What are desmodromic valves?”
A question I have occasionally asked myself. Today, I finally looked it up; Wiki has a good article on desmodromic valves with a very good illustration.
rodster205:
I worked the parts counter at a Honda dealer one summer while in college. Had a guy in one day insisting his YZ125 was a Honda, and incensed that I would not take the time to look up the clutch kit in our computer and see if we had it in stock. How did he know it was a Honda? It was red. Did he buy it used? Of course. The customer was actually red in the face and screaming at me across the counter. I finally convinced him to go home and double-check the model name. To his credit, the customer returned about one hour later and apologized.
Tom,
It seems that you are not simply facing automotive illiteracy (which you are), but total illiteracy as well. Many of the folks who write you questions probably have a fair idea of what they want to know but simply do not have the skills to present such a written inquiry properly. This problem is wide-spread and isn’t getting any better. Being literate means the ability to both comprehend and effectively transmit a written language.
A young lady I work with,was having a hard time putting 1 piece running boards on her new pickup.
She couldn’t understand that the dealership people all smiled,after she informed them, that she didn’t think,her box was on straight.
I just do the good old muffler bearing, headlight fluid, and elbow grease test.
Of all the the doomsday articles I’ve read on TTAC, this is by far the most depressing.
Welcome to my life.
I waste time hang out at a Q&A site called Answerbag (www.answerbag.com, Joe Bob says check it out!).
The site is filled with all sorts of questions, both prescient and dumb.
The automotive ones tend to be exactly as Tom Flyer describes.
Most questioners lack even the most basic understanding of automotive fundamentals. This lack of understanding extends to not realizing that their “Why is my ‘check engine’ light on?” has been asked 947 times before (‘Yes, but it’s different for my 1998 Glopcorp Whizzbanger…’).
Also, the demographic at Answerbag tends to be on the young side. This is the generation that believes that the conventions of text messaging cover all forms of written communication.
Hence, many questions take the form of “my car won’t start bttry ok pls hlp thx”
Then, of course, we get the ‘flame wars’ where a teenager tells me (ASE-certified Master Technician, 4 years BMW dealer tech, taught auto tech for 1 year) why I’m a know-nothing idiot for recommending against someone putting 20″ rims on a 1995 Eclipse RS.
It’s a thankless job, but someone (apparently Mr. Flyer and I) has to do it.
I had a 1995 Dodge Neon whose radiator blew at around 100k miles. To keep driving it, I set the heat to max and threw all the hot air into the cabin. It kept it cool enough if I didn’t push it too hard, and I was able to get home – except that I was drenched in sweat from sitting in a 110-degree cabin for an hour.
Still, it felt pretty neat to have an air-cooled Neon for awhile, almost Porschelike.
Hmm…I just thought all service reps were being snooty when they roll their eyes at my questions.
It’s like when I asked a computer saleclerk if a particular AC adapter would work on a particular iPod. He rolled his eyes and said that all iPod adapters work on all iPod models, you moron. I said what about the Shuffle? He rolled his eyes again and said, Of course not, because it’s just a flash drive. Huh, I thought, I guess I am an idiot.
That reminds me, I have wondered what the difference is between awd and 4×4. I have google for that though…
I am not at all surprised by any of this. I was recently filling up, and noticed the driver next to me had purchased a liter of oil and a litre of premixed coolant. This conscientious motorist had both caps removed with the oil placed adjacent to the rad and the coolant perched adjacent to the oil filler. I intervened just as the erstwhile home mechanic was about to start pouring the coolant into the wrong hole. There’s another question for you Tom ‘How far will my car go with a litre of oil in the rad and a litre of coolant in the oilpan?’
Also, I too am shocked at how few people are capable of changing their own tires.
It’s all Ronald Reagan’s fault.
Eric,
I checked out answerbag.com and I think I may have found the conversation about the Eclipse and wheel and tire sizes. From one of the contributors:
“…but if they did we should put the new tires on the back right? ‘Cause that’s the more smarter way to do it.”
And later in the same post:
“… and you no nothing about what you are talking about.”
Wow, I love TTAC and thank RF and all of the editorial and writing folks for encouraging thoughtful and respectful automotive conversation. Were wood we be without you gys? Your the most best.
My daughter is a reference librarian. She’s told me that in her studies, they often discussed what’s known in the trade as the “reference interview.” Essentially, that meant listening politely to what the patron asked, then attempting to determine, if at all possible, just what the person actually wants to KNOW.
Most anyone who works retail learns this skill pretty quickly, or goes crazy, (or both.)
I have one of those big cardboard sun shields to put across the windshield when a car is parked in the sun. Now I understand why boldly printed on it there is the instruction “Do Not Drive With Sunshield in Place!”
As a former Tool and Die Maker now teaching tech at the high school level I see this general lack of technical and general literacy everyday. Be prepared for it to get much worse. Education is watering down the curriculum in the name of “student success” while technological studies programs are treated as an afterthought.
Desmodromic valves…. are poppet valves for inlet and exhaust similar to conventional valves apart from the fact that they are opened and CLOSED by the action of a camshaft rather then being closed by the action of a strong compression spring as most conventional set-ups are. The mechanism typically looks like a pair of “rocker” arms acting on the valve cap – one acting to push down on the top to open the valve as per normal and one acting underneath t the valve cap lift it up and close it again. Most desmodromic valve set-ups do actually use weak springs to close the valves just at very low engine speeds.
The theory behind the desmodromic valve action is that it should neatly avoid the problems of valve bounce at high rpm in conventional set-ups when the spring tension cannot quite overcome the increasing momentum of the fast moving valve adequately to close it and create an effective seal. This should allow improved reliability and sustainable power at a higher rpm ceiling.
On the downside, the desmodromic mechanism is slightly more complex and therefore more expensive to produce, and it is critically important that it is kept in very good adjustment to work effectively.
Ducati motorcycles used the concept widely in their singles and V-twin motors though it never really caught on broadly with many other manufacturers. My guess would be that other advances in valve and cylinder head technology solved provided solutions to the valve-bounce in other ways that were simpler to employ? Multi-valve heads, DOHC configurations and metallurgical developments brought smaller and lighter valves and valve-gear so super-high rpm performance could be achieved with conventional valve springs – so the desmodromic system was presumably considered redundant by most engine makers?
Interestingly – I believe that Ducati used to make and sell conventional valve-spring versions of their 250-350-450 cc singles alongside the desmodromic valve-operated versions and as far as I can remember there was no substantial difference in the performance between the two? Having said that – Ducati have stuck with the system in their motorcycles and have had great success with it.
I used to work at an engine warehouse that sold mainly engines salvaged from cars in Japan. I’d often get calls that start like this:
“How much for an engine for a ’98?”
“What make and model is the car?”
[Annoyed] “A ’98 Honda.”
“What model of Honda is it?”
[Exasperated] “A four door.”
Although I had one conversation where I learned that Toyota didn’t name their pickup trucks “tacomas” until ’96 or so.
“Do you have motors for an ’87 Toyota Pickup?”
“What model pickup?”
“…the Pickup.”
What is potentially worse than someone who lacks (what we consider) basic automotive knowledge who think they know what they’re talking about. I remember overhearing a conversation where someone was blabbing on and on about his “docky” (DOHC) engine had so much more response than any “socky” (SOHC) engine he’d ever had in a car. I should have reminded him to change his muffler bearings and switch to a synthetic blinker fluid.
Samir – I pulled a similar trick with an 89 Chrysler Dynasty; during a short road trip the rather rusted out engine split a hose – interior heat cranked to the max kept the engine temp cool enough to keep driving. Luckily it was springtime in Canada – I was still sweating, but not dying by any stretch.
When I started working on my own cars (simple stuff – plugs/brakes/wheels) my wife was a bit nervous – the brakes and changing from winter/summer and back each year seemed to cause her the most concern, until I demonstrated how a torque wrench worked, then let her see how her dealer put tires on her truck. I still find the process a bit of a pain, since it’s usually a manual process in the cold, having left it ’till the first snow flies… I like to use an 18v drill /w a socket adapter to gently spin the bolts until the torque wrench is required, but can rarely find my socket adapters – and yes I now have 3 or 4 of them!
YOu guys do know that some of those idiots you are referring to actually have other concerns outside of automotive knowledge. Lets be fair and accept the fact that there are many aspects of our lives that WE are not experts in. I wonder how some you guys would feel if your doctor looked at you like you were a fool because you did not have an understanding of medicine on his/her level!
Who imported Borgwards? One possible answer is here http://mysite.verizon.net/vzenughv/worldofgoliath/ though it isn’t clear he imported Borgwards in addition to Goliaths. (scroll down about 1/3)
This editorial reminds me of a professor in college. He’d start the semester by saying “Now class, always remember there are no stupid questions. However, that is not to be taken as a challenge.”
@ Areitu: Same with the 80s vans. Un-named until the Previa came along in 1991. The 84-89s were technically Toyota Vanwagons, but VW was not pleased with the similarity to “Vanagon” so Toyota just called them Vans. Heck, even the owner’s manual just says “Van” on it!
Brilliant!
To whatdoiknow1:
I understand totally what you wrote – I personally have been in the computer and network fields my entire career and, much like cars, while I don’t expect every user to know the ins and outs of each function, if you are going to use a product like a car or computer, you MUST have an operating knowledge in order to avoid a disaster.
Before my parents let me take a car out on my own, especially with a freshly minted license, I had to know the basics like checking and adding fuel, air in the tires, warning lights, and the number of points Pennsylvania allows before you and a judge have a face-to-face meeting! We also had to know some more advanced items like checking and adding oil and other fluids and how to change a tire. To this day, I still do some of my own maintenance and prep a car for a long trip. I guess it goes back to parenting and the belief that driving a car isn’t a right at all – it’s a huge responsibility.
I’m not an expert in medicine but I know when to visit the doctor. I’m not an expert in auto repairs and I know when to take it to the shop instead of typing “hey dckhd y cant i put 20s on a 92 civvvvick.”
How do I put double deuces on 16” wheels?
First, get a REALLY good cutting torch…
The heter-on high trik will only wrk if thre is enuf koolant lft to pmp throo the kore. Dont not depnd onit alwys.
Since I spend the other half of my internet car time moderating a car forum, I really got a kick outta this editorial.
I can’t believe the number of jackasses who post idiotic questions and cop an attitude with us for not doing our jobs (which we get no paycheck for) or referring them to the “search” button. Problem is, people want easy answers…and that’s gone once the factory warranty expires.
BUT…the perk is once the forum/website matures, you archive the hot topics. Then you can tell them to use the search feature…and say things like “RTFM” and “STFU NOOB” with a clean conscience. If they want the answer, they can dig it up. Otherwise, tough luck.
I’m a member of an e-mail list for folks who are associated with a certain type of vintage aircraft (The FAA or Fearless Aeronca Aviators). Owners, pilots, mechanics, and restoration experts (most folks are a combination of several if not all of the above) gather at this online forum to discuss everything from flying techniques to general maintenance to parts fabrication. There are many levels of expertise and often the old crow veterans of the group school the guys who may be more interested in flying than maintenance. All conversation is civil and friendly and in good humor. There are no stupid questions and there are no know-it-all 15 year old kids. I suppose that the reason for this is that most of the folks on the list are in the demographic of Buick drivers. Airmen tend to stick together rather than compete with one another and usually have an air of generosity to their comrades. I’m one of the younger folks on the site and am indebted to several of the OF’s (Old Farts, as they call themselves) who have so graciously helped me stay in the air. It would be nice to find these qualities in an automotive forum. I’m sure that those forums that specialize in certain models are more civil, but so many are full of folks wanting quick answers to silly questions now.
Very amusing article.
I once listened to a guy tell me he had the new truck with the hemi diesel. He also had a personal helicopter that he liked to fly, but didn’t know what make or model. The strangest thing about the whole situation is that he had actual friends who came with him to the party.
N85523:
There are a few forums for cars of that ilk. The AudiWorld TT forum that I frequent is pretty well behaved for the most part. And the vwdiesel.net forums are pretty well behaved as well.
When I bought my first car, I approached maintenance with the attitude that a mechanic would take care of everything for me. My father looked at me and shook his head as he had a garage full of everything I needed to learn. The mechanic then installed a used radiator that was caked in mud and caused my head gasket to rupture. He vehemently denied this and said I had been doing some heavy off-roading (in a Jetta?). I ended up paying another mechanic $800 for the job. Following this lesson, I resolved to learn everything I possibly could about the intricacies and maintenance of cars and motorcycles. As I don’t live with my parents anymore, I do most of my work in the driveway of the house I’m renting (the landlord’s really cool about it).
I find it interesting how the people at the parts counter can become so frustrated even if I’m trying my best at being clear. I once had the following exchange with a lady at the local parts depot here:
Me: Hi can I get a set of HT leads?
her: Sure. What year, make, and model?
Me: ’89 Saab 900
her: 900 what, 900cc?
me: no, Saab 900
her: (yelling) 900 WHAT?!!
me: That’s the model, Saab 900.
her: (pauses for 30 seconds with disgusted look on face then types at keyboard furiously) Oh a Saab 900! turbo or Non?
me: Jesus lady, non.
I find the Saab central forums to be very patient and non-judgmental even towards the people who continually post “Can I turbo my NA?” instead of searching. The search function is genius, I’ve only had to start a topic once.
claudster:
As a former Tool and Die Maker now teaching tech at the high school level I see this general lack of technical and general literacy everyday. Be prepared for it to get much worse. Education is watering down the curriculum in the name of “student success” while technological studies programs are treated as an afterthought.
As an IT guy who works with a Tool & Die shop, I hear a universal complaint: Today’s educators refuse to even suggest to students with decent math/analytic skills a field where they may get their hands dirty.
Worse, Car mechanics and Tool/Die makers can command better career pay than many basket weaving degree career paths.
I agree with you ihatetrees. Whats makes things worse is that educatoers think that any “academically challenged” child with poor numeracy/visual-spacial/analytical skills can be a mechanic or Tool and Die Maker, or tech courses will turn on a teenager that dreams of becomming a roadie for “Metalica”.
Since tech courses are expensive to run, school boards are trying to kill them by slowly turning them into “dumping grounds”.
This will only lead to a vicious circle of very high technical illitracy, and very high pay for those who are technically literate.
As a current educator, former IT consultant, and fair hobby mechanic, I can relate to the several aspects of this discussion: automotive illiteracy, antagonism between specialists and users, and lastly the loss of vocational education in K12 education.
Starting with the last… criticizing K12 educators for lower technical literacy, without understanding the educational system, is a bit like walking up to the parts counter and demanding the part that will stop your car from overheating. “Which part?” “I don’t know, you’re the parts expert, I just know what’s wrong.” Why are vo-tech programs cut? As fewer parents understand or value vo-tech programs, school administrators respond by putting their limited dollars behind programs that parents value AND that NCLB requires. Those are reading, math, and science. How many parents of K12 students do you know who are demanding that their children be prepared for careers as car mechanics? Don’t blame Superintendent Chalmers.
Of course, NCLB is problematic, an attempt by Congress to adjust the valves of the educational car without reading the manual. An emphasis on standardized tests, on facts without application… well, that’s a reason why specialists and users can’t get along. Thanks to google everyone has access to facts, but as always few take the time to understand underlying complex systems. That’s true whether it’s an educational system, computer operating system, or a car’s cooling system.
But it’s easy to make a difference. Volunteer at your local high school. Help the chemistry department set up a biodiesel lab and work with students to convert a car to B100. Or teach a 5th grader how circuits work using a digital multimeter and the family car.
Got to agree with whatdoiknow1 here. Why on earth should I know how to change oil for my car?
How many NAND gates are needed to construct a single flip-flop? I suppose most people don’t know about that. Yet they use computers everyday.
For me, I expect a car that needs simple maintenance and refueling only. It’s the car makers job to worry about the details. It a certain car maker cannot, I can always find someone who can.
Add my voice to the chorus; I really don’t care that I can’t change my car’s oil blindfolded with one arm tied behind my back all the while reciting the SKU number of every bolt, washer, oil fomula and filter used in the process.
Yes, we should all know how to change a tire given the possibility of emergency situations. I learned the hard way when I was 17. But then we should also all know CPR, all be able to perform the Heimlich maneuver, all know how to get viruses off our computers, all be able to provide in 100 words or less the primary and secondary causes of the First World War, etc, etc.
No one is glorifying willful ignorance, but to most people a car is a tool, and a prosaic one at that. They neither want to know nor need to know much beyond the day-to-day operation of a vehicle, and that’s probably how it should be. I have only the most rudimentary grasp of how my microwave works, why one of my cats occasionally vomits after eating, or how double-entry book-keeping is performed, yet few would pillory me for my lack of expertise.
Humourless: you may not have a clue about double-entry bookkeeping, but I bet if you needed to ask a question about it you would do some basic research first, then you would manage to phrase the question intelligently and in such a way that demonstrates a basic respect for the respondent.
The problem I have is not with lack of expertise, but the manner in which the questions are asked. Bad grammar, spelling and no evidence of prior research indicates that you have an expectation that someone else will do everything for you. Frankly, it is disrespectful.
dean, I agree with you on that one.
The education system is very ineffective in terms of logical thinking. The schools are teaching in the wrong way. They always give the students formula and shortcuts, which are an over-simplification of the truth. They never encouraged students to explore further.
But it’s very hard to change that. I even suspected that the government want it that way. Mindless people are easier to rule.
In the long run, those without decent logical skills will be filtered out. In peaceful times, the disparity between the rich and the poor will grow. To a point it will adversely effect the reproduction of the poor(those logic-challenged). During a war, the poor ones will be sent to the front line first. The son of a president would just serve at home and be a president later. And he would send more patriotic poor people to war.
“The education system is very ineffective in terms of logical thinking…. Mindless people are easier to rule.”
I promise I’m not spamming, I’ve had an account here for a while, but this topic strikes a nerve with me, and you’re right that they do it on purpose:
see http://www.johntaylorgatto.com/
It’s mostly an American thing (no I’m not channeling jurisb). That is, the inability and unwillingness to learn for one’s self how to do even the simplest things.
Haha… well done! I’m a Supervisor at WikiAnswers (for the Writing and Body Art categories)… We get hilarious questions all the time (but mostly serious ones). Some of us Supervisors started a blog about the craziness that can happen with online Q&A – no stupid answers.
Thanks for your contributions! If you want any WikiAnswers tips or info, just get in touch (lizc @ answers.com)
-Liz (WikiAnswers username: eliesheva)
Got to agree with whatdoiknow1 here. Why on earth should I know how to change oil for my car?
How many NAND gates are needed to construct a single flip-flop? I suppose most people don’t know about that. Yet they use computers everyday.
That’s not a very good analogy. I don’t need to know anything about NAND gates to use or even maintain and troubleshoot a computer. You do need to know something about changing your oil—like the fact that it needs to be done every few months—in order to keep your car running.