TINKERING

I had this uncle whose idea of tinkering was to take things apart that weren't in need of repair and see if he could improve them. That might have been an admirable notion if he actually made them better, but it never worked out that way.

We were lucky if he even managed to remember how to put the things back together. And after a while we always made sure we never left him alone at our house so he didn't have the chance to do any tinkering.

At his house, naturally, with so many items in his house lying around in disrepair it was like visiting some junkyard. Just finding a place to sit was a challenge, which is part of the reason why we seldom visited his house.

I presume that for those in the mindset to tinker they generally have a more uplifting approach to this subject. I can only hope that is the case.

But I think that with people prone to tinker it really is hard to predict their attitude towards gadgets. It might be that perhaps most are like my uncle, which could definitely be scary.

That is of course an essential ingredient in tinkering you understand. It must involve gadgets. Something that you can touch with your hands and has plenty of screws and other items that you have to either tighten or loosen.

It should also have some kind of motor. And having any time of electrical function helps too. Oh and lest we forget it should definitely also make some kind of sound so you know when it is working. That too is very important.

The other more essential element is that this tinkering should never in any way be on something essential to life. That is because tinkers need plenty of time to tinker. You can rush this process.

If you do it might never get working again. The fact that it normally never gets working again is irrelevant you understand. In that regard it is the principle of tinkering that counts.

Now I have invested most of this tinkering posting to deal with the obvious forms of tinkering. But let us not forget the more subdued forms. Like the ones practiced by political leaders.

Only they never call them tinkering. They are new programs for progress. However, if you look at them closely, they do often end up having the same type of labor results as tinkering.

My interpretation you understand. But it is something that I am grateful for. After all, if it wasn't for that kind of tinkering I might have to do some real work as a Mayor.