BTT: Manual Labor

Today’s Booking Through Thursday is “Manual Labor Redux”:

Scenario: You’ve just bought some complicated gadget home . . . do you read the accompanying documentation? Or not?

Do you ever read manuals?

How-to books?

Self-help guides?

Anything at all?

It usually depends on the kind of gadget, but since we’re talking complicated here, I assume that means that it needs assembling and that I haven’t used/assembled one before. In that scenario, yes, I do read accompanying documentation.

Otherwise, if it’s fairly straightforward (i.e., a digital camera) I’ll usually wait a while before I even crack open the manual (usually in search of some esoteric thing I want to do).

(Yes, I’ve decided to start on Booking Through Thursday.)

This Book devourer post was published on Thursday May 15, 2008, and tagged under , , , .

About the author

Me

Hello, I'm Angela. I cycle through a bunch of obsessions: web, reading, writing, gaming, and traveling. I devour books like there is no tomorrow when I've got my grabby hands on one, and I've been known to resort to audiobooks when my eyes just. won't. stay. open. I read all sorts of things but my go-to genre when I'm looking for a rockin' good time is fantasy: epic, high, urban, young adult, you name it, I'm there. I love meeting interesting people and have excellent conversation, so leave me a comment or find me on any of the places below:

7 comments

  • Angela said:
    May 17, 2008 21:04

    @Megan: Thanks!

    @JLS: We all have differing experiences with gadgets, I’m sure! Plus I’m usually too excited about a new gadget to fuss with manuals ;)

    @CJ: Looks like it ;)

    @John: That’s an interesting question, and alas, I have no idea. Maybe that’s why it’s expensive? ;)

  • John Alwyine-Mosely said:
    May 17, 2008 01:38

    Now when John Wayne rode in to town to tackle the cattle barons in their fancy Eastern Style ranches you never see anyone struggling with a flat pack manual. Yet mail order catalogues took off in the 19th century so did the fancy furniture arrive all made up? We need an answer!!

  • CJHill said:
    May 16, 2008 09:30

    Sounds like we’re all pretty much the same when it comes to instructions…

    Mine’s up:

    BTT

  • JLS Hall said:
    May 16, 2008 02:38

    You’re right – it does depend on the gadget. But most gadgets are complicated for me. I had to read my camera’s manual before I could even figure out how to open the thing up!

  • Megan said:
    May 16, 2008 01:04

    Well I am happy you started with BTT. I love your layout and can’t wait to have a bit more of a look.

  • Angela said:
    May 15, 2008 20:52

    They’re great as reference books! :D

  • Lynda said:
    May 15, 2008 16:54

    I’m like you … I usually don’t open the manual unless there is something specific I want to do ;0)

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