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[kstuart]

I have previously mentioned my amazement over the constant stream of tech-challenged people who want to install complicated, highly technical software and hardware.  (As opposed to either a) buying a whole system that works without expertise required, or b) getting friend or family member to do the setup.)

Recently, we see this again with the flood of people who are "trying to install the MC21 program".

I understand that these people help to pay the bills here, hence my comment in this sub-Forum only.

But the presence of many stickied threads saying "there is no MC21 yet" made me think that what we call "technical ability" and what we call "reading ability" might be the same thing.

Technical ability involves dealing with a lot of small details, which almost always means reading what someone else has written about those details.

Aka "RTFM". 

What do you think ?

[JimH]

I think I'll try my hand at selling used cars.

I think I will buy a pickup truck and live in Montana.

[DarkSpace]

Seems like an accurate-enough generalization to me...
Though, for what it's worth, I'm studying computer science, where reading documentation (or rather, having documentation) about other people's code is basically everything, so I'm biased.

I think I'll try my hand at selling used cars.

I think I will buy a pickup truck and live in Montana.

Is this just unrelated or am I missing some joke here? I don't understand...  ?

[KingSparta]

Frank Zappa Moving To Montana

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=220xlHky1SY

[Mr ChriZ]

I'm software engineer with some years experience now... I'm not the best out there... but I get by...  I suck at reading stuff.

[mwillems]

As someone whose job involves a lot of technical editing, I think there's some definite overlap, at least for me.  I think that technical ability (whether referring to classic "tech" or other areas of highly specialized knowledge) and reading ability require some similar mental faculties.  Both require attention to detail, analytical focus, a certain amount of patience, and the humilty of spirit to submit to allowing someone or something outside of you to monopolize your time and attention for a little while.  

That said, you can have strong reading skills but no technical knowledge in a given area, or strong technical skills acquired through practice or instruction rather than reading, so there's a lot of non-overlapping area too.  I would say that, for abstract learning, reading ability and time will get you technical ability (at least that's how it's worked out for me).  Concrete technical skills are different, obviously; I've carefully read many books about electronics, but I'm still garbage with a soldering iron  

[JimH]

Seems like an accurate-enough generalization to me...
Though, for what it's worth, I'm studying computer science, where reading documentation (or rather, having documentation) about other people's code is basically everything, so I'm biased.
Is this just unrelated or am I missing some joke here? I don't understand...  ?

I answered a lot of those questions from people who were reading, but just missed the thing they were asking about.

And, by the way, I'm at least as guilty of this as anyone else.  Only it's often "Where is the mustard, dear?" when the reply is "Right there, honey, right where you're looking [dummy]."

[KingSparta]

the other day I installed a Reverse Osmoses water filtration system.

I got some extra hose and set it all up removing the flow control from the end of one of the hoses that came from the manufacture.

after I removed the flow control, I read the label on the hose "Do Not Remove, This Flow Control From This Hose"

$6.00+ shipping and Tax Later I got a new hose with a new flow control.

[glynor]

Only it's often "Where is the mustard, dear?" when the reply is "Right there, honey, right where you're looking [dummy]."

Mine yells "Stop looking with your eyes closed."