[sdiy] Death of DIY?

[Graham Gleich]

Meh, i can understand that DIY generally doesn't pick up new kids on the 
block as often or as much as most of us would like, however all hope is not 
lost. Look at it like this Thanks to web rings and you folk who blog their 
projects, kids like me who are 20 with no degrees in electronics (i have 
never taken on electronics class) can jump on a mail list, listen and watch 
for a few months, and then actually have enough knowledge to make a simple 
circuit. I think 5-10 years ago this would not have been the case and 
learning things like this were much more elite.
         It could be just because I was raised in Berkeley and Boston two 
of the liberal capitals of the US, but the way i see it before the internet 
none of us could communicate this freely. Hell I wouldn't be able to see 
any of your guys projects in less you snail mailed me pictures, or if we 
were in the same room. Its like the article says with technology there are 
advancements, however theres always a trade off.

*also the fact that i also do not rely on this as any form of my income 
puts me in a different boat than some of you who work for companys such as 
Oakley Sound...
I find its always a little easier for me to focus on what is wrong rather 
than what is good....
so there it is my 2cents on why SDYI is not dead.
                 -Graham

At 04:45 PM 7/16/2005, you wrote:
>This story won't be news to a lot of people on this list--but note the last
>part:
>
>http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/07/16/BAGB4DOT0Q1.DTL
>
>This, along with all the other exciting trends in electronics so lovingly
>discussed on this forum recently leads me to an inevitable feeling of doom.
>I feel like we're heading down a mountain, wheels on fire, going full-tilt
>throttle towards a future where DIY has no place.
>
>How are young people going to learn *real* electronics with no through-hole
>parts (or solder or solderless breadboards), a rapidly dwindling supply of
>experienced mentors, and all the tech jobs moving to wherever the labor is
>cheapest? (meaning "don't major in EE, son").
>
>I get the feeling that soon I won't be able to fix the simplest thing
>myself without violating some law or costing myself more money.
>
>Just feeling a bit gloomy...
>
>--
>
>Terry Bowman, KA4HJH
>"The Mac Doctor"
>
>"There is no Main Street anymore except at Disneyland--and try and buy a
>gun there"--Hank Hill