I used to think asking strangers for advice online was pointless, but a plumbing disaster changed my mind.

Last Thursday, my kitchen sink in Phoenix backed up completely. I watched three different YouTube tutorials and still couldn't fix it. In desperation, I posted a detailed question with a photo on a home repair forum. Within an hour, a user named Mike suggested I check the air admittance valve under the sink, a thing I didn't even know existed. That was exactly the problem. Has anyone else had a simple online question save them from a huge repair bill?

2 comments

2 Comments

jordant694d ago

Honestly it shows how much real world knowledge is just floating around out there now. I fix old radios as a hobby and the forums for that are a total lifesaver. The manuals are long gone but some retired engineer will always pop up with the exact wiring diagram you need. It makes you realize how much we used to just lose when someone retired or passed away. That collective memory is online now, waiting for the right question.

miles8254d ago

My uncle worked at a TV repair shop for 40 years. He says half the stuff he knew was never written down, just in his head. Sure, some of it gets posted online now, but I bet a huge amount just disappears forever. For every retired engineer on a forum, there are ten who never bother to log on. The internet helps, but it doesn't save everything.