How to Advice from AOL

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seeing carpenters explain how to do electrical makes me pretty mad. im going to make a video that explains how to build your house in 3 easy steps.

"hello im chris the electrician. this video were going to explain how to build a 2 story house from the ground up."
 
OK, time for the speech I usually give when this topic comes up.

How many of you guys are DIYers? Have you ever set a toilet? Replaced a faucet? Fixed a heating system? Repaired a pilot light? Replaced a window? Etc etc. I'll bet if you're going to answer honestly, most, if not all of you have done some type of DIY work at one point or another. I know I sure do, and have done all of the above and more, and will continue to do so. :cool:

I realize this topic is about the accuracy of information presented in DIY videos, but then we are talking about restricting the exchange of information and ideas, and I'm totally and completely against that.
 
electricmanscott said:
I was thinking the same thing.

The responses here are a little over the top imo.

I've seen far worse from "qualified electricians" that what that guy did and let's be honest, what we do is not rocket science. :rolleyes:

Where can I find the code prohibiting fixtures mounted below 7'? :confused:
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Me too, I kept picturing this wiring job done by a card carrying journeyman as I read some of the responses.
 
electricmanscott said:
I've seen far worse from "qualified electricians" that what that guy did and let's be honest, what we do is not rocket science. :rolleyes:
:
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Scott, you should be banished to a distant planet for saying that. Utter blashphemy! You should know that 1) Electricians never make a mistake 2) The world does indeed revolve around us. :D
 
russ said:
Me too, I kept picturing this wiring job done by a card carrying journeyman as I read some of the responses.
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No one is saying that carrying a card makes you qualified, or that a "qualified" person isn't capable of doing wrong. We're just saying that it's not good for people to be cited as "experts" when they're putting out information that could cause fires or even get people killed.

Back to the old cliche....mess up plumbing you get wet, mess up wiring you get dead.

Someone should seriously consider taking away his card BTW.
 
electricalperson said:
"hello im chris the electrician. this video were going to explain how to build a 2 story house from the ground up."
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I know you're kidding around, but is there any part of building a house that is particularly difficult to understand? Is there any trade that's involved with building a house that requires a 4-year degree or advanced training? (Beyond plumbing and electrical apprenticeships which do require classroom education, at least around here.)

Does it take advanced skills and knowledge to run a backhoe? Set forms and pour concrete? Build a frame? Install shingles? Install windows and doors? Insulate? Drywall? Paint?
 
daleuger said:
We're just saying that it's not good for people to be cited as "experts" when they're putting out information that could cause fires or even get people killed.
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And I am pointing out you can not save people from themselves. What about the person taking advice from the Internet without regard to the source? What about their responsibility for their own actions?

Once someone decides to DIY they are going to do that with or without AOL.
 
If in a post I answered the question, "What size wire do I use to wire
a 120v dryer in a garage?"

KarlH

Dude, all you have to do is get some tie wire,wrap your "Hot" tie wire
conductor with electrical tape.Don't worry about wraping the
"Neutral" tie wire conductor,it's only a ground anyway. Run your
two tie wire conductors thru the studs of the garage to the dryer.
Next attach the "Hot" tie wire conductor by wraping it around
the small prong on the dryer cord,do the same with the "Neutral"
tie wire conductor to the larger prong. Now connect those two wires
in the panel by wrapping them around the lugs, "Pick any Lug."
Dude your done.

You guys would be all over me. It's no different than these videos.
:D
 
peter d said:
I know you're kidding around, but is there any part of building a house that is particularly difficult to understand? Is there any trade that's involved with building a house that requires a 4-year degree or advanced training? (Beyond plumbing and electrical apprenticeships which do require classroom education, at least around here.)

Does it take advanced skills and knowledge to run a backhoe? Set forms and pour concrete? Build a frame? Install shingles? Install windows and doors? Insulate? Drywall? Paint?
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i dont know i never ran a backhoe or set forms for a foundation :smile:
 
iwire said:
And I am pointing out you can not save people from themselves. What about the person taking advice from the Internet without regard to the source? What about their responsibility for their own actions?

Once someone decides to DIY they are going to do that with or without AOL.
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True enough. Hopefully most people at least are sensible enough not to get their info that way. OTOH we're all just voicing our opinions on the matter.
 
peter d said:
OK, time for the speech I usually give when this topic comes up.

How many of you guys are DIYers? Have you ever set a toilet? Replaced a faucet? Fixed a heating system? Repaired a pilot light? Replaced a window? Etc etc. I'll bet if you're going to answer honestly, most, if not all of you have done some type of DIY work at one point or another. I know I sure do, and have done all of the above and more, and will continue to do so. :cool:

I realize this topic is about the accuracy of information presented in DIY videos, but then we are talking about restricting the exchange of information and ideas, and I'm totally and completely against that.
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Yea, I'm a drywaller, painter, roofer, trim carpenter, plumber, landscaper, brickmason, framer, auto mechanic, sider, HVAC tech, excavator, and decorator... all rolled into one.

But I don't go around passing myself off as a professional in any of those trades, making videos and putting them on the 'net for everyone to see.

If someone wants to do DIY electric, not much I can do to stop them. But at least put information and ideas out there that are correct.
 
electricalperson said:
i dont know i never ran a backhoe or set forms for a foundation :smile:
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It's not rocket science is all I'm saying. It's not complicated, difficult to understand work. If you've ever taken a good look at a form crew, they don't look much different than a roofing crew, if you know what I'm saying.
 
480sparky said:
If someone wants to do DIY electric, not much I can do to stop them. But at least put information and ideas out there that are correct.
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Now it comes down to policing the internet, which is impossible. Let's say the AOL videos get removed. I'm sure within hours or days there will be new ones to replace it. You can't save people from themselves.
 
peter d said:
Now it comes down to policing the internet, which is impossible. Let's say the AOL videos get removed. I'm sure within hours or days there will be new ones to replace it. You can't save people from themselves.
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So every time the cops arrest a drug dealer, they're not doing any good? Then why bother arresting drug dealers?.... let's just let 'em have at it.
 
480sparky said:
So every time the cops arrest a drug dealer, they're not doing any good? Then why bother arresting drug dealers?.... let's just let 'em have at it.
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Drug dealers are breaking the law. A guy showing how to install a ceiling fan or light on the internet is not breaking any laws that I'm aware of, other than being stupid perhaps, but there's no law against stupidity.
 
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