Ya exactly. You shouldn't expect everyone to be a car expert. You sound totally immature, I'm actually amazed you can work a clutch pedal and shifter at the same time.

It only sounds stupid to you because you are familiar with the field.

 

If you don't see my point, you probably should be supervised before you hurt yourself.
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So, people shouldn't be criticized for being ignorant about cars because they might be an expert in another field?

"Hey man my car's got a check engine light but I checked the engine and it's still there but H/O WTFLOLBBQ don't hate because I'm a brain surgeon just gimme my parts"
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You might consider some of us think you sound exactly like the people you are criticizing.

 

I'd weigh in somewhere in the middle.

I work in the legal field and it is incredibly uncommon to come across the client that knows anything about how the law works either in terms of the big picture or even in terms of how it applies to their case. But that's kind of the point of the legal profession; stuff is confusing so you get help from a subject matter expert.

As it relates to your situation, Wolf95, some people think you're being rude since your customers are coming to you BECAUSE they don't know everything. You're the guy that they count on to know stuff and their ignorance is your source of revenue.



However, I don't entirely agree with Macdaddies due to the phenomenon of the know-it-all car enthusiast and how they kind of have it coming. For some reason, typical guys feel the need to act like they know everything about cars, particularly how to work on them. So there is certainly something to be said for someone who is willfully ignorant yet filled with hubris. In other words, when someone tries to pretend like they know what they're talking about and they betray their ignorance, I think it's only natural to see the humor in that.



Now back to my work experience. Would it kind of make me a jerk if I talked down to prospective clients because they don't understand what they're talking about? I think so. Would it make me a jerk if a lawyer talked out of his butt and revealed his ignorance of some aspect of the law and I had a laugh at his expense? I think not, ditto the same circumstances only involving a client that thinks they know everything (in all fairness, most clients are admittedly unfamiliar with the law but I talk to at least one lawyer a week that doesn't understand what he's talking about).

I think that the ignorant person decides their own level of involvement in being ridiculed, for the most part. The first time I ever went to a "performance shop" I had a lot of questions and I wasn't afraid to admit my ignorance. The, frankly, elitist people that worked there sort of appreciated that and they warmed to me which begat a long-standing business relationship. Meanwhile, the buddy I brought with me decided to act Johnny Racecar and he made himself look like I complete tool by dropping lingo and trying to act like he had the same understanding of tuning cars as the guys behind the counter. Needless to say, they ripped on him and I think he brought it on himself.

In conclusion, there is nothing wrong with legitimate ignorance and people who aren't privy to every detail of the automotive world don't deserve to be made fun of, but simultaneously some people put their foots in their mouths when they try to sound like they know what they're talking about, and I doubt I'll be sticking up for them anytime soon.

Lastly, I can't help but point out the irony of this thread since (and I doubt I'm alone here) I'm almost always blown away by how little most automotive parts clerks know while they simultaneously try to act like they invented the car.

 

^^Good post

 

LOL...I was at o'Reilly's a while ago and two FINE milf asian ladies came up to me and asked me what the things in front of the windshield are called...

"umm...windshield wipers?"

I was jocking hard, so I installed it for them, since they asked nicely. Wanted to get the number but when they were in college, I was in elementary/middle school.

Not everyone may have the same level of automotive knowledge as others, but IMO they should have at least a basic understanding. Everyone also has different levels of knowledge in various subjects. In some you may be Mr. Wiki, in others you may be Mr. Noob.

Unless I KNOW the "tech" knows what he/she is talking about, I do not pay attention to what they're trying to recommend to me about my car (upsells). One time they were trying to sell me a battery "based on mileage" (not condition?).

The O'reilly's next to my house employs a fellow s2000, EK, and S14 enthusiast, so I feel comfortable going there, only for automotive supplies though.

For parts, I go to this small machine/parts shop, family owned, I think. They are always at least 10% cheaper than any of the "maistream" parts places in the vicinity. When I need work done, their prices are thrift store cheap, work is quality, and they've never let me down. Plus, they supply free popcorn for customers.

 

Mr EG pretty much said what I was thinking.