What is keeping you from trying an idea?

I don't think time is the issue, everyone has the same time, all day, every day. I think the main issue is motivation, if we aren't working on a project, it is mainly because we have other, higher priorities. These can be very high priorities, like surviving, but usually if we want it badly enough, we will "find the time", it is just a higher level of motivation that is needed. There is a bit of a paradox if we think we want to become more motivated or want to find more time..... because we have exactly the same amount of motivation to carry out these wishes as we do to work on the project, and that is already not enough.

Ironically, other people can provide extra motivation for us, which is why this forum is so great. It provides praise, encouragement, badges, kudos, points, challenges and even a few goodies, all of which can help those of us who are motivated by such things.

dougw

You are absolutely right. Many use "no time" for "I have other priorities". For me those are synonyms. Motivation on the other hand is effort vs. reward. If the effort is to high or the reward to low, motivation vanishes.

This forum is great for everything you can do "over the net".

DAB

That's a neat idea. But I am asking my questions here anyway. What I'd really need sometimes is a Makerspace where I can find some tools I don't have and a helping hand. The one I found whithin one hour travel distance concetrates on teaching kids and 3D printing. That's nice to, but what I need is a place where somebody can help out with SMD soldering or debugging a faulty bus. That are the areas I have no skils. In return I could help with C or JS programming.

I really like the euphemism idea of "no time" means "other priorities". Many times I find things come down to answering "what is paying the bills". Ideas come to light all the time, but to expend resources be that; time, money, hardware, or brain cells, the idea needs to be run through a decision process.

Helping with ideas is limited based on proximity. This forum is outstanding for sharing ideas and helping with things that can be resolved using "paper and pencil" methods, but when it comes to hands on work, there is a limitation to exchange. My mental picture of this group shows people in Australia, Northern China, Southern India, U.K and Europe, and the Americas (North and South). Getting people together for a work session would be a bit of a task. That said, I suggest, if you have a solution to a problem that someone is talking about, let them know from what part of the planet you reside. Also, when a question is posted, there is an included "where am I" field, not to scare people off, but to set the expectation for what can be done.

I am impressed with the solutions to these issues that I have seen on this site, with schematic and photo exchanges to show what was done, and how it should be done.

Jack

I supported early versions of Windows where a TCP/IP stack was an add on (Winsock or "as we pronounced replace o with u" ) for 3.1 and later for XP it was built in. To fix customer troubles we would get them to reinstall since it broke regularly with normal usage.  It was not until Windows 7 that the stack was a full stack compliant . The only other way around was get Linux! They never called with problems.

Clem

It seems like we have multiple conversations going on here... I too have dealt with the fun of Microsoft releases (don't use the odd numbered releases, or was it even numbered releases).  In the end, I use Microsoft only when required by management or the particular IT department.  I love the Raspberry Pi platform and Linux has been a favorite of mine since I first came across Linus' posting for help.

Getting back to working from a distance. I have noticed that this forum has had inputs from all corners of the planet (not sure how you get corners on a sphere), and everyone has been real great at solving the issues of proximity. I propose when someone posts a question that there be a field for location on the planet, and if you post a solution check to see if your proximity permits an actual physical visit, if a hands on session is needed. (Just found out DAB is nearly a neighbor). Also, depending on the project and work breakdown (modularization)  physical proximity is not always required, particularly with new tools like GoToMeeting or Skype.  Again, it is a commitment to the project for using resources.

Jack

It seems like we have multiple conversations going on here... I too have dealt with the fun of Microsoft releases (don't use the odd numbered releases, or was it even numbered releases).  In the end, I use Microsoft only when required by management or the particular IT department.  I love the Raspberry Pi platform and Linux has been a favorite of mine since I first came across Linus' posting for help.

Getting back to working from a distance. I have noticed that this forum has had inputs from all corners of the planet (not sure how you get corners on a sphere), and everyone has been real great at solving the issues of proximity. I propose when someone posts a question that there be a field for location on the planet, and if you post a solution check to see if your proximity permits an actual physical visit, if a hands on session is needed. (Just found out DAB is nearly a neighbor). Also, depending on the project and work breakdown (modularization)  physical proximity is not always required, particularly with new tools like GoToMeeting or Skype.  Again, it is a commitment to the project for using resources.

Jack