Do you read the instructions?

My DH’s take on instructions is that’s it’s just the manufacturers’ recommendations on how to assemble something, so he doesn’t bother and follows his intuition. That’s why he put the bathroom mirror upside down so the shelf overhangs the top and he put a shelf up at DD’s then told her not to put anything on it.

Like V3ra’S family,I only read the instructions as a last resort.

IT specialist son has a useful acronym. RTFM. Ie READ THE FLIPPING MANUAL. Other F words are available.?

If all else fails!

DH has a process. He gets out the instruction book looks at the front, finds the bit of it that’s in English and passes it to me. I count out the bits and pieces if necessary, put them on a tray and read the instructions. That means he’s the one crawling round behind the furniture, or heaving stuff into place, or getting blisters from endless screws. Suits us both.??

I am impressed that so many of you understand the instructions. To me they are Japanese translated into American. I can't follow pictures either. As I am now alone this makes life rather difficult.

I do read instructions, unfortunately I often find I don't have a language in common with those who write them!

Only if I absolutely have to

I tend to read instructions, husband (as per so many of them) is less inclined. If stuff goes wrong there's the one big instruction that someone (usually me) will say: "RTFM", which stands for Read the F***ing Manual.

Purpledaffodil - just skimmed through the rest of the thread and saw that you have the same RTFM acronym in your family!

When it comes to flatpack stuff, there is a rule here which is Who buys it, builds it. Hence I'm quite nifty with Ikea instructions and an Allen key.

I have just bought a new radio - yes I read the instructions, at least I tried to! Why are they printed in light grey on a white background and in very small writing!!!!!!

I used to work for a company that manufactured flat pack furniture and it was amazing what mistakes people made because they hadn't read the instructions. They even sent us photos of their bodged work telling us that our product was rubbish. As it was clearly explained in the instructions, they had no leg to stand on and we always charged for replacements.

My DH always buys expensive equipment because the salesperson tells him all the advantages it has and all the useful functions available. But once it is installed, he never bothers to read the instructions, and never uses all the bells and whistles. E.g., he just switches the TV on and changes channels if necessary. If I call him to dinner whilst he is watching something, he has no idea how to record the rest of the programme to watch it when he gets back to it.

I read all the instructions and know how to do all the snazzy tricks, but I never watch the TV anyway.

With other things, too, particularly electronic ones, I read all the instructions, but I am also usually able to figure out intuitively how to work them. Which is helpful when there are mistakes in the instructions. He is a bit of a luddite, really.

I’m alright reading instructions, it’s when they come as just diagrams or pictures! Can’t understand them at all.

Mollygo, same for us, I'm handed the instructions and then asked how it goes together, works, etc, DH then takes charge of the screwdriver and I sit back and watch! (Handing over the occasional screw and making sure not to comment!!)

Some instructions aren’t worth reading! My new Dyson cordless vacuum cleaner arrived yesterday, and it has nothing but a few pictures in the instruction leaflet.. I worked out how to assemble and charge it, but neither me or my very intelligent son can understand how to empty it. It looks as though I need to open the ‘trapdoor’, but it won’t pull open with an ordinary tug, and I’m scared of breaking something. I will have to go on the internet and see if I can find some more information.

I used to read instructions. Since he retired any instructions for equipment that comes in is analysed by DH. I am then given a verbal instruction course which I usually ignore then go and gave a quick scan of the booklets. I am the one who stores all the leaflets in a kitchen drawer.

SirChengin I missed a bit. Do you also 'file' the instructions and forget where they are? DH asked me recently where the instructions were the the electric window cleaner and I explained that they were not in my file of instruction manuals because he had bought it. It took him ages to find it and even longer to admit he had it! I am sure there are ways I am just as irritating

Always Nonnie! ?

SirC sorry I misspelled your name! Wondering if you really are DH who is very quiet in his study