Cheap Tricks: YouTube to the Rescue



I'm no guru to fixing things, but I've learned everything from how to do a Photoshop special effect to how to help a goat while she's in labor. There are all kinds of things you can learn on YouTube.

Greg has troubleshooted many an electrical problem just by Googling for YouTube videos. He even got some solid advice on setting up his solar array.

Have you ever tried using YouTube to help you solve a problem--or do you watch it only for music videos and funny pets?

The next time something's got you stumped, try Googling the problem + YouTube. You might be surprised to find someone has already found the answer and has made a video about it.

Comments

JackieBCentralTexas said…
Maria we have used You Tube many times for answers to a problem from looking up how to open up a suitcase with no key to simple solution of how to plant a certain vegetable.

Funny pets and music however are still my favorite videos, used to love to find Karaoke to sing along with when had High Speed unlimited Internet access.
Mike keyton said…
To my shame, I find YouTube useful for stuff any normal person should know, like for instance changing a battery in a keyboard or mouse. I'll get on to plumbing one day. . . Maybe not
betty said…
Hubby YouTubed how to change the windshield wipers on his previous car. Lots of useful info out there indeed!
Mac Wheeler said…
I was on yesterday looking for a way to globally edit my manuscript in html across three lines of text.

Never found a way...sigh...still manually making the edits.
Stacy McKitrick said…
Unless I can have the YouTube on while I'm attempting to do what I need to do, I won't bother. I'll just remember it all wrong and get myself frustrated.

Someone has to be by my side and guide me through it for me to remember. Sad, but true.
Mike Keyton said…
I'll amend that previous comment. I've found you tube brilliant for learning new Irish tunes
Angela Brown said…
When my daughter has issues with her Wii, it was YouTube to the rescue with helpful videos to fix the issue.

Plus, my daughter likes to watch some of the craft videos. She made me a wallet out duct tape and paper... and it's cute :-)
Maria Zannini said…
Jackie: I always laugh at the Facebook meme that says: "We have all of mankind's knowledge at our disposal, yet all we do is look at funny pet videos." So true!

Once in a while I try to get some actual information though. :)
Maria Zannini said…
Mike: Tiny steps. And look at you. You got in without being sent to the moderation box.
Maria Zannini said…
Betty: What amazes me is that someone went through the trouble to film their experience or expertise. I'm very grateful.
Maria Zannini said…
Lynn: It never ceases to amaze me that I can type in almost anything and someone somewhere has made a video about it.

What makes YouTube particularly valuable is that you can see someone actually demonstrating a step. For someone like me, that's a godsend.
Maria Zannini said…
Mac: Hmm...I can't think of a way to do that either. I'm sure there's a software out there that can do that--maybe Scrivner, but offhand I don't know how to do that in code.
Maria Zannini said…
Stacy: Oh, I'm the same way. I replay it a dozen times and pause it where I'm most stuck so I can see exactly what they're doing.
Maria Zannini said…
Mike: Well, there's that. :)
Maria Zannini said…
Angela: That reminded me of a commercial I saw yesterday with Steve Harvey. He asked this little kid where he learned to dance like that and he said, YouTube. You can almost get a college education entirely online.
Jenny Schwartz said…
I'm gradually converting to watching video online, YouTube or more likely the stuff embedded in Facebook. I think the only thing I've learned from one is how to fold a fitted sheet :)
Maria Zannini said…
Jenny: My one caveat with videos is that they have to be short. I have a short attention span.

re: fitted sheets
I do a quasi fold. Well...it's folded anyway. :)