5 ms·

> The internal warmth from the glow of saving that money instead of hiring a plumber lasted at least 3 days. the ikea effect in action... https://en.wikipedia

> The internal warmth from the glow of saving that money instead of hiring a plumber lasted at least 3 days. the ikea effect in action... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IKEA_effect https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IKEA_effect

czrnb 5y ago
Thanks for the link! I don't think it applies in this case however. There is no explicit cognitive bias at play. There would be if he considered his job is as good or better than plumber's (although actually, unless he has a very particular toilet setup, doing a good job after meticulous research and preparation is not out of reach at all). In any case, even doing an OK job which is definitely worse than a plumber's but holds (and will presumably hold) is still a win if you're short on money but can spare the time/motivation.
Animats 5y ago
I never thought of assembling IKEA furniture as "do it yourself". Just part of the unpacking process.
- drewzero1 5y ago
  Yeah, I've heard a lot of people say that putting together Ikea furniture is a PITA or strains their relationship or whatever, and I don't get it. I just read the instructions and put the pieces where they go like any other thing that comes in a box some assembly required. Then again, I used to work in a retail position where I assembled so many things with far inferior construction and instructions. All in a day's work. OTOH when people kitbash or modify Ikea furniture, I think that extends a bit into DIY. But putting it together out if the box doesn't count IMO.
  - c22 5y ago
    I used to feel this way. Then I started dating someone who, while otherwise reasonably successful and intelligent, had a house filled with incorrectly-assembled Ikea furniture. I think some people just have a mental block when it comes to this type of activity. Imagining how two parts will fit together in the physical world or perceiving an order of operations to assembly, even if laid out in an easily parsed instruction booklet, just causes their brain to disengage for some reason.

czrnb 5y ago

Thanks for the link! I don't think it applies in this case however. There is no explicit cognitive bias at play. There would be if he considered his job is as good or better than plumber's (although actually, unless he has a very particular toilet setup, doing a good job after meticulous research and preparation is not out of reach at all). In any case, even doing an OK job which is definitely worse than a plumber's but holds (and will presumably hold) is still a win if you're short on money but can spare the time/motivation.

Animats 5y ago

I never thought of assembling IKEA furniture as "do it yourself". Just part of the unpacking process.

drewzero1 5y ago
Yeah, I've heard a lot of people say that putting together Ikea furniture is a PITA or strains their relationship or whatever, and I don't get it. I just read the instructions and put the pieces where they go like any other thing that comes in a box some assembly required. Then again, I used to work in a retail position where I assembled so many things with far inferior construction and instructions. All in a day's work. OTOH when people kitbash or modify Ikea furniture, I think that extends a bit into DIY. But putting it together out if the box doesn't count IMO.
- c22 5y ago
  I used to feel this way. Then I started dating someone who, while otherwise reasonably successful and intelligent, had a house filled with incorrectly-assembled Ikea furniture. I think some people just have a mental block when it comes to this type of activity. Imagining how two parts will fit together in the physical world or perceiving an order of operations to assembly, even if laid out in an easily parsed instruction booklet, just causes their brain to disengage for some reason.