Yes, but not deliberately. It was the 80's. Gadgets abounded. I'd dismantle things to see how they worked, and would then have to rapidly re-assemble them upon

Yes, but not deliberately. It was the 80's. Gadgets abounded. I'd dismantle things to see how they worked, and would then have to rapidly re-assemble them upon hearing the crunch of tyres on gravel, as otherwise a hiding would ensue. Turns out time-pressured strip-downs and assemblies of pretty much every appliance in the house begat something of a mechanical aptitude. I remember asking for a C64 for christmas, and being heartbroken when I was given a Sega Master System instead... and then trading the Sega for my godfather's C64, much to my parents' chagrin. I then spent most of my teen years being yelled at for spending time in front of computers, and having unsaved work vanished by plugs being pulled from walls, etc., and having books yanked from under my nose for being "antisocial". Twenty years on, they still want to know when I plan on getting a "real job" and becoming a banker/accountant/journalist/dinosaur.