When Do You Read the Instructions?

An anonymous reader asks: "I originally submitted this as a poll, but the answers I'm guessing, were way too long. However, I would like to ask the crowd at Slashdot: When do you read the instructions?" "So when do you reach for that instruction booklet? Do you:

• ...research on the internet, in magazines and also pestering friends who own one, so you're an expert before buying said item?
  
  
• ...carefully read the box and all of the instructions even before unwrapping the protective plastic?
  
  
• ...study the instructions and the quickstart guide?
• ...refer to the instructions and study the quickstart guide?
  
  
• ...lose the instructions when throwing the packaging away, but study the quickstart guide hoping for the best?
  
  
• ...look at quickstart guide when it's not obvious how to turn it on?
  
  
• ...frantically search the instruction book after letting the 'magic smoke' out of your appliance hoping you'll find somewhere saying it's suppose to do that?
  
  
• ...after it's been smashed to pieces with a hammer?"

Comments

I never

[Konster]

I never read manuals, but I'd be willing to start if they started putting pictures of naked women in them.

I also use Windows...no manuals needed! Plug and Play! USB! I never buy stuff from companies that don't have an 800 tech support number. Let THEM read the manual to me!

Re:I never

[Lamieur]

Some of us are too shy to call vibrator-vagina-maker's tech-support... I admire you.

Magic Smoke (no not that kind)

[AdiBean]

I read the directions once I've let the magic smoke out of the device in question. You see, all electronics works on magic smoke. This is easily proved by the fact that if you let the magic smoke out of your electronic device, it generally no longer functions.

Google

[Anonymous Coward]

> When do you read the instructions?

What's wrong with Ask Slashdot? Here's yet another example of a question that can be easily answered using Google.

I know it is time to read the instructions

[notcreative]

when the object has caught fire.

As my sig always used to say....

[Verne]

Instructions should be read first, or not at all. Anything else is admitting defeat.

Re:I'm confused

[Stanza]

Originally posted by MyGirlFriendsBroken (599031)
Are there devices out there which are not operated by a hammer?

No wonder your girlfriend is broken.

Computers, et al, come with instructions?

[Mikito]

Instructions, as in a manual of some kind? I would gladly read them if I could, but the manual always seems to be missing. I think David Pogue might have something to do with that.