my father-in-law is a “I know a guy” Guy. sadly all the old Guys are aging out of the Guy Economy. Guys are fundamentally incompatible with Hustle Culture because it’s not about “winning” a deal, it’s about collecting favors and goodwill in a mutually-beneficial cycle. protect your local Guy Economy
critically: it’s just as important to know a guy as it is to be a guy that someone else knows
also don’t stress about what kind of guy you’re going to be. at some point the opportunity will arise for you and you will discover your inner guy
knowing a guy is one of the only ways you can make it in an America that costs this much
One of my friends recently acquired a tire machine, opening up all new possibilities of knowing a guy. Already plotting the replacement of a family member's faulty tire pressure sensor.
Oh when one of my best friends bought an entire shop with 4 lifts a couple of miles from my shop it was life changing. He moved the shop 20 miles away this year, but I’m driving out there tomorrow to use a lift and tools to do my brakes.
The beer for usage of a guy’s tire machine trade is a time honored one, especially since the ancient shop that still did it for < $5 a tire closed a lonnnnnng way back nearly everywhere
Everyone strives to be "that guy".
Tremendous horizons ahead for this friend/guy
a series of beacons, guys who are known guys who know further known guys. a pulsing, whispering ecosphere of knowing known guys
As a guy who knows guys this is exactly how it works. It’s all about the guy network [NB. many of my guys are not phenotypical guys]
Absolutely “Guy” in this case is non-gendered.
Proving you don’t have to be *a* guy to be A Guy.
ABSOLUTELY
this year i took my family to private zoo / wild animal reserve with a bewildering array of animals. if you wonder how you end up having such animals, turns out you become Exotic Animal Guy that people who have, say, a mountain lion getting dangerously full grown, someone slips them your number
Where do you fall on the topic of trust? My parents & inlaws Know A Guy but the win rate is like 40%. That's a lot of duds in my mind, and speaks to an overwagerness to always be the Guy Knower. Personally I find this corrosive to the norms that are core to the system.
not having easy access to Guys has forced me to become a tiny plumbing Guy, light electrical Guy, CAD and 3D printing Guy, computer and networking Guy, garden Guy, and Guy who has a bunch of random tools. I am ready to take my place in the Guy Economy
this Guy economy is still very strongly dependent on various industry specific forums/message boards. the menswear Guy is an example of this. he regularly talks about how his position was reinforced in the crucible of Guy Forum Arguments.
You were a guy-in-training! Now you’re a made “guy” guy.
same same same
I wanted to be the Good Posts Guy but I see that spot is already filled
Great thread! Now I’m nostalgic & ashamed. I failed 2 realize I miss the I know a guy ⏰ of my youth.It also occurs 2 me that when I became widowed I also became the I know a guy gal 2 my widowed friends.I have my dad 2 thank 4 that.He taught me a lot cuz he didn’t want tradesmen 2 cheat me.
I’ve found that the more you can be The Guy, you end up collecting The Other Guys. It’s like a The Guy symbiotic economy.
Renaissance man
Or Renaissance Guy
Wouldn't it be great if you could generate income as a Guy, with total control and flexibility over your schedule and level of commitment? Let me tell you about my new startup, it's a platform for the Guy Economy, a 2-sided marketplace where
I have a slide deck for my local GAAS platform but it’s just phone numbers of some guys I know.
Imagine for a moment that all those numbers, all those connections you've cultivated, could be part of an accessible and searchable web, with token-based rewards for those who contribute and maintain it. I call it the Guy Graph, which would
My hvac guy would probably be an early adopter. My painter guy would go killdozer on your corporate headquarters.
this is me, I wish I had my mechanic dad and plumber uncle's scrap metal/car bodywork/welding etc guy network
plotting my semi-retirement role in the Guy economy now — then maybe guy herder?
Did I write this?
I’m trying to become the Alchemy Guy
Brother, it sounds like you've already taken your place in the Cycle of Guys.
l'm the same kind of Guy. Except I'm the REAL Guy––my given name is Guy. Ever since I managed apartments while in grad school, I've done electrical, plumbing, etc.; as an educator who became K12 district tech director, I built computers and networks. I do fiber optic, wireless and MW, too.
Thank you for your service.
Sometimes you can just be the guy who has a pressure washer
This is the guy economy starter pack
it would be sick if there was some sort of network or app, where you could punch in your zipcode and what stuff you are good at and meet other guys.
You are now the guy that guys know
Reminds me of the Don’t Do It Yourself movement. But I’m a guy with a makerspace so like you end up being a Guy for lots of people and tasks where there really should be better Guys.
I’d like to DDIY more, but I don’t have the right Guy for most of the things I’d like to DDIY.
my brother-in-law is a 3rd generation "i know a guy" guy and it's saved my wife and i so much money. god bless him
I am a music-arranging Guy, which unfortunately is a low-demand Guy.
Better positioned in the guy economy than I am as a Trombone Guy
For you, Tuba Guy! www.youtube.com/shorts/UuJns...
LOUDER GODDAMMIT
As a music-listening and loving guy that is one of my favorite types of guys. Thank you, Peter
yeah but there aren't a lot of you so when someone DOES need a guy for that, it'll be your time to shine.
Depends on your circles!!! My music arranging guy is in high demand! I believe in you, Tuba Man!
yes, but extremely high-value! Aaaaaaaand you play tuba, which is a gift to humanity. Everyone should have a tuba guy, darnit
Tuba guys are needed now more than ever
Overheard
My dad played tuba in school. He picked it because in 5th grade he was the smallest kid in the class, and the tuba was the biggest instrument he could choose.
Sensible.
Unironically yeah. The band is amazing for protests and tubas are great for drowning out bigots or clowning on fascist thugs
as in catch these hands and also this tuba
"I tube a guy" is that anything
to an anesthetist it is
It's everything.
Who else is gonna rip out Flight of the Bumblebee and make everyone watching stop to clap? Your fav neighborhood tuba player, that's who!
Darn skippy. 'Course, I haven't done that since 10th grade, but still.
Well give you a few days to get the chops back and look up some of those alternate fingerings!
I never in my life thought I would have a bagpipe guy, but the world takes you places!
OMG, tuba guys are awesome. Have you seen this tuba guy? www.buzzfeednews.com/article/emao...
I was literally about to post this exact guy! He’s an icon!
It honestly made me want to learn the tuba!
🤣❤️🤣
A phalanx of tubas against ice playing suboctaves
"We need some extra-loud fart noises." "I know a Guy."
Sousaphone Guy: I have an instrument. Will travel while playing it.
hahahahahahahahaha!!!! My wife has a thing for jazz tuba after hearing an obscure Coltrane record. I'll admit to a slight comedic value, but tuba is killer. I'm a full-time drummer, so tuba and I have a special rapport
Ragtime tuba is kinda my speciality. youtube.com/shorts/nQbj6...
I love your YouTube channel!
I am excited for this. Hopefully dear leader doesn’t destroy this beloved DC tradition of Merry TUBACHRISTMAS at the Kennedy Center! (The Handel Messiah sing-a-long is also amazing) www.youtube.com/shorts/ae4mj...
Oh, this is fabulous. Gotta show my wife!!
Indeed, both types of Guy are the kinds of Guys that if you need one, no substitute will do.
In my house, I'm the guy 😂😭 I need a CNC lathe guy, though that would be dope
Can I borrow a post hole digger?
Congratulations, you're now that Guy.
The main Guy I need is one with ready access to lots of ropes, chains, and wires (AKA a guy Guy).
Also, that - the Guy - can infact be a woman just aswell in this economy.
Ahh... The Swiss Army Guy. The Guy who can do the basics of a lot of things, but for the big complicated stuff, you'll need a professional. Very useful, since you only need one Guy for a lot of minor stuff.
And if you're lucky, your Guy-Of-All-Trades will happen to know a Specialist Guy of the type you need anyway
Agreed. Some of this ish I can do…some of it, not so much.
I too am a Guy. A guy who has a certain set of skills. No, not like Taken, but like... I could fix a dryer or computer or furniture or...
Even if you don't have traditional Guy skills you can still be of use. As a fixes tech problems for the elderly Guy or even the still needed but less flashy warm body to carry things or follow instructions when a traditional guy needs extra hands Guy.
Become the Guy you would like to know in the world.
I want to be a Guy. I think I’m going to sign up to volunteer with my local zero-waste place this winter to find a new role as mending Guy (I know it’s a female-coded skill, idc, I still want to be a Guy)
where's the OMGthatistotallymylife button I own a reciprocating saw, soldering iron, 4 impact drivers, a torch, an air compressor and multiple plumbing and electrical tools, all from lack of "guys" hmmmm, no first aid kit or fire extinguisher...i need a guy
You're like a Guy sampler plate! A smorguysbord
Sadly the computing/network/3d printer guy economy is the only one that is still flourishing. They can only trade so many favors with social media guys before that tapped out (maybe once). Manual labor guys are in high demand.
a Guy of all trades
Moved to a new neighborhood, 30 seconds into meeting the neighbor he's like "here's the type of Guy I can be for you, what kind of Guy can you be for me?"
be that guy
I wish I was a guy, but I'm neither a guy nor do I really know guys. Thankfully I rent an apartment so I have less need for guys.
if you do not know a Baker Guy, you have the incredible opportunity to become The Baker Guy and acquire many favours,
in this economy The Guy Who Knows All The Guys is the secret king
The main way to Know A Guy is to also be a Guy who a bunch of people Know.
Losing all my Dad's Guys was the worst part of moving away from my hometown. Tenny could fix any car for cheap in a haze of 10,000 smokes.
My Dad was a Guy himself as an architect. He once redesigned the lower level of a friend's house to add an office in exchange for his 95 Buck LeSabre.
i once exchanged eight copies of my first book for a colour laser printer, in a deal arranged on twitter
🫡
And of course "guy" is gender-neutral here.
Back in the day they used to just call this "being nice", and a lot more people did it
I may be a millennial woman, but I Have A Guy for literally everything
Most of them are from AA it’s so tight
And Girl economy. I can plumb a rough-in, put in new lighting, fix the hole in your wall, change your brakes and give your car a tune up, plumb new irrigation, lay a new sidewalk, then come back inside to fix the blue screen of death on your computer. Then, I'll clean your pool. Don't leave us out.
🎯 Yes!
My wife is one of those guys. She’s a 5th gen carpenter who has spent decades designing and building and un-building theater sets. I’ve learned so much as her apprentice guy that I’m just about one of those guys, too. There’s very little in terms of repairs and maintenance we (mostly she) can’t do.
Guys for services and places for good stuff, such it has been ordained.
Nah, the Guys just look different now. I’m a Guy, and I know a ton of Guys! You need a basement finished? I got a Guy. A dumpster delivered? I got a Guy. Someone to pick a lock, create ransomware, hide a body? Guy, Guy, Guy.
This is gonna sound dumb but has anyone created a "i know a guy" reddit page thing? I know Nextdoor absolutely sucks but if enough actual good people step up to try and improve their local community maybe things can turn around? We should all do what we can to improve the situation.
This is a good post. You're right, the "I know a guy" economy/culture is fast disappearing. I'm a realtor & have a list of "guys" for clients preparing their homes for sale & need painters, handymen, plumbers, electricians, landscapers, carpet cleaners, junk removers, etc. I depend on those guys!
You should use that good guy rolodex to set up a local side business called " I Know A Guy". So many of us out here would pay a yearly subscription fee for those legit connections.
Now, there's an idea! :)
Charging to refer someone to a guy you know is the end of the guy culture being described. It has to be a favour. Then you can ask either guy for a favour later, but it can’t be this favour now for your favour later. All of you just have to know.
You make a good point, though paying a modest fee for skilled Guys who are local & trustworthy would represent a lot of savings for the people who don't know a Guy (and are tired of getting soaked). Maybe a non-profit scenario could work? A fix-it cooperative, even better.
I used to laugh at my father-in-law for all the “guys he knew” until I realized he was house poor when raising my wife and his other two kids and had to have “guys” in order for anything to be affordable.
He’s not your guy, friend.
I'm a "I know someone" in these parts.
This whole thread reminds me of my father-in-law farmer who always had to figure out how to get stuff done. He needed to disassemble an old barn to reuse the wood. How'd he loosen the nails all at once, rather than 1 by 1? Hung an 🧨 in the center. 💥got the job done.
We love those kind of guys
when a bunch of these Guys all live together in a town that's communism baby
I am a member of the guy economy and am saddened by its imminent demise. One chainsaw could make the rounds of an entire town in my younger days. Now everybody just has a really shitty chainsaw of their own
I’m the Trip Planning and Trouble Shoot Your Plumbing (before trucking) Guy in my Guy Economy Circle.
@murderxbryan.bsky.social
My neighbor is a guy, and I needed help for this thing that I'm not really a guy for, and when he offered to do it I said NO, I need to be a guy finally so I bought a rebuild kit, watched a YouTube video, and my leaf blower is running better than ever. It's also nice being your own guy!
Hell I know a Gal...
The entire Baltimore PD in The Wire runs on an I Know A Guy Economy. We could learn from them
successfully navigating life but especially, say, homeownership is all about trustworthy Guy acquisition. especially "Know a Guy" Guy's like your law-dad. that's the fucking golden ticket. i have a couple Guy's but there are still goddamn gaps in my coverage! (esp. problematic for me, a giant
useless indoor-kid manchild)
I grew up in a “Fuck those guys” house. We saw hustlers as con men. It wasn't a conclusion arrived at wistfully.
Best Thread 🏆
Hustle culture is just another attack by capitalism on society and community.
guy economy is communist in nature, we are the means of production
Had to stop myself from saying this to someone when they referred to themself as “business minded” because I didn’t wanna be that Guy
preach
My over the fence neighbour in Christchurch was like 3 guys in one. It was amazing. (I helped him put up his fence, so I guess I was a guy as well).
One of the types of Guys is definitely the one who will come help you get a fridge out of a truck or move your washing machine or whatever, just extra hands to make some job easier
This is the common ancestor of all Guys. Our modern economy has speciated remarkable diversity of Guys, but they all descend from that simplest of Guys: who reliably shows up to lift the other end of something heavy.
I had to temporarily shingle over a hole in my roof (ice storm+pine tree) and I had my friends come over to sanity-check my work. I know how to do it, but it’s safer to have another pair of eyes to look for things you missed and toss out “Wouldn’t it be easier if you…?”. Also, stuff is heavy.
Normalize friend group moving and painting crews. We want to be Guys, but we’re not in the trades per se.
My great uncle is a car Guy. Very useful for maintaining my 2001 Honda Civic (which he helped us buy)
I’m a guy like me!
This is true. There is a huge difference between cultivation of relationships and popping up ever so often to make demands.
my father has always existed within the "i know a guy" world but he is 85 now and all his guys are dying and no one knows any guys anymore
💔💔💔
ok not to brag but we found a young “i know a guy” guy. Our lawn guy has been with us the last two years, he’s 20 now. When we both lost our jobs two summers ago he cut our lawn for free for 8 weeks and was like “no worries” and then called us next spring to add us to the calendar still.
We moved to a rural town of about 900. Five years later, I know Guys: carpentry, electrical, plumbing, HVAC (and subsets). No money ever changes hands: I'm a Whiskey Guy.
i am trying very hard to become my local Dog Behavior Guy! i've already had a few people ask for help, feels good.
Being a guy is all about praxis
the old guys are the absolute best... when they fix something, it stays fixed
All our Guys are dead, its time to make new Guys
big issue is when the first guy they know is actually themselves so the cycle of goodwill always starts with shoddy DIY before calling in a favor
One of my favorite books on the Guy Economy! www.betterworldbooks.com/product/deta...
My dad was like this. He knew a guy that did everything!🥰
Oh, wow. My father is also ‘I know a guy.’ We gotta keep I know a guy going for sure!
I was taught: find the best Guy to fix your car, your plumbing, your electrical sockets and to do handyman projects. (My Guy Economy) You treat them well, pay them well and be a reliable customer to your reliable Guys. Those experts are going on to their earned retirement. I need My Guys 2.0
The Guys I know are my brother and my son but they have to be bribed with food and cajoled with a sob story. Sometimes it’s easier to pay for help.
i had never heard of the term for this, thank you!
They come from a time when goons meant something very different.
if their main guy is busy they usually have about three second choices too. it's a guy web
It's over, my father used to know several guys. Nowadays? No more guys to be known. This happened in less than a decade, you can still know a couple of guys if you live outside major cities. In the city though? Maybe someone knows a guy that heard of a guy.
Oh, I'm definitely a guy that knows some guys.
I know a guy, too!
Hooray for the Guys. I very much appreciate the Guys who come to the house and do the small jobs that companies don’t want to do.
My husband is an under 50 Guy and him and all the other Guys in that cohort are too damn exhausted and busy keeping their heads above water to fully engage in being a Guy. But man, during quarantine, he could Guy to his heart's content.
All my dads “guys” seemed to be grifters who just knew how to work my dad.
The “I know a guy” ethos is still strong in the Hispanic community, but all the ‘guys’ are cousins.
"Yo tengo uno primo."
This!!!!
My parents were "I know a guy" people. In the rare instances that their Guy actually showed up, they inevitably made things *far* worse than when they started, then charged me twice as much as I would have paid.
Consistent with ecological collapse of Guys. For comparison, botanists have observed increased leaf damage from insect feeding and decreased insect populations simultaneously
Oh man, my stepdad is a Guy Knower and he's in his 80s. It's so sad that there's a Guy I Know shortage
One key thing here is not needing the “guy” for help/services it’s about referring people to the guy so he gains new customers, friends whatever. I’m married to someone whose network you’d envy - but he’s often just a coordinator & everybody gets what they need in the arrangement.
i guess i am the non-guy who knows guys but also studied their ways
Plus they are putting their name on the recommendation. Why is there no yellow pages in Mexico? Because whatever you need somebody has a cousin who does it :)
I'm my own guy *gestures to barn full of tools and machines
IME, this is how the whole of NYC works.
It was 60s 70s culture if you needed work on your home car etc it was i know a guy especially in the construction industry when i developed my basement i had quite a few i know a guy saved me a fortune 😀
I had a sandstone basement; a buddy of mine, who knew a guy, came over and did a whole masonry fix to give me smooth walls. Cost me beer and a BBQ
Yup its great to know a guy
I worry about what you might go to “a guy” for in the under 40 set. If @profgalloway.com is to be believed the young men don’t know many skills these days. I know a guy who can, plumb, do electric, hang a garage door, weld etc… Has given way to “I know 100 guys that can beat the main boss”.
You just dont know the right 20 somethings. My neighbor is like 26 and is definitely a know a guy. My sons might not be a know a guy themselves but they know a guy...their 40 something dad.
My future SIL is a guy. He’s working on a journeymen’s cert. he did plumbing before this but didn’t care for it enough to make it a career. Most of his friends are not. He’s 25. My daughter is less of “a guy” unless you need something medical handled. 😂 Then, she’s your go-to!
Having a Nurse Guy is great. The best part is when they can tell you That's Nothing To Worry About. Invaluable peace of mind, double especially for your kids. Mine was my FIL, but like so many Guys he is no longer with us. At least I learned a little about painting (rooms, not canvases) from him.
Last week I called two plumbers for a tub/shower valve fix. Reg company wanted $1250, second one quoted me $2500. My SIL said, “I know a guy” who came and fixed it for $200 in less than an hour. Protect your local “Know a Guys” like the treasures they are. And pay in cash.
Cash or app, friends and family, “for those beers I owe you”
And if they just wave off the cash, being the kind of guy (or job) feed them, beer them, invite them to the next bbq. I know several guys, and they are awesome - and I'm part of the guy network, as I collect weird tools. They come to me for odd shaped things, things to undo odd shaped things...
The undoer of odd shaped things has to be the guyest guy.
The Apex Guy, the Guy at the top of the Guy chain
Our neighbour Bernie's son Zac is a Guy. He can fix cars, build pergolas etc, and does a wicked bbq.
from what i experience the "guy" culture is, ironically, being held aloft by trans women
those old guys taught their daughters well 👍
I was a Guy who knew Guys once 😮💨
My grandad was one of those guys. If you are disabled or elderly the "I know a guy" guy is truly a miracle to know. When I talk about community support this is exactly what I'm talking about. It's about using skills to help each other, no matter how small, to get things done.
interesting
What?
I support my local Guy economy by laughing at @brainmage.bsky.social’s jokes
Guy Economy is a core disaster recovery agency
I think i’m the person who you need when someone says “i know a guy” as i can probably find you either extremely useful items to straight jackets.It’s gotten to the point where i’m called the resident fixer
I'm usually the guy
Very well said.
Literally my only superpower.
My husband is that guy…and I totally love him for it!
Word-of-mouth referral is absolutely essential, and FAR better (than "apps") for finding reliable folks who care about doing a good job right. Because they know that is what leads to more referrals. AND the folks that hire you are more loyal & will call back the next time.
Admittedly, every now & then you get someone who isn't so great. Our luck with plumbers has been abysmal. But overall, word of mouth, personal referral is the way to go when at all possible. Also, pay cash + tip, but get a receipt to prove if need be to insurance you had whatever work it was done.
💯
"I know a girl" is far more reaching And smarter..
You have a point I never thought of. I do really love “I know a guy” type of hustlers 💔 If they do all that hustling to get a good woman, they should absolutely listen to you because this is so attractive 💔
The Guy economy is also dying because people only want to pay then 5 cents for the work
This is such a positive thread. I love it!
All the guys my Dad knew cut corners. I’m better off without their help.
In today's job market, a friend told me that getting hired is all about knowing people, not sending out resumes. I suspect they're right. I was chatting with someone online and it may lead to a job offer.
For me being an effective Guy Knower is having respect for all The Guys who can do things I can’t (and therefore can’t really survive without). Being cool with this is hard for little weird guys.
Know a guy culture is alive and well in immigrant circles And if you dig long enough at the Ace Hardware bulletin board you can find a small portal to a guy that might also know a guy
That is an amazing tip and in my case has been fruitful. Found a plumbing Guy that way. Also check with specialized tradesmen (eg HVAC) when they're on site even if you don't need the other Guy now. Collect Guys for the future!
i know a Guy. husb is a Guy (carpentry flavour)
guys are seriously the best guys to know
Guynarchy
I think it's better without the n. Guyarchy. Which is orthogonal to Gynarchy which you get without the u.
I recently moved to an “I know a guy”economic zone and it’s been magical! I love it!
Dude, me too. It’s brilliant!!
Long run v short run
My dad was 100% one of these. Then he retired and now very few of the guys will call him back.
I always know a guy and encourage my friends to know a guy. It's good to have a network to lean on if I'm doing fuck-shit.
My housemate is a "i know a guy" lady, she's a solid source of "i need a thing cheep please bestow wisdom upon me"
My oldest daughter just moved away to where she nor I know any Guys. So a fritzing out tail light has me awake at 3 am wondering if i need to book a flight.
But doesn’t this also scream of “good ol’ boys club”?
no, those aren’t Guys
We had a Car Guy a while back, and when I worked at the pool store, we'd do favors for him, and he'd do favors for us when my car was being wonky. He sadly passed, and I do miss being able to just whip my car in and say "It broke, can you fix it?" and he would.
bsky.app/profile/dsco... That's right. Having "a guy" for stuff is always useful.
Why did God create people who don't "Know A Guy"? Someone has to pay retail 😉
This is a great point
Grew up on a farm in the rural Midwest, there was a circle of about 3 farms that shared equipment and expertise and were essentially a self sufficient community. It worked well. 😃
Also known as good ol' boys. If you’re in you’re in. If you’re not, you got nothin'. And if you’re a woman you are definitely not a good ol' boy.
My little home state (RI) has run on I-know-a-guy energy for decades, possibly centuries. It is fading and it's not good.
My entire career ran on the "Guy economy" and I was very much a female Guy. Most of us have retired now and I am told that the news corporation I worked for is missing our ignoring the "efficiency experts" since we were too busy getting stuff done.
Or go to Dad Giving Advice... that dad is very helpful!!!
Detroit still works this way in the neighborhoods. And yes - it is mutual aid bc the person who offers you a connect wants you not to get ripped off based on your positive relationship with them.
Toledo is a “big little city” , the know a guy culture is still very much alive here, with many of the “guys” networking out of the old Polish and the Hispanic neighborhoods. You have to reach out.
My brother in law is as well. He loves Trump.
This is true from our experience. My FIL is a retired builder and we asked him to project manage our house build. He called in loads of favours getting things done and pushing it all through on time (nearly). The builders we contracted had to play nice as he knew everyone in the industry.
As a Guy Someone Knows, this hits home. Everybody I’ve ever done painting work for recommends me to people they know. I keep it affordable bc i know I’m both good and fast. I never advertise, just word of mouth. I have as much or as little side work as i need any time something comes up.
Absolutely.
I wish I knew a guy who could remove from my brain any reference to the term hustle culture.
As an old "guy" myself, I can attest to serious missing being able to reach out and get help from a knowledgeable and capable person on short notice. Too often people are unqualified, ill informed, and over worked.
No Country for Old Guys
bsky.app/profile/patr...
Those guys are between 60-100. Unfortunately. Anyone younger than is about winning and could care less about relationships.
I've got a Handyman Guy and an Appliance Guy
My apologies for ignorance but need to ask for clarity: in the "I know a guy" economy, is it implying the work done by the Guy is free as a favor? Or discounted as a favor? Or, finally, quality assured on the work as a favor?
It can be all of the above, depends on the situation.
I’m one of those guys. We are much happier if you want to help us and learn. I feel good when I can pass stuff on. Happy with a beer and a sandwich for most things (as long as I have the time).
it’s like, guy 1 repairs guy 2’s porch for $50 and gets to keep the leftover lumber that he trades to guy 3 for a new fender and a discount on a junker that he repairs with the help of guy 4, who is happy to teach guy 1 what he knows about engines for a six pack of coors and a ride to the airport
Well said.
Quality is assured by reputation - if my work doesn't stand up, you won't tell your buddy about me when they Need A Guy, so I won't remain A Guy for long.
The guys I know has reduced dramatically over the years. All the new guys want a retainer before they will do what they know
Community is based on relationships. The "I know a guy" culture is based on this. Capitalism is based on consuming, propagation and infection. Relationships are an anathema to this system .
Huge centralized organization is opposed to decentralized small-scaled activities in any field, whether governmental or commercial.
Igottaguy is the best.
I like to think I'm working towards becoming "a Guy" in the midst genderless way possible lol.
I literally just sent an email to somebody who told me about A Guy, and I lost the info, needed because someone else just sent me an email because he knows a guy (me) who would know that kind of guy.
This autistic finds a lot confusing about knowing a guy and am super interested in other kinds of economies and no idea if have a career right now or not. Think need a nap.
It's about having a network of friends with useful skills who you can ask for help directly, rather than needing to look up a business & pay for all their markup to enrich the owner, advertise, etc.
@murderxbryan.bsky.social guy economics
Well put.
My car guy for the past 30 years died of cancer this spring. It was like losing a brother.
I used to know a guy who knew a guy. If that guy had known a third guy I think we could have fought Facebook in an alley and won
whole lotta women are "Guys" nowadays. I can support this campaign but it needs some freshening up. #fuckthepatriarchy
Why don't women take these jobs?
It’s an important feature of a functioning society. My uncle is an “I know a guy” Guy. Every time I see him he’s got a new old boat/car he’s fixing up cause one of the guys he knows needed some bathroom tiling done. Then he calls a guy he knows to sell the boat.
Seriously wish that more folks could understand the whole "Goodwill in a mutually-beneficial cyle" thing. I'm the lone gig worker in my friend circle and have had to explain why price gouging is self destructive and stupid
all the guys are dying off, it's true, and it sucks.
The new generation of “guys” know about video games & cell phones. Good luck getting a guy to navigate a crawl space,fix your water line, but luckily I knew a guy-he hasn’t aged out yet. He laid a new floor in 3 rooms, built me a backyard shed-bargain prices. Helps living in a know-a-guy economy.
Moving away from the guys can be traumatic. Like having them all die at once.
This is yet another reason advice to move from poor political situations is shortsighted: it takes time to get slotted in and build your Guy connections!!
Unfortunately, a lot of modern stuff just isn't really repairable by "guy labor" it it often simply has to be replaced or requires a specialized program that you have to lease from the company that built it. It is becoming rarer for a trip to Lowes to be enough to make it right. But when it does, it
is a great feeling. Got a new dishwasher and they installed it but never tested it. It wouldn't turn on. They claimed it wasn't their fault and refused to do anything. I managed to wire it into a different outlet and got it working. Was a hell of a good feeling.
I understand believe it or not ,I bought my house in 1996 & I’m still using the same Kenmore washer(with agitator) & dryer that the owners had from early 80s. I have my parents 90s Kenmore stove & had to replace the oven igniter once&just replaced the heat sensor. Ordered em online&installed them.
I think you’re selling the new generation short. Several of my know a guy network people are under 30. Also not all guys.
Fair enough. I know sometimes we boomers get kinda cynical on the younger generation. I guess we get so fearful that life as we knew it is changing so fast. Our parents fought against Nazism in WW2 and we fear its return & sometimes it seems like gen z and x aren’t that concerned. I pray I’m wrong.
I have an advantage as a boomer who runs a public facing business. Get to hire and meet lots of younger people who are concerned about what’s happening. Despair with making ends meet and the distractive nature of computer games/ binge watching means that concern doesn’t always translate into action
don’t count out the value of New Guys tho: had an older neighbor show up when he thought he had lost his life’s work in the computer. My IT guy (spouse) was able to recover it with a few hours. IT guys can be instrumental parts of the Know a Guy culture
📌
My ex was like that. He couldn't make a friend for the sake of making a friend, it was always what can he do for ME?
You have no idea how upset I am that I don’t know a guy that installs hot water tanks. Stuck dealing with worst service ever from a billion-dollar corp. My advice to parents: Tell your kids to learn to be that “guy” (or woman).
You have to go to lesbians now, it's about the same but they've all dated before
Unironically yes exactly I’m not a lesbian but have a lot of similar hobbies so have made many friends in the “I Know a Girl” universe and my god can they get shit done
Lesbians have always been a part of the Guy economy. Straight women, too - my grandma was amongst them, she could sew you a shirt or reupholster your car seats.
My woodworking Guy is @trustedreveler.bsky.social can confirm.
😀
😂 This is my sister's "I know a guy" circle, and she's not even a lesbian. She's a goat farmer with a lot of queer goat farmer friends, and among the lot of them, they know someone who can and will help with just about anything.
that sounds like heaven tbh
Lesbian networks are even tighter than the guy networks. If you ask a group of lesbians who can install a dishwasher, you will have to draw straws to see who gets to do it.
A few years back, one of the bigger fires was getting close to the farm. My sister's "I know a guy" circle showed up in a mix of farm trucks and Subarus before she even realized she needed to get out. They evacuated all 40 of her goats plus guardian dog and semi-feral barn cat within a couple hours.
I love that about farming! I raise unusual, and uncommon ducks. There's a lot of lgbtq+ farmers! And my ducks failed at raising ducklings this year sadly. But! I know a guy 'bout an hour north who had some. He's just a dude, only txts cause he had a stroke and it affects his speech. Good dude.
There are, I was very pleasantly surprised! I'm a city person, and before I met her circle of friends, I (completely wrongly) assumed otherwise.
I raise sheep and goats., I'm dead ass roasted by you. I'm lmao
Gay bee-keepers seem to be a thing. I've met four apiarists (not via one another) and they were all gay.
- community-focused - communication through dancing - attracted to bright colors - ruled by queens I mean we have a lot in common with bees
This is my local SRA chapter too
Are you hustling for honey🍯? I know I would 😊 🫶🍯
I've never even met 1 apiarist in my life and you're out here bumping into them regularly. I should be jealous but you know what; good for you.
oh you gotta get a Bee Guy
You guys are pathetic. No wonder smithers made me the head Bee Guy
I dont know where Bill Hayden lives but i live in megarich area (I’m local and predate tech boom) and the 1% get massive tax break if they have their property declared “agricultural reserve.” That means they sell something that meets requirement for “agriculture” including honey so they hire apiasts
My silly dyslexic ass really had to reread this and question what you were talking about, because I thought I must have missed out on a LOT of what Bill HADER has been doing since Barry.
I had to look him up. Nah, that's not me.
I mean, I knew it wasn't me without looking him up, but I didn't know who it was.
They're Bill Haydons, with an O. (I'm the one on the left)
Apiarist, sorry
Here’s what they do - sell $10k worth of agricultural product and get massive property tax break. Create shell company in a relative’s name and show they bought $1Ok worth of honey and bingo, reduce property tax to near nothing. You know those pumpkin farms you see in autumn? Tax break
Horse farm = agricultural reserve Give horse riding lessons = tax break Guy I knew with horse farm sold “horse shampoo” = tax break Famous singer planted trees on property and sold firewood - cost of planting trees was less than property tax saving That’s why rich stay rich and our taxes go up
One was German, one was from Manitoba, one was Scottish and I can't remember where the other one was from.
This is interesting, because my son and I *are* apiarists and we don’t know any gay ones. Aside from us and one British woman, they’re all crusty old Yankees. Good to know, especially if you need a steer or a goT on short notice (don’t ask), but definitely not lesbians. Must be a locality dependent.
As I said elsewhere, one was Scottish, one was German, one was Canadian and the other I don't remember, so I don't think it's a geographic thing. More likely I just don't have a representative sample.
That matches my sample of 2 apiarists.
Bees don't discriminate.
I was going to say it was one of their best properties... but all their properties are excellent.
She will want to read Allison Bechdel's new graphic book (part memoir/part fiction) in which the lead character has a pygmy goat rescue center. www.harpercollins.com/products/spe...
correction, pygmy goat sanctuary
Laughs in Lesbian plumber/electrical "guy"
We queers all must be present because the bisexual & pansexuals must be there to ensure the lesbians are drinking enough beverages to stay hydrated (for example)
And most of the guys they knew were doing those things as a side-hustle. That seems to have gone with them. The yen to “get ahead” not just to get by. Saving for a starter home, hustling to pay it off as soon as possible and then working to move up. If Dems would talk more about that goal-🤯 boom!
Very true man
Handy is both Hustle Culture and Guy Economy
My father-in-law is a “I know a guy” Guy. Sadly all the old Guys are ageing out, and he's becoming a “I knew a guy” Guy.
I know a guy who agrees.
Many such Guys inhabit the intersection of "Hell yeah, Brother" Guy and "I Know a Guy" Guy.
I feel like I'm becoming a guy. People bring me all sorts of stuff to fix. 😂
You definitely give the energy of a guy people know! 💯
Thanks!
👍👍
If you're not the "I know a guy" guy... Then you're the guy that guy knows.
Holy shit! I thought I was doing something wrong since I don't know as many Guys as I used to, but it may, in fact, be society's fault!
Like, in ALL seriousness, we should bring back web rings and personal sites in the Geocities mold. Have a links section, elevate people who are good curators of talent. Have a locals section, w/ ppl near you who can do stuff. Use Link Tree, etc. Platform doesn't matter, all you need is the will.
Our current president uses the “guy economy” and that sure isn’t working out so well. Any type of contract that is essentially a quid pro quo instead of a straight-out agreement should make anyone a bit leery. There is too much room for abuse in my estimation.
The guy economy is cooperative. TFG is hustle
This still happens in some rural areas like mine. My sister and her son-in-law know most of the guys/gals.
Have never seen this expressed so well.
🙁
The Guy Economy is how I found my van. That same economy now supports people who need a Guy with a van.
That is what mutual aid is.
This! We bought our house cheap because it needed a ton of work. My husband knew a tradesman Guy who charged us $20 bucks an hour and they did the work together. Guy's now fully retired, but I still bake him cookies every Christmas.
First call is always my dad: “Who’s your guy…?”
My mechanic is a Guy, and I'm in a panic because he recently told me he's thinking about selling his shop and retiring.
My guy inherited the shop from his dad, who I assume was also a guy. Sadly, my guy has three sons, and none of them want to take over the shop.
We're missing out on some guy apprenticeship these days.
I know repair guys. Build out guys. Paint & plumbing guys. Yard guys, tree guys. Gutter guys. Even bookkeepers. Recently found a new electrician. What I need is a boat guy aka guy with a boat.
We collect "guys"
I know some guys, but not nearly as many as my dad did at my age. Am I failing or is it society?
You looked under the hood of a car in this day and age? Capitalism overengineered the Guys into an endangered species
There’s more ‘a guy’ than just cars though. I don’t have ‘tree guy’ or a ‘tickets guy’ or a ‘get on the roof and replace a shingle guy’ either.
Yep. We’ve got a yard guy and a light construction guy but we’ve got to find some of the others. OTOH, my spouse is the Respectable/Taken Seriously White Guy for some minority-owned businesses in our community, which is its own special form of Guy Economy.
There’s thousands of different ‘guys’ to know. Most of them are the kind that can help with a few different things instead of being all encompassing on one topic. My ‘brakes guy’ isn’t my ‘transmission guy’. But he is my ‘trim painting guy’
Yeah, I need to pull the wheel well lining aside & reach in blind just to change my headlight bulb! I hear some of the newest cars don't even have a dipstick to check the oil level now. SMH.
My Dodge Revenger required the driver front wheel be removed to replace the battery.
This is an interesting way to look at it.
I feel this so hard! I’ve spent my adult life building my own Guy stable, in the process becoming a valued Guy myself. Thanks for shining a light on this vast unseen network.
Speaking as a Guy, I'm in favor of that.
There was an era where Knowing a Guy meant you had a friend/acquaintance who had a special interest and could do something that mattered and took skill. Now it means you know the name of a person who has a podcast you could probably get a guest spot on. Markedly worse.
Optimistically, the “I-know-a-guy” economy is very much alive and thriving in my community.
I know this well. I know a lot of guys, and a lot of guys know me as a knower of guys, once I had a guy buy a fragment of the cross of jesus of nazareth so I could donate it to a relicless church. I come from a long line of guys
I think I'm probably one of the "I know a guy" people. But, just because I have lots of years-long relationships that I choose to call upon doesn't mean that I'm subversive toward younger people. In fact, I have many who I trust, and trust is one of the main reasons why I use them when needed.
Nah I got a guy who Knows a guy ... Lots of em
"Someday, and that day may never come, I will call upon you to do a service for me."
I am big guy. Strong back. I help friend guys move heavy things. Lift machines into truck. Guys help me. Fix lawnmower. Lend me crane for folly. (10' tall solid mahogany Buddha statue from the local hardware store in backyard. Was going to dump) Good to have guys.
My landlord Knows A Guy to infinity. No matter what needs fixing in this house, A Guy shows up and gets it done right. It's a fantastic system.
I've got a Guy who's a mechanic extradinaire, who's got a tire Guy, a transmission Guy, etc. So now I've got Guys. I love it. I share my Guys with friends.
So true. I try to be that guy, too.
No hustle is anything but ironically.
This post and comments section wins the internet this weekend. :)
Great post. I find this observation to be spot on. Thank you.
My son-in-law is that guy. He learned at the knee of his father who was the ultimate “I know a guy” guy. He can build a deck, fix a leak, and change the oil in my car. SIL is also a data scientist, so he’s a techy. A renaissance man, i call him. I know I’m very lucky.
My crew all turned 65 and 66 this year. We used to do everything, city legal work, municipal finance, big construction projects, run libraries, endless list. Now we grow gladiolas (among other things.) The *guys* are indeed aging out. My favorite sewing machine technician died. Pic for tax
Are you in NJ? If not, come on over. We all have a guy who knows a guy.
My father-in-law is part of the Guy Economy, and to a lesser extent so is my husband. Pro tip—if you want to partake in guy economy culture, become a member of one of the following: volunteer firehouse, American Legion/VFW, local ethnic club (e.g. the Italian Club, the Polish Eagles, etc).
The Guy Economy was built around charging different rates for "business work" vs. "Guy work". And the demise of the independent contractor is killing the "Guy" economy
I think of this as a more interpersonal aspect of "Social economy", good-will and word of mouth creating connections that can help sustain the surrounding community at times.
Disagree. Hustle is very much about who you know. Trust matters.
you can become your own “I know a guy” Guy! the secret is SMALLTALK with EVERYONE i got a great handyman recommendation from a lady i bought a chair from last week and i ask any good plumbers etc i meet if they know any other guys, bc a good guy knows good guys
Most apartments we’ve rented have come from asking everyone I meet what they know.
in my world, “A Guy” (capitalized) can be anyone i got a good vet guy from a good dog trainer guy i got from a neighbor on the local subreddit (all 3 female guys lol)
Cities are a bunch of small towns all stuck together so knowing your neighborhood Know a Guy is key.
*cries in introvert*
Sound advice. Also, on first meeting a potential Guy it's important to not get right down to business, there's a bit of a mating dance dance that might involve hunting or fishing stories but never politics or religion talk. That's just the way it is.
i neither hunt nor fish but can always find something to talk about! good Guys (any gender) also really just love it when you’re genuinely interested in what they’re doing and ask intelligent questions that show you’re listening & respecting their expertise
Yup, "hunting and fishing" are just examples of the kinds of things Guys bond over. Basically the secret handshake you need to get into the club. An offer of beer or coffee never hurts, donuts help.
yes i always offer any working person who comes to my home an espresso
Times have changed and even though I'm an old Guy now, espresso would work.
I partake in the guy economy.
I aspired to become that Guy from my early 20s. I made it by the time I hit 40.
“I know a guy” culture peaked in the renaissance - like, you need a trombone player? I know a guy, Tromboncino, perfect for the gig. If he can’t do it his son (also named Tromboncino) has great rates
Stupidest thing I’ve read all week. I’m in my 60s, and do you think we didn’t hustle? Holy crap how wrong can you be? You think *throughout the ages* people have not understood that mutual support and making friends is what makes you successful? Do you think your generation just invented this?
You are missing the point. OP is saying that younger generations often think that just working extremely hard is how you get ahead and *aren't* aware that knowing people is *also* key to success. They are saying you knew and appreciated something we largely don't.
I heard, The “Guy Economy” thrives on trust, relationships, and reciprocity, basically human connection before spreadsheets. Hustle culture, by contrast, treats people like nodes in a transaction graph. Preserving the Guy Economy feels almost revolutionary in a world that’s obsessed with grinding.
Definitely worth protecting those networks of goodwill… and maybe letting the old “Guys” mentor the next generation before they retire from the field.
There are only certain guys that understand the concept and are able to be viable members not only with skills of their own to contribute but the fairness required to keep it going. Bartering is a skill worth having.
Go to a working class area and you will see this is alive and well, even amongst the yts.
📌
So Guy Fawkes got so fed up with "Hustle Culture" he decided to make an explosive statement to his Guy economy?
He was a Catholic. Hustle Culture is protestant. Probably explains it.
I really miss my Guy who could do AC, heating, water heater & all-around plumbing stuff. He retired and now I don’t have a Guy.
A micro goal of mine is to take a car mechanics class and become my own Car Guy. My friend is interested in the idea as well, so someday we might both be Car Guys (gender neutral)
luckily, I still know 'guys'. And Gals
This is especially true to small town America. So hard to find anyone to do anything anymore. Luckily I have YouTube and tools to do it myself.
Really only if you grew up there. Outsiders are seen as competitors for every thing. Jobs, girls, etc…
Very true
My dad is 84 and lives in a town in rural Nebraska with 160ish people and had never heard of Taylor Swift before. Suddenly he “hates that bitch”. Rightwing media is a disease to the brain that we must eradicate.
I'm a guy. But you have to schedule through my wife. (Literally, right now she's texting/arranging someone who needs me to fix a housing situation.)
I just like feeling useful.
