Appalachian Engineering

An act of spontaneous repair or fabrication of an item or system sometimes used in a humorous or self deprecating fashion. Solving a technical issue in a temporary manor until a permanent replacement can be acquired if that is even possible. Usually accomplished without proper engineering knowledge or training, without proper materials and components, or without proper tools for the job at hand. More often lacking all three. A skill typically employed by individuals who can be described as 'born engineers' or as being naturally gifted with a 'head for tinkering'. These individuals likely could have done well in the STEM fields if they ever had the resources or opportunity to attend the proper schooling or purchase the proper tools and training. Commonly used in rural environments found in and around economically depressed areas near the Appalachian Mountains in the United States. Synonymous with the term 'Redneck Engineering', or in urban environments 'Improvisational Engineering' or 'Jury-rigging'. The products of Appalachian Engineering are sometimes, but not necessarily always, considered ramshackle or slapdash. Sometimes used in conjunction with some variation of the phrase "Hold my beer, I got this". When criticized the resulting products of Appalachian Engineering are defended with the phrase, "If it looks stupid but it works then it is not stupid", although it very well might be dangerous if you aren't careful with it.