This site actually has some really cool stuff, as well as stuff that looks really fun to do as well.

Instructables gave me back my self-confidence, this has helped me be much happier and positive about myself

EVERYTHING! :D

The background collour... so white..........
And the Instructables offcourse ;-)

(removed by author or community request)

The idea of many creative people who share their projects and give constructive criticism to the projects of others is very exciting and innovative.
people take their time to listen to you. When you did a good job then they'll rate the instructable with 5 stars or subscribe to you. When the project still needs some work the people here will say you how to improve.
It's all about the community!

everything...except bugs

I like tha fact that everybody is so nice to others and give constructive critcsm.

Ever since i was a little runt (approximately 10+ years ago), i liked to make stuff.

I went online one day and found this site, full of like minded people. I have been a member since April '09, and I love this community and the people here.
Not only do they enjoy making things as much as I do, they are like a family. A large, sorta dysfunctional, and occaisionally dangerous family, but a family nonetheless.

That, and they appreciate a good laugh at a geeky reference now and then.

What more could you want?

Like college, Instructables is a diverse community that inspires creativity, challenges you to think and problem-solve, and where it is okay to be both smart and unique. Instructables has helped keep my brains from turning to mush and kept me from feeling isolated while living here in Cliquesville, TX. I like that (with a few notable exceptions) most of the responders to posts are kind and thoughtful. I can't wait for the next Maker Faire within 300 miles - we will be able to recognize each other by our Robot T-shirts.

The thing that hooked me in to Instructables was the creativity of the community. The projects you find on Instructables you can't find anywhere else!!

Everyone is so willing to share what they are working on, not for a profit, but for the simple reason that creativity and learning should be accessible to all.

I love that Instructables covers an extensive number of disciplines. I have what I call serious crafting ADD! I have to start 8 projects before I can finish one. My projects range from knitting blankets to hacking speakers to building bookshelves. There have been lots of moments in my life where I have felt pressured to pick one discipline and stick to it. But that feels very stifling. I love that on Instructables I can exercise all of my creative muscles. I feel like this is a group of people that I can really relate to.

But most of all I LOVE stuff like this. As a staff member, getting genuine appreciation back from our authors is so rewarding! Where else on the web do you have forum topics like this published by community members? I feel the love!

I started out as an Instructables lurker. I'd catch links to various projects on Lifehacker, then find myself sucked into all the absurd awesomeness on Instructables. I scraped the site for hands-on projects to use with my students during the school year and projects to kill time when I was on summer holiday (and every other adult I knew was at work.) Those Ikea salad bowl speakers and Kipkay's laser projects were the gateway drug to what has turned into a serious addiction.

Little did I know that I was missing out on the best part: the community.

In no particular order, here are some other things I love about Instructables: the robot, knex gun comment threads, bolded disclaimers on lethal projects, the comment thread on "How to Kiss", the various hilarious responses to spam posts, and the random brilliance of the community in general.

All of it.

Pretty much the same as you - it's effectively permission to Make.

I do tend to sound terribly evangelical when I let loose about Instructables, but the site has helped me become the person I am, and did help save me from quite a dark place when I originally joined.

To Kiteman: ameen.(Amen) I could not agree more.

It gives me something to read that stimulates my mind & when I see something that I think is really awesome, it gives me something to do as well...of coarse the Ladies & Gentlemen of this website are awesome as well(not just the people that work FOR the website, but I'm talking about all the people I have had the honor of meeting & chatting with too).

I believe that we all(those who work FOR the website & those who are regulars here) are a very unique group of people...and I feel privileged to be a part of this group.

This is my "home away from home" so to speak.

Everything! This is one of the most positive things I've ever been a part of. The amount of things I've learned here (and will learn) is priceless. I'd even go as far to say: I'd take a bullet for that robot!