Hey Folks ,I'm sorry

[dicklaxt]

For those of you who may have been involved in any of the posts in which in which I have asked a question. I am trying to learn and with out you and your knowledge it would be near impossible for me to ferret most of the info I need from text.

1st off, I am in awe of the knowledge base here and certainly realize its not an overnight thing to be in that position.You must remember that us rookies are not familar with the everyday terminology and jargon used in the camera world ,we have a feeling of frustration because of a lack of understanding and we can easily feel intimidation at the drop of a hat and a misused word.

I know how you feel too as other avenues in my life have put me on the other side of the fence where I am the knowledge base and someone else is the rookie. We have all gone thru this with our children when they ask why,why,why to everything in their life. They are trying to learn by asking and us rookies in the camera world are running a close parallel to that phase of their young lives as is in this phase of our adult lives when we ask or have a camera related issue.

So in a brief summary let me say if you give me a hint of ridicule or make me feel like a misplaced person right or wrong I will or may lash out in defense.I'm aware that most of you, if not all of you are not trying to be short with the rookies but please help us where you can.Okay off of the soap box :oops::oops:

dick

[elysium]

Welcome to POTN

I think what the more experienced shooters/posters on here will tell you, before going through making threads (which you are most entitled to do). Run a quick search or two. So many questions have been asked before and gets repetitive answering the same question again and again.

Unless you are a humoured person or is known for having a good banter, everyone will do their best not to humour themselves at your expense.

So if you do get ignorant posts, do what most of us try to do, ignore them and carry on learning. First things first I would do before reading any spealised books or trying something you know is OTT, you would have got a field guide booklet with your camera, learn and find out what each mode does and how you think you will benefit from it.

I started off as a lurker to start and felt until I was involved, I could not learn. Post pictures, ask for critism and try not to take offence no matter how blunt the response maybe. There is always someone out there who can do better so try to take it with a pinch of salt if you can.

Hope that helps (if at all :lol:)

Tesh

[pknight]

Welcome indeed. Your complaint is common, and somewhat warranted. However, Elysium's advice to run a quick search before posting a question is a good one. Then, if the search results are not helpful, you can reply to one of the less-than-helpful threads and ask for clarification. The people here will appreciate your effort to look for the answer first.

Also, one of the most common responses to commonly asked questions is to read the manual. Honestly, this is not meant to be a snide reply, but simply a suggestion that the answer may be in the manual. My advice would be to look through the manual for information relevant to your question, and if you don't find the answer, or the information is unclear, post a question asking for help with the manual. Believe me, you will get sympathy and help dealing with the manual!

[dicklaxt]

I surely understand about looking in the book,there is always a wealth of information there ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

I have read so much, so long, for hours at a time I find it easier to ask the question when I know I have read something on that subject but where was it,in the book,at a photog Q&A,in a mag,in one of the many forums.

Someone said ,I read somewhere BTW,that the answer to one question breeds 50 new questions and how true that is for the newbies like me.

dick

[ICee]

That is something that won't change even when you have been in this game for years, there is always another question that comes up.
Some one once said "the day you stop learning is the day you die" and it's so true.

[elysium]

I surely understand about looking in the book,there is always a wealth of information there ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

I have read so much, so long, for hours at a time I find it easier to ask the question when I know I have read something on that subject but where was it,in the book,at a photog Q&A,in a mag,in one of the many forums.

Someone said ,I read somewhere BTW,that the answer to one question breeds 50 new questions and how true that is for the newbies like me.

dick
No doubt but it includes the top end and semi-pro guys also. Questions can arise at any instant and sometimes it can be fun to discuss them.

We are not saying you should ONLY read but maybe just make sure you have researched some before.

I say ask away to your hearts content but checking previous resources. If someone has asked the same question before, theres no point of asking it again for the same answer. :lol:

Good insight though since I have never thought about how sometimes I throw information out to others and never checked to see if they understood. So thanks for that. :)

[heritagemedia]

I think I'm guilty of having a little fun at your expense in one of your threads - didn't mean to belittle you or throw you off the right path. I'm just a young punk with much to learn myself, so don't get discouraged.

[Sean]

No problem. However I'd give you one piece of advice. While on the internet, grow a THICK skin. It will make your browsing experience a heck of a lot better. Other than that, enjoy!

[handyhaver]

As a parent you can understand the frustration of a child asking the same thing over & over & over again. It gets old to the point where a short snippy reponse is unavoidable.

That's prettiy much what the regulars deal with here day to day.

A large majority of the forums members will answer routine questions without much or any attitude. If you do get replies with attitude, just ignore it, it will go away. No sense in putting your back to the wall or lashing out.

I have done many searches to my specific questions and haven't got the answers I want from it, so I ask away. This is the best forum I have ever been a part of. Great people & a wealth of knowledge.

In every society, there is a mixture of personalities. Some mesh, some clash.
Life is short, keep reading, keep posting, keep shooting, keep learning....

[Nick5]

No question is a dumb question. Ask away.

[defordphoto]

One of the rules on this forum, located at: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=50442

is 4.9: If you know an answer to a question either answer it or say nothing. Giving newbies blunt answers like "search the forum" is not allowed - please use the typing effort to giving the answer instead. Or just give the link to that post you wished the newbie should have searched for. Respect newbies - you were a newbie once.

[Sean]

One of the rules on this forum, located at: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=50442

is 4.9: If you know an answer to a question either answer it or say nothing. Giving newbies blunt answers like "search the forum" is not allowed - please use the typing effort to giving the answer instead. Or just give the link to that post you wished the newbie should have searched for. Respect newbies - you were a newbie once.

It's a good rule to keep things civil, but mod's will generally be pretty good about it, as long as the thread doesn't derail too much. IN MY OWN OBSERVATION I might add, because really I have no CLUE what the mod's are thinking.

[nicksan]

Yes, you need to turn the camera on and have a lens mounted before being able to shoot pics with it. ;-)

...welcome!

[stargazer77517]

Hey Buddy, You will get all types on open fourms...Seans advice about thick skin is a must....other than that, ask away.......Alot of good folks here with a ton of knowledge.....
Hope the lens is working out for ya.
Fred

[MattMoore]

...if you give me a hint of ridicule or make me feel like a misplaced person right or wrong I will or may lash out in defense.

Sounds like an open invitation...I'm so scared. :p

Just FYI, I'm a pompous & sarcastic jackass (along with many others), but I mean no harm. So don't take any criticism {or ribbing} too seriously...its all in good fun...plus I may say something informative and insightful once in a while (don't hold your breath though).

As long as you make an effort beforehand and don't post something thats been covered 4524645635635635 times before, you shouldn't have a problem.

But don't get too defensive (or lashhappy), everyone is entitled to their own opinions and moderators are pretty quick to "correct" any members that get too out of hand. (see section 4 on the Forum Rules (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=50442))

We are all adults {for the most part} and we should act as such. The free exchange of open ideas is already hard enough without people taking things personally.

So welcome and this should have probably been posted in "The POTN Lounge" (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=21) forum (sorry, I couldn't resist :cool:).

[Lowner]

"It's a good rule to keep things civil, but mod's will generally be pretty good about it".

Sometimes that's true, but at others, the mods have been the problem.

This site does seem to have a bigger problem than most keeping civil to each other. I for one do try to turn the other cheek, but at times I have lashed out in response to particularly unwarranted spiteful and personal attacks.

But that's the wrong note to end on. It's true that many contributors here offer help and advise in such a way that it's a real pleasure reading it.

[Sean]

"It's a good rule to keep things civil, but mod's will generally be pretty good about it".

Sometimes that's true, but at others, the mods have been the problem.

This site does seem to have a bigger problem than most keeping civil to each other. I for one do try to turn the other cheek, but at times I have lashed out in response to particularly unwarranted spiteful and personal attacks.

But that's the wrong note to end on. It's true that many contributors here offer help and advise in such a way that it's a real pleasure reading it.

If there are attacks that warrant some attention, use the report button rather than lashing out. I found that stepping back, and maybe grabbing a drink (any kind :eek:) really helps. Then come back to it. It's hard, especially with my personality, but with the internet, I have come to realize that it's just not worth it.

[HoosierJoe]

Hey, you think it's bad here? You ought to go over to the FM forum!

Seriously, there are a few here who need manner lessons from mommy, but most are very understanding of new people questions. Sorry you seemed to get the undisciplined ones.For those of you who may have been involved in any of the posts in which in which I have asked a question. I am trying to learn and with out you and your knowledge it would be near impossible for me to ferret most of the info I need from text.

1st off, I am in awe of the knowledge base here and certainly realize its not an overnight thing to be in that position.You must remember that us rookies are not familar with the everyday terminology and jargon used in the camera world ,we have a feeling of frustration because of a lack of understanding and we can easily feel intimidation at the drop of a hat and a misused word.

I know how you feel too as other avenues in my life have put me on the other side of the fence where I am the knowledge base and someone else is the rookie. We have all gone thru this with our children when they ask why,why,why to everything in their life. They are trying to learn by asking and us rookies in the camera world are running a close parallel to that phase of their young lives as is in this phase of our adult lives when we ask or have a camera related issue.

So in a brief summary let me say if you give me a hint of ridicule or make me feel like a misplaced person right or wrong I will or may lash out in defense.I'm aware that most of you, if not all of you are not trying to be short with the rookies but please help us where you can.Okay off of the soap box :oops::oops:

dick

[twiggles]

My piece of helpful advice...dont ask the 50 1.4 vs 50 1.8 question, or which 70-200L hahaha. The forum is LITTERED with those discussions.

[MattMoore]

...this should have probably been posted in "The POTN Lounge" (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=21) forum (sorry, I couldn't resist :cool:).

Speak of the devil...

[weezerfan84]

The same ole threads do get old, but I just made the same stupid thread today. I made a 24-70 vs 24-105 thread today, because I thought about upgrading to 24-105 (or downgrading to some), because I already own the 24-70, but would like the reach of the 24-105 quite a bit. The first post I received on the thread was, "not another one of these threads." Research helps, but sometimes you want a more precise thread than what someone else posted in their own thread. The threads that really drive me crazy are the 17-40L and 5dii

[LeesaB]

Get an avatar...we want to see you!

[Tom O]

All the above advice is good stuff. But, I'm going to add my 2 cents worth though.:D

It seems, to me, there are 2 areas of questions that draw the most fire.

First, as mentioned above, the questions that can be answered from your cameras manual OR by searching the forum. Example: f stops confuse me, can someone explain them to me? Tons of info on this all over the I-net.

Second is any question you could answer yourself by experimenting with your camera. Example: What would happen if I.....(fill-in the blank).

Stay away from those areas and you'll get very few ignorant replies. Notice I said "very few". We still have those that live on here and consider themselves as the ultimate authority on all things photographic.:rolleyes: Just ignore them. They hate it!:cool:

[Lowner]

Tom,

I remember trying to teach myself how to use a Sextant from a book. Years later I took a shore based theory course and the instructor managed to teach me how to do it in just one 2 hour lesson.

So while it might be irritating for these Know-alls, someone out there is struggling. Telling him or her "READ THIS YOU IDIOT" is no solution.

[sevillafox]

I'm a pompous & sarcastic jackass

Good lord, where is that title fairy?!?! ;)

[Tom O]

Tom,

I remember trying to teach myself how to use a Sextant from a book. Years later I took a shore based theory course and the instructor managed to teach me how to do it in just one 2 hour lesson.

So while it might be irritating for these Know-alls, someone out there is struggling. Telling him or her "READ THIS YOU IDIOT" is no solution.

Richard,

I agree. But that's a bit different I think. There have been a few times I have been out shooting and have had someone ask a question. I certainly didn't tell them to read a book or the famous "google is your friend". It is a whole lot easier to do a show & tell in person than try and do it on a forum.

[xarqi]

"It's a good rule to keep things civil, but mod's will generally be pretty good about it".

Sometimes that's true, but at others, the mods have been the problem.

This site does seem to have a bigger problem than most keeping civil to each other. I for one do try to turn the other cheek, but at times I have lashed out in response to particularly unwarranted spiteful and personal attacks.

I beg to differ. I find this to be one of the most mutually respectful, informative and well regulated forums, with the moderators quickly responsive to incipient trouble; or, to put it more succinctly:
Bull****! :shock:;)

[Woolburr]

I beg to differ. I find this to be one of the most mutually respectful, informative and well regulated forums, with the moderators quickly responsive to incipient trouble; or, to put it more succinctly:
Bull****! :shock:;)

Well said....this guy is constantly whining about this place. Not sure why he even bothers to come here if it is so horrible. Ask a sincere question here and you will get plenty of help.

Do people get their asses busted on occasion? Sure...and 99.999% of the time, it is done in jest...by someone trying to keep things light and fun. Perhaps we should have people with no sense of humor use this as their avatar so no one will joke with them. http://img439.imageshack.us/img439/2209/deprimetriste294230fr.gif

[S.Horton]

Welcome to POTN.

Ask away.

Enjoy.

[MDJAK]

I will or may lash out in defense. :oops::oops:

dick

Oh, yeah? And my attack dog Nicksan will open a can of whoop arse all over you, bud. :lol: :lol: :lol: ;)

Nicksan's master.