Rant for all Eternity — Did you read it? (Page 10): :sm09: :sm09: :sm09:...

nervous2 Loc: Provo, Utah

burkphoto wrote:

If it makes you feel better! I felt better after my rant.

Dikdik Loc: Winnipeg, Canada

Howard5252 wrote:

I remember it as "When all else fails, read the instructions"

ya... RTFM...

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

RKastner wrote:

I always read the manuals when I upgrade or get new gear. Though I imagine YouTube videos are quickly replacing manuals. I'll admit, I watched a few videos to supplement my new Canon R50. I will say the manual for my R50 is quite a bit thinner and less comprehensive than the one for my old T7i.

Bear in mind that the mere mortals who produce the YouTube videos probably read the manual to learn what they needed to say in the video...

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

dustie wrote:

Can't you hear the din of responses now? ---
"How many of the early pioneers of photography even had a one-page manual to wade through? If they did okay without readin' any manual, why can't we?"
😋😋

They might have done better and lived longer if there was some literature at their disposal. If you read into the history of photoghay you will find a lot of the early practitioners were found dead in their laboratories. The EPA and other protective organizations were not around to insist on all those pesky warning labels on all that mercury and stuff that emitted deadly gasses and corrosive substances. Nothing is as uncreative as a dead photographer!

I wonder how many self-incinerated with falsh powder.

Jsykes

Can't disagree with the sentiments but I would add that the growth of visual teaching through media has been an excellent contributor to people's understanding. Individual learning styles are highly variable between the written word and visual; they are highly complimentary and from a photographic perspective best demonstrated through YT that provides a wealth of (free) content from many highly experienced contributors.

Jsykes

Can't disagree with the sentiments but I would add that the growth of visual teaching through media has been an excellent contributor to people's understanding. Individual learning styles are highly variable between the written word and visual; they are highly complimentary and from a photographic perspective best demonstrated through YT that provides a wealth of (free) content from many highly experienced contributors.

mikegreenwald Loc: Illinois

To read many of my manuals, I’d need to learn half a dozen new languages.

Dikdik Loc: Winnipeg, Canada

E.L.. Shapiro wrote:

I wonder how many self-incinerated with falsh powder.

ah, the good old days...

Gilkar

A GREAT rant. I received a great toy on Christmas 1952. However, it required some assembly. I was 8 years old and didn't think about manuals, I just wanted to play with the toy. Unfortunately, my father also did not read the manual. Long story short, the toy never did what it was supposed to do. From that time to this very day, I always grab the manual first and read it. When the manual is 800+ pages I take it step by step and when it is too confusing, (or boring, (did you wade through the Nikon Z8 online manual?)), I turn to third party writers. Thank God for You Tube!

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

burkphoto wrote:

Most manuals aren't great, because of budgetary co... (show quote)

Few members of UHH know what really boring tech manuals are. While in USAF pilot training I had the chance to look through a copy of the B-52 flight manual. Section three (3) of each aircraft manual deals with emergency procedures. The edges of each page are "barber poled" as a reminder of the seriousness involved. Section 3 of the B-52 manual has a procedure for "Landing with 4 (four) engines inoperative on one wing." Life doesn't get any tougher than a pilot trying to learn how to do that. Camera manuals are too tough? So are walking and chewing gum at the same time.

Photomono

Rant all you want. It starts early.

I taught middle school. How many times did I (and other retired teachers) ask, “Did you read the chapter (or book or assignment or …)?

We are a land of short-cutters.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Before I went to Vietnam, I was an Army fire control computer repair instructor, so when I went, I carried ~30lbs of manuals with me because I was pretty sure they’d be unavailable at a fire base or Hawk missile battery. Damn near killed me staggering down the company “street” my first day with a 75Lb duffle bag in 110 degree heat, but boy was I glad I had them when the time came to deliver the goods. I figured as an instructor, I better KNOW how to fix them, ‘cause there wasn’t a higher technical authority to consult.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

davidrb wrote:

Few members of UHH know what really boring tech ma... (show quote)

JimBart Loc: Western Michigan

Another thing is that the younger and even parts of the older generation are so used to the instant gratification and knowledge that comes with internet they expect the same when they read the user manual…. I want my answer now.
Very few individuals are accustomed to reading and applying what was learned
Only my observations

Bill_de Loc: US

JimBart wrote:

Another thing is that the younger and even parts of the older generation are so used to the instant gratification and knowledge that comes with internet they expect the same when they read the user manual…. I want my answer now.
Very few individuals are accustomed to reading and applying what was learned
Only my observations

Maybe we just don't see those people because they spend all their time in the basement with all their computers and technical books.

You never know!

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