I have been taking pics for over 20 years but in auto mode until I decided to take the plunge into full control of what I envision. I don't get paid for anything, this is my hobby. The average person getting into photography has no idea how vast and complex the various styles of this art can be. Nor do they realize how expensive things can be and it becomes a snowball effect in efforts to get the latest and greatest or something used that's just better than what they have to serve their needs while on a tight or non existent budget.

As I peruse through the numerous posts, those I try to learn from, there are 3 groups that reply. The obnoxious and belittling, the informative and helpful, and the debate happy camp that changes the whole subject. This always makes for interesting reading except when it goes left and certain people take things to another level for no reason.

For those that share their knowledge, I am grateful and I hope you take pride in knowing you are a major part of development. For those that critique without explanation, what's the purpose of your response? Please critique yet state what is wrong and better yet how it can be better and if possible give examples. For those that just belittle and have nothing positive at all to say, why bother responding? A picture is worth a thousand words but silence is golden.

This is not posted to start a huge debate or be disrespectful. I've read some innocent questions and watched the op get blasted. Not everyone is tech savvy and has the instinct to check the search function for previous posts. Nor is common sense to be assumed. Some deserve what they get but before going onto a verbal launch, even if its common sense to you, maybe you (for those this applies) can use just a tad bit more honey than vinegar. Teaching photography is like teaching a teenager to drive, it takes great patience.

You are absolutely right in your observations. I am grateful to the ones who want to help and then do so.

As to the ones who are obnoxious, I feel sorry for them. They lack self confidence and self image so they try to convince themselves that they have value by criticizing everyone else. I discovered that when I started grade school and it's never changed since. What I also learned at the time was that we should thank these people. They are often so stupid they make us look amazingly good.

And the debaters? I think they fall somewhere in between. Sometimes as a thread unfolds someone is reminded of something and as a result digresses from the thread. These can be forgiven, we probably all make that mistake on occasion. Alas sometimes though they are like the others, eager to try to demonstrate that they have value when there is really nothing there.

What I also learned since grade school is that the world is full of all three types. So the last lesson for me was to learn how to ignore them. That makes like a lot simpler.

You are absolutely right in your observations. I am grateful to the ones who want to help and then do so.

As to the ones who are obnoxious, I feel sorry for them. They lack self confidence and self image so they try to convince themselves that they have value by criticizing everyone else. I discovered that when I started grade school and it's never changed since. What I also learned at the time was that we should thank these people. They are often so stupid they make us look amazingly good.

And the debaters? I think they fall somewhere in between. Sometimes as a thread unfolds someone is reminded of something and as a result digresses from the thread. These can be forgiven, we probably all make that mistake on occasion. Alas sometimes though they are like the others, eager to try to demonstrate that they have value when there is really nothing there.

What I also learned since grade school is that the world is full of all three types. So the last lesson for me was to learn how to ignore them. That makes like a lot simpler.