gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

Some OP's clearly lack a basic understanding of the digital world to be able to ask a clear question. What do we tell them, where do we start? I’m no expert myself but I wonder how a trained instructor approaches this issue.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

When an example image might cut through their poor choice of words, seek that example image, if applicable to the problem solving. This also serves to ground the discussion on a common point of reference.

artBob Loc: Near Chicago

That's excellent advice. Also, asking for more specifics sometimes helps.

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

This site is unlike a classroom setting. In a classroom setting when I teach LR I control the flow of information and can politely redirect people as needed. I, too, think that many people on this site are woefully uninformed about the digital photography world. In writing this, I'm thinking maybe some section of this site could be used as a Digital Photography 101 section? When I see a question where I think I can be helpful but the poster has not posted adequate information I simply ask for additional information. I do attempt to answer the original post to the best of my ability and let it lie there. I think that people who post would get better, more accurate information if they were to post better, more accurate and detailed questions.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

It seems often an OP asks a vague or confusing question. He is asked to provide further information, but doesn't respond, and meanwhile there are a lot of posts speculating on what the OP meant. Sometimes the OP will show up again maybe days later. I would think if you asked a question you would check back often to see the responses and answer followup questions.

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

EXACTLY! Especially when someone poses a specific issue of an unknown cause of a problem, defect or some dissatisfaction with their results in an image. Oftentimes they will write several paragraphs trying to describe the issue that is all unaccompanied by THE IMAGE! They also fail to properly upload the images wit the "store original" feature which negates access to the EXIF data.

A concise TITLE would be extremely helpful. Something like "Having erratic focus issue with my D-5 MK 2" rather than "HELP!, What am I Doing Wrong", or "Why Did I Buy This Expensive Camera"? kinda thing.

Oftentimes, I wish there was a template, form, or questionnaire that folks could fill out, or boxes to check off, or at least, just to use as a guide, to outline some of the pertinent data and circumstances.

On the other side of the coin, folks seldom answer questions with photographs, diagrams, charts or VISUAL aids. Sometimes it hard to believe, when reading this forum, that we are all PHOTOGRAPHERS and photography is a VISUAL art, craft and science and whether you are a snapshooter or a photographic fine artist you are trying to COMMUNICATE VISUALLY!

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

I wish no one would provide an 'answer' until we had a clear rendition of the question.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

👍👍. And when someone says that they’re a novice they shouldn’t be inundated with paragraph after paragraph of highly technical dissertations. I have my theory as to why that happens.

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

Oh...and what's really a bummer is when the OP asks a rhetorical questions, gets 50 response, ignites a riot, and never even comes back to report on his or her progress and what's worse, never says "thank you"! The should be a algorithm that automatically banishes them form afterforum after repeated "violations"! They woud simply receive a notice that reads "Go away you unappreciative ingrate" every time the logon thereafter.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

If that were actually required then no one could ever give any answer at all!

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

I think that the bottom line is that the internal workings of digital cameras and their interface with computers is a complete mystery to those who want to, and can for the most part, just point and shoot and look at the pretty pictures. I’m reminded of one of my nieces who was asked how she got those pretty sunset pics she recently posted and she said that she has a good camera. She has a strong interest in photography and a good eye and I’m trying to mentor her into taking that next leap beyond Auto but haven’t seen any interest from her. I keep trying anyway.