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

an·ti·cli·mac·tic
/ˌan(t)ēˌklīˈmaktik,ˌanˌtīklīˈmaktik/
adjective
causing disappointment at the end of an exciting or impressive series of events.
"it was an anticlimactic finish to the match"
Similar:
bathetic
disappointing
dissatisfying
disillusioning

So, There and many interesting posts wherein seemingly good questions are posed. Some are requests for technical help, troubleshooting problematic issues in an image, asking for advice on many aspects of photography. Then, the good, generous and helpful folks on UHH respond with a wide variety of answers- mostly logical, some are "spot on", some are debatable, a few maybe, putting it mildly, kinda inaccurate, and let's forget about the sarcastic and nasty responses because they are in the minority.

The helpful folks, then swing into action- they post advice, supply links, give examples of editing corrections when requested, supply diagrams, engage in arguments, review equipment, and collectively supply a pretty decent body of work for the OP to research, mull over, put into practice or just say thank you and go away.

I am not keeping statistics but I get the impression that many OPs never come back, a few say thanks and almost none of them report back to update us. It ain't mandatory but it would be nice! It would be hearing t read "I did what y'all suggested and it worked"! or NOT! The ones that tend to get my goat is " "Waht y'all suggested is too much work and I'll just keep doing stuff the wrong way" kinda thing. The worst ones are they deced to apply the worst suggestion of the lot. You know "I'll just take that idea from Mr. Mechanic about cleaning my camera with turpentine and lubricating it with axel grease- I have some in the garage"! Well, it ain't really all that bad but y'all know what I mean!

Some folks will describe a problem, glitch, or defect in an image, in several paragraphs but do not post a (stored) file with EXIF data. Did the not ever hear the expression about one picture is work 1000 words- you'd think- on a photo forum!

The attached image could have been a typical but challenging question: "See, I was shooting my Cousin Matilda's wedding and all the pictures had a strange colour cast- what did do wrong and how can I fix it? The bride is launching a lawsuit"!

Well- there ought to be a law but there ain't gonna be one- anyone has any ideas?

I am not complaining and I am not disgrunteled or discouraged- just thinking about stuff in a perfect world. Just changed my brand of coffee- too much caffeine!

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Yes, I would say MOST ops never become engaged - sad, but we can always hope 8-)
.

Quixdraw Loc: x

I'm not very Churchy, but there is this "Casting Bread on the Waters" thing or "Pay it Forward."

Bill_de Loc: US

I think if most people here were really interested in serious discussions about photography, there would be more activity in the specialty sections. There have a number of well informed people, including the OP , who have put great effort into helping and educating. A great dissertation on shutter speed is only useful to the UHH reader until they read that 1/200 sec stops action better than 1/60 sec. That's all they need to know. UHH lends itself better to flash briefings than the full story. I always the shift from education to entertainment starts around page three.

I just spent 3 unexpected days in the hospital. I wound up having 3 days with no UHH ...and missed it.




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imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

User ID

There’s also “pearls before swine”.

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

Landing in the hospital ain't any kinda good fun- I hope you are well recovered!

I think you are right in your assessment of the situation here in the forum. I am beginning to believe that some of my long dissertations are an unmitigated waste of time. Then again, there's nothing wrong with entertainment.

As a kid, my grandmother used to complain that when she imparted me with her words of wisdom, experience, and common sense it "went in one ear and out of the other"! Now I know what she meant- that's what I get for being a bad boy.

Get well and stay well!

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

Posting questions on UHH is problematic. Let me first say that without UHH I wouldn't be as far along as I am. If you are lucky, one of the real experts answers your question in the first answers. I always acknowledge answers whether I think them right or wrong. I always ignore answers that start "I don't know but..." When I have my answer or decide I'm not going to get it, I thank everyone who responded and unfollow the thread.

BebuLamar

Of course there can't be a law but it's really frustrated that many OP didn't response after the first post. Some refused to answer any question by people who tried to help.
Of course we can not prohibit it but I surely want to know why there are so many people who asked questions like that.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

I like bill_de's description: flash briefings. The internet and smart phone/text cultures have created an inability to concentrate on a single idea for more than 30 seconds. In forums, anonymity precludes the need to employ basic social manners such as expressing thanks for help. Or learning how to use "quote reply"

After this topic reaches 3, 5 or 7 pages, can we launch a new discussion about the unwillingness of respondents to read what has already been written before adding their two pennies? The number of identical responses - or incorrect/inapplicable ones due to the evolving discussion already posted - has become truly ridiculous.

Bill_de Loc: US

You are only wasting your time if you are looking for a large audience. If you are happy with providing continuing education for a smaller number, you should be very happy. It seems that many folks today want to learn everything from a video. If this forum provided a like button you may find there are more people interested than you thing. We're out here!

The hospital wasn't my idea. I was not feeling well for a couple of days and my neighbors knew it. I woke up around 8 am to my door bell wringing and a knocking at the door. I put on a pair of shorts, a T-shirt, and went to the door. My neighbors were there and told me that they decided I needed to go to the hospital by ambulance. I told them not to call an ambulance. Steve points to his wife and says, "She already did". No longer had he said that and the ambulance was backing into my driveway. The medical person on board took some tests and said I should go. So I get to the hospital and realize I am wearing shorts and a tee shirt, with nothing in my pockets, no money, no ID, not even a lucky rabbits foot.

Outside of Viet Nam this is my first time being admitted to a hospital. The staff was great, I had a private room, and for three days I was catered to like I was in a high class hotel. Lots of testing and meds while I was there, and although there was no definitive reason for the problem I feel pretty good with more drugs and follow-ups in the future.

The fact that 90% of the staff was made up of good looking women didn't hurt.

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nikonnate Loc: Woodbury MN

Unfortunately, a lot of OPs join forums like this for that one purpose: they will ask a question only to get the answer they want and never follow up. Instant gratification/ kiss-n-tell culture. It's getting harder and harder to get a good discussion going.

As for me, I'm getting ready to ask a ton of questions - buying a light kit in the next few weeks so I can start making my own holiday cards and school photos. Yes, I'm excited.

BebuLamar

I saw no response from many OP's when I knew that he/she didn't get the answer he/she wanted.

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

"...I am not complaining..." I disagree Ed this is simply another UHH rant...
You are offering no meaningful "time honored" solution to technical support.

In the medical field there are standard protocols for "Assessment" when admitting a pt to the ER...
The first is to triage life-threatening immediately for intervention.
When death is a possible outcome time (i.e. brevity) is of the essence. Getting it right the first time is paramount!

Emergency Room protocols cut to the chase which is something you've yet to master ED...
Your idea of a solution is shrouded in a lengthy dissertation where you have a propensity to pontificate about how great you "once" were... Thus OP leaves dazed and confused by such a exhaustive obtuse reply...

Here is the script I had to use doing software phone support of DOE.
When was the last time it worked correctly?
When did this problem begin?
What has changed since then?
What error message(s) have you received?
Have you turned you system off and then restarted it again?

Ed bitching about not having an attached uploaded image is not helpful...
Many OP's don't know how to accomplish this... Demanding they do this likely is why some many leave and go elsewhere. At least Paul posts images on how to upload a file on UHH.

Best Advice Ed? Maybe do a year or so of phone support where the manager is standing over you shouting that there are over a dozen callers in the queue! Then you may grasp the reality of timely and effective professional issue mitigation.

Ed you have much to offer, albeit you're methodologies and workflow protocols leave room to grow...
All the best on your journey Ed.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

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