Rant - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2015, 12:30:02 am
content: So often, I'm trying to be helpful, but people who seemingly want help, seeminglydon't!Perfect example. Utterly vague question comes in, no info. Or maybe just a schematic. Okay, what's it doing? What's it not doing? What's itsupposed to be doing?Reply: one teeny thing. Or maybe a reply to someone else, not even my prompts. WHY?People: if you actually want answers, you have to provide information. We have experts here. This is science, not art. We knowexactlywhat information is needed, and how to derive the results from it. Rest assured,if a question is asked, we asked it for a reason!If you post a schematic, we can tell precisely what that schematic will do. Whether it's what you intended, we have no freaking clue, you have to tell us that. If your actual circuitdoesn't happen to match the schematic... maybe we can even figure out what you did wrong. But that's not our fault. Why not be prepared and double check first?Argh!Tim

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2015, 12:37:15 am
content: Tim, you have a exceptional reputation for your knowledge and assistance to others.How you make the time to do so much amazes me.I can only offer "pick your fights", do the pressing stuff that is well presented and the others later.You can even make it a sportask for a little at a time, others will spot this and come to the rescue.

author: crispy_tofu
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2015, 12:41:29 am
content: Reminds me of this rant:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/a-rant-at-bad-questions/msg772006/#msg772006Quote from: Lightages on October 06, 2015, 08:22:39 pmWhat I hate too is people that ask a question and then never reply... Did you get eaten by a feral 555 or something?

author: apelly
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 28, 2015, 12:42:49 am
content: If it's any consolation Tim, you and Alan gave me some long replies to a noob question some time ago. I am grateful. I have been sidetracked for a couple of months and haven't followed up. Sorry. That does make me a bit of a dick.Please don't be discouraged. Even when you help others, I often read, enjoy, and learn from your typically comprehensive posts.

author: apelly
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 28, 2015, 12:45:44 am
content: Quote from: crispy_tofu on October 28, 2015, 12:41:29 amGuilty of this recently. Will rectify.

author: crispy_tofu
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2015, 12:48:16 am
content: Quote from: apelly on October 28, 2015, 12:45:44 am

author: rs20
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2015, 01:09:38 am
content: Some people don't want to have to think, they just want "the answer". So if that sort of person sees one answer which is "try plugging the red wire over here", and the other answer which is "what is the red wire supposed to be for?", obviously only the former will get answered by such a person. This sort of person cannot be helped no matter how hard you try! Best not to get to hung up on it, it's their fault and it's their problem, and it's their loss (except for the time that we invest, but that's the cost of expecting the best in every new poster, which we have to do to be welcoming).That pointless observation aside, I want to echo the sentiment -- Tim, your answers to my questions are massively appreciated as well! You always seem to answer the question, and my unspoken next two questions too -- thank you!

author: AF6LJ
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 28, 2015, 01:25:30 am
content: Unfortunately this is life, to make matters worse; some people don't have the knowledge to ask the question properly, or know what to measure or, provide the proper information.You see this a lot in amateur radio, especially when you have some entry level licensee who just bought a radio that is older than He/She is and is completely domfounded bo all the little orange lights inside, and all the heat coming off the box."But I thought it would be cool to own a boat anchor, now I can't get it to play"......

author: crispy_tofu
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2015, 09:07:00 am
content: Quote from: rs20 on October 28, 2015, 01:09:38 amYeah, I meant people who never return after asking a question, but that's a great point!I also forgot to do this in my last post - thanks T3sl4co1l for helping out newbies!

author: han
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2015, 09:38:04 am
content: Simple..People ask because they didn't know (and some time didn't know how to ask)

author: Seekonk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2015, 12:17:01 pm
content: One could get a pretty good education just reading your posts.Every time I read one I think to myself, I'm going to miss this guy. I've been waiting for the post where you say, "It's like teaching Labridoodles." Wish I could come up with some comforting words.

author: Wilksey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2015, 06:21:13 pm
content: Sooo..I built this circuit, but it doesn't work, I don't know exactly what it will do, light some LEDs I supposeAnyway, I copied the design from an OSHW project, decided it was a good project, so I put my own copyright on it, might patent it, who knows, so you understand that I can't post any schematics or board files, so if anyone could help me make it work so I could sell it for millions i'll silently slip away from this forum no questions asked and I won't bother to tell you if it ever worked.

author: AF6LJ
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 28, 2015, 07:40:25 pm
content: Quote from: Seekonk on October 28, 2015, 12:17:01 pmAmen to that

author: Delta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2015, 07:46:13 pm
content: Quote from: T3sl4co1l on October 28, 2015, 12:30:02 amGreat rant, Tim!Whilst workeding as a (maintenance) Electronics Tech, I'd always be called by operators with the complaint "This machine/system isn't working properly". After getting fed up of playing 20 questions to find out what was going on, I started always opening the conversation with a rather frank "What is it either not doing that it's supposed to, or what is it doing that it's not supposed to?"

author: jancumps
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 28, 2015, 08:02:44 pm
content: I love a good rant now and then...But I also like that people that don't know a subject start asking questions.If they would't be interested in our subject, they would't be here, posting questions.It's tough asking your first question if the subject is new to you. Kudos to everyone who does.

author: Cubdriver
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 28, 2015, 08:14:31 pm
content: I've encountered this sort of thing on other forums when trying to help someone troubleshoot something. It can be tricky enough when you're doing it yourself; trying to talk someone who doesn't understand what they're doing (or why) can be a truly hair pulling experience. I've tried to explain clearly, with explanations, and had people seemingly put no thought in themselves. I was trying one time to tell a guy to measure filament connections on tube sockets, and explained the numbering went counterclockwise from the keyway when viewed from above. Told him (paraphrased) If you're looking down on the socket with the keyway at 12:00, pin 1 is immediately to the left of the keyway and pin 8 immediately to the right. The response I got? "The problem is that none of the sockets have keyways that point to 12:00. They all point to 4:00 or 7:00."REALLY?!?! So count counterclockwise from the bloody keyway at 4 or 7 o'clock!! Sheesh, can you engage your brain a little bit and work with me here?!?-Pat

author: Delta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2015, 08:50:34 pm
content: Quote from: Cubdriver on October 28, 2015, 08:14:31 pmAnd that bloke is working with 300-odd Volts DC!

author: krish2487
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2015, 08:51:54 pm
content: +1 For all the above.I am constantly amazed by the level of knowledge some of the experienced folks around here possess and their attitude to help a noob (me being one )If I had a penny for everytime I learnt some new knowledge here, I d be a rich guy... :-)I can offer my solitary support in hopes that, someday, Darwins adaptive evolution will win over.

author: DimitriP
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2015, 09:22:12 pm
content: Some posts "reek" from the start. Inevitably someone gets the thread going and then someone adds/clarifies the first answer and then 2-12 pages later, going over it, becomes obvious it should have been left alone.To participate in forums you need "balls". ( in the non-gender, behavioral sense )One brass and one crystal.

author: alank2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2015, 09:23:14 pm
content: Quote from: tautech on October 28, 2015, 12:37:15 am+1 to this.Tim - I know that on at least one occasion (probably more), I'm probably one of those persons who sees your response, and it goes way over my head so I shelve it until I can dig through datasheets or manuals so I can follow you.Thank you for the investment you put into helping and teaching others - I appreciate it.

author: Artlav
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2015, 11:19:45 pm
content: Thanks for all the help with putting straight my often nonsensical projects, Tim!I try to say thanks every time i get a question answered, but just in case i missed a few.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2015, 11:40:20 pm
content: Quote from: DimitriP on October 28, 2015, 09:22:12 pmAnother great signature for some member.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2015, 11:43:27 pm
content: Quote from: krish2487 on October 28, 2015, 08:51:54 pmAnother classic.

author: AF6LJ
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 29, 2015, 03:31:47 am
content: By the way Tim;I am enjoying the hell out of the DSO front end thread, thank you for stirring up some old knowledge that has been sitting idle in the back of my head since my days at Loral Corp.Thank You and know that you are appreciated here.