moderator survey can yield much information

[Ian Grant]

OMG!! Kids used to go outside!?

To feed the family pig in the Black country . . . . . . . .

Ian

 

[ME Super]

OMG!! Kids used to go outside!?

Yes indeed they did. I was one of them. I actually spent a few minutes today adjusting the brakes on my son's bicycle to get it ready for the season. Then we went and aired up the tires at the gas station (a block and a half from the house). Maybe we'll go for a bike ride tomorrow.

 

[batwister]

Well I certainly feel my generation was the last to make tree houses and play hare and hounds (tag with a role-play element, for the yanks). My younger sister has missed out on a good deal of that.

I do wonder how this will affect the need to explore, for which photography has been the natural companion in the past. It seems that increasingly, you need a plane or helicopter for serious topographical landscape work. There's an environmental factor there too of course, but the 'God's eye view' is becoming the norm in many facets of the arts. The basic human perspective isn't enough.

 

[blansky]

Back to the original question by the OP.

David I'm afraid that analog/chemical is dying off with the years. You need to accept that without melancholy and realize that there will always be a niche group that stays and plays/works in analog.

But the world has moved on with technology as it always does.

Photography has maybe 3 components, amateurs, artists, and professionals. The amateurs have moved on except for maybe 1% of the population or less. The artists probably dabble in both analog and digital and always will. The pros have moved on to digital as well, again except for maybe 5%.

As your and my generation die off there will still be a few people doing analog but not many in comparison to the population. There is not going to any new resurgence by young people to take this up. Anecdotal stories by members that claim that their daughter or their brothers grand nephew is now shooting with an old Nikon he found in a garage sale is not going to change that fact.

But photography is alive and well despite your depression.

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

 

[Gerald C Koch]

I don't know if the following trend speaks about the average age of posters or not. But there has been a definite falloff in the quality of questions being asked in the last couple of years. Not only are the same questions being asked over and over but some show a definite lack of observation by the poster. As an example, (obfuscated as much as possible to protect the guilty) a recent poster was blaming a certain film for effects of light that anyone with a modest amount of acumen would know are perfedtly natural. Does anyone still really look at a scene before they trip the shutter?

 

[Ian Grant]

In the past 2-3 years the number of younger people I see buying film cameras at Camera Fairs has been rising, the proportion of Male to Female is also more like 50/50 compared with the predominantly male bias of photography a few years ago. This gender balance is also true for academic courses.

Ian

 

[cliveh]

In the past 2-3 years the number of younger people I see buying film cameras at Camera Fairs has been rising, the proportion of Male to Female is also more like 50/50 compared with the predominantly male bias of photography a few years ago. This gender balance is also true for academic courses.

Ian

I would suggest the gender balance is far more female than male.

 

[Ian Grant]

I would suggest the gender balance is far more female than male.

I wouldn't disagree and that gender balance is reflected in other education sectors, more females than males.

Ian

 

[RPC]

I don't know if the following trend speaks about the average age of posters or not. But there has been a definite falloff in the quality of questions being asked in the last couple of years. Not only are the same questions being asked over and over but some show a definite lack of observation by the poster. As an example, (obfuscated as much as possible to protect the guilty) a recent poster was blaming a certain film for effects of light that anyone with a modest amount of acumen would know are perfedtly natural. Does anyone still really look at a scene before they trip the shutter?

My observations as well. When I first began visiting this site there seemed to be a lot of experienced (meaning older?) people answering qood questions. Many of those seem to have left or are inactive now and replaced by inexperienced ones asking the same questions over and over or answering them incorrectly. That is why I strongly advocate new, inexperienced visitors or members reading as much of the archives or articles as they can. That way any questions they have will likely be answered well and they will likely learn a lot along the way that they don't know. That is what I did and learned a lot. Of course they are always welcome to ask a question if they can't find the answer.

 

[eddie]

The observation that questions, lately, show a lack of experience should lead one to infer that there are more "newbies" participating. Personally, I don't mind the questions. It shows the poster is interested in improving. And, the more the poster is helped, the less chance they'll become frustrated and give up analog. Let's be patient, and helpful...

 

[pdeeh]

what's a "good" question?

 

[eddie]

what's a "good" question?

That's a good question.

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

Let's be patient, and helpful...

Yet again, I'm with Eddie.

While it may be the hundreth time a veteren member may have read the question, it's likely the first time the poster has asked it. So just answer it, if you know the answer. It's not that hard to do. And it doesn't take much time.

AND... this is not an elite academic environment where it's bad form not to have first read through ALL of the published literature on a topic before asking a simple question.

My college job was working at Disneyland. Wanna' know what the MOST asked question was? Yeah. And not once did my answer ever take the form of, "Well, did you first study the maps you received at the Main Gate to see if you can answer that question for yourself? Come back to me when you can say yes."

All the while watching a couple of young kids doing increasingly painful renditions of the potty dance...

Just give them the answer. All concerned will feel much better afterward. Really.

Ken

 

[RPC]

what's a "good" question?

One that hasn't been asked and answered over and over, probably because the archives were read or a search was done.

 

[RPC]

If a newbie is interested in improving, or needs help, then why not read the archives? There is a wealth of info there. They should be promoted more and used.

 

[eddie]

One that hasn't been asked and answered over and over, probably because the archives were read or a search was done.

Well, we'd probably be done, here. Over the years, almost everything has been covered. A little patience, as well as a supportive atmosphere, will go a long way towards keeping analog alive.
This is an internet forum. It isn't a university with intro, intermediate, advanced classes...

 

[RPC]

This is an internet forum.

Okay, then, don't read the archives and let's keep learning at a minimum.

Yes this is in internet forum, and with the archives, we reap the benefits of that. And one can still ask a question from, and comment on, an archived post.

 

[pdeeh]

Not answering questions which you consider should have been properly researched by the person asking the question also supports ignorance, of course.

 

[JBrunner]

Sometimes a newb doesn't really know how to phrase the search, sometimes a search doesn't turn up the good thread or the exact answer, sometimes people just want fresh new info, and yes, sometimes they just don't search. In all of those cases if you know of an appropriatethread, mentioning it them to it politely is just good manners. Many new folks simply have no idea how extensive the archives here are. We all start somewhere. Hopefully we aren't put off by some old curmudgeon before we get the chance to grow into the really really good questions, like " I don't think Rodinal is really all that, agreed?"

 

[eddie]

I just don't see how a question that's been asked before puts any of us out, in any way. Just answer, don't answer, or if there's a useful thread, link to it.

 

[RPC]

Not answering questions which you consider should have been properly researched by the person asking the question also supports ignorance, of course.

Nowhere have I said I wouldn't answer a particular question! And I'm not saying newbies should not post questions. But besides answering questions, we would be helpful to new posters by promoting the archives more. It is in their best interest.

 

[pdeeh]

sigh

 

[Toffle]

sigh

My sentiments exactly.

I'm with Eddie in pleading for more patience for those who don't know how to find things here. It can be difficult to sort through threads to find the answer to a particular question. Sometimes it's easier to just ask and find what people think TODAY. It is beyond me why someone would complain about reading questions they find repetitive. Why read it at all, much less chastise a newbie for asking it? And as for the "quality" of questions here, what offends you so much about someone asking rudimentary questions? I'd be more concerned about the quality of answers. Jason mentions good manners in our interactions with new users. Sadly good manners are often in short supply. I've witnessed more than a few new users being berated and shamed off the site for simply showing their newness and inexperience. This kind of behaviour shames us and does nothing to promote the future of analog photography.

Sigh, indeed.

Tom

 

[eddie]

We've all seen posts about promoting film photography, bemoaning it's relegation to extinction. They pop up every few weeks. But, we can't even be supportive of those who come here, to seek advice and information? People who have expressed their desire to pursue film use, evidenced by their arrival at APUG?

This may sound odd but, when I'm out shooting film (or on the web) I try to act as an ambassador to film use. When out, I'm always patient with questions (they still make film? why not digital?). I can't count the times I've invited people to peek under the darkcloth, and still enjoy the reaction to, "hey... it's upside down." I've actually convinced a few to give it a try- "My Dad has an old Nikon on a shelf. I'm sure he'd give it to me." I give them my contact info, if they have any questions. A few times I've given them developing tanks and some starter chems.

Nothing will turn people off quicker than a community which doesn't seem to want them.