Members agedhorse Posted October 20, 2010 Members Share Posted October 20, 2010 This was in the last Sound and Communications magazine, really good. http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/a51f9139#/a51f9139/34 (pages 34 and 36) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Dark Ice Posted October 20, 2010 Members Share Posted October 20, 2010 YES YES YES! I agree with everything, except the mastermind analogy, which confused me because if you google.co.uk it you mainly get references to the TV show of the same name, which is also the first thing that came to mind reading the article. The future is already here, anyone can design a website, but, in line with the point the article is making, just as is the case in live sound - there are people with talent for it and people with a cracked version of dreamweaver In a wider sense, I honestly believe that one of the worst things that ever happened to the education system was getting rid of 'the belt', for educational and social reasons. I'm only 26, but from what I've gathered from previous generations, as a society we've lost a lot in recent years Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members W. M. Hellinger Posted October 20, 2010 Members Share Posted October 20, 2010 I don't know if I coined these phrases, but, to my recollection... I came up with them on my own and have used them for a number of decades to describe some of which is described in the referenced article: 1) Evolutionary obsolesce. 2) Sophistication to the point of uselessness. In oppostion to the author's premise, I don't believe common sense has died... I believe it's alive and well here and there... but I do believe common sense has left many buildings. In my experience, it seems that the better funded the building... the better chance is that common sense has left that building. I will suggest that Stradivarius was a fairly capable fiddle player. I have my reservations if his lead by example is currently commonly followed. I doubt very many CEO's of manufactures or national level production companies spend much time in the roots of their professions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BillESC Posted October 20, 2010 Members Share Posted October 20, 2010 The article is a perfect analogy of the installation we've just completed. Solving problems "on the spot" comes to mind. Hanging a 55" LCD with a fully articulated mount to a plaster wall in a hundred year old building. Ended up drilling through the plaster, followed by cinder block, followed by a brick veneer followed by sheet rock. Used all thread and fender washers with Nyloc nuts. Pulling a snake, IR control cable and several RG6 Quad cables down a wall. Sleeper studs at 8' required the use of access panels. Etc, etc, etc. Several trips to the local hardware store and the job was finished in just under eight hours with a crew of five. Average age of the crew, around 50. A while ago, I stopped for a snack at Micky Dees, the bill was $ 9.98 and I handed the girl a twenty. She entered $ 10.00 by mistake and became flustered because the change came up as two cents. Some how she knew that wasn't right but couldn't calculate the right change. How sad, really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tuchan Posted October 20, 2010 Members Share Posted October 20, 2010 The everyday knowledge is not getting gained as much as it used to, for all of us. When something breaks now, generally it goes in the bin. If you were to look at fixing it, parts may not even be available. When I buy something now, like a toaster for instance. I simply flip it over. If it has screws holding it together I will buy it over the one that is snap locked together. If it breaks, I unscrew it and fix the failed or worn parts, hence gaining some knowledge; which I will remember for the rest of my life. Simple things like this are just not happening. Making it harder for generations to come gaining this sort of knowledge. Using the computing spell check system does the same sort of thing. Letting the system spell and count for you is just no good. Learn how to do these things and give it a go yourself, it really is very simple. After you have tried, see if you are correct, BIgo....BNGIO......BINGO ahh there we go:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Unalaska Posted October 20, 2010 Members Share Posted October 20, 2010 If it was 2007 I'd agree that when something breaks it goes to the trash. For me I've decided to learn how to fix things, cars, minor electronics etc. Common sense isn't dead, I think the world of installed sound is going thru a very profound change; types of consumers, markets, labor pool, relations with suppliers/manufacturers. Add to it the rest of the economy has changed. It should be said that some people live to work and some work to live. I don't think there is anything wrong with a person just having a job. That doesn't mean they have to live and breathe it, just go to work 40hrs a week, do well and draw a paycheck. Not everyone wants to be the CEO of some big-ass company and work 100hr a week, some would like to clock in and still raise a family etc (and actually be there). As the audio business gets more competitve though the labor side gets competitive too, driving down wages and benifits. So the type of people we see in various jobs changes, and there will always be idiots working at Mickey D's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Keyrick Posted October 20, 2010 Members Share Posted October 20, 2010 The changes in technology can be rapid. Infrastructure not so much as transmission or interconnect. For instance, electrical installations need to be sure that their project does not need Arc Flash Circuit Interupters. But for the most part Infrastructure construction remains as it was. Transmission and interconnect however have changed dramatically in just a few short years. For long range transmission, T1 and T3 was the digital format of choice two years ago. Today it is gigabit ethernet. And on short range interconnect, digital formats are quickly replacing analog balanced lines. This is all good, as when it works, it provides for more bandwidth for the users. It does not however, provide one the time it takes to master the technology that the author speaks about. I do agree with the author on other points. The basic one is attitude. To be sucessful, you have to care about what you are doing and be willing to put your name on the project, regardles of your position. If you can't do that, then you are just a pair of hands, and that is how you will be utilized. Don't expect to be anything more, if you can't take the extra steps required, by you, to provide for the sucessful completion of any project. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mogwix Posted October 20, 2010 Members Share Posted October 20, 2010 I agree on all points, but lets take this in the other direction. Since when has advancing technology become a bad thing? Obviously the problem isn't that technology is advancing, it's that we as humans aren't maturing as a species. I made a post a while back where I commented that growing up in modern times (I'm a lot younger than you guys) was strange, where failure is always an option and success is not only ignored, but chastised. I was always at the top of my class, all through my schooling, but not once did I ever get a "good job" or any sort of encouragement from anybody other than my parents. Rather than encouraging my excellence, I was chastised for making the rest of the class look bad. All my life people have been telling me that I'm really smart... I don't think of myself as a smart guy, it's just that the rest of the population is just so {censored}ing stupid. In other news... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members monthlymixcd Posted October 20, 2010 Members Share Posted October 20, 2010 Good article... applicable to pretty much ANY line of work. Anyone seen the movie Idiocracy? Probably not that far off the mark. Re: McD's... stopped there yesterday for the first time in months and marveled at the efficiency with which they constructed and delivered my consumables. Too bad I was made to feel as anonymous as the cow that got the bolt-gun to the head so they could make it. One of the most valuable skills I honed in college (has it been 17 years?!?... yikes.) was manually making change as a gas-rag-in-pocket, squeegee slingin', full-service gas pump jockey at probably one of the last 50's era stations in the nation. Honed my people skills there as well. What was I paying tuition for again?!? I forget... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMS Author Craig Vecchione Posted October 20, 2010 CMS Author Share Posted October 20, 2010 Too bad I was made to feel as anonymous as the cow that got the bolt-gun to the head You mean the vapid stare over your right shoulder accompanied by, "Can I help someone?" And you're the ONLY person in the store? Yeah, love that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members monthlymixcd Posted October 20, 2010 Members Share Posted October 20, 2010 You mean the vapid stare over your right shoulder accompanied by, "Can I help someone?" And you're the ONLY person in the store?Yeah, love that. ... that's the one... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Scodiddly Posted October 20, 2010 Members Share Posted October 20, 2010 Back when I was a kid we didn't have a written language yet, and everybody could memorize long sagas about bison hunting and such. Society has been going to hell ever since. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Roomy Posted October 20, 2010 Members Share Posted October 20, 2010 Good article, i agree with everything too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Deke08 Posted October 20, 2010 Members Share Posted October 20, 2010 A while ago, I stopped for a snack at Micky Dees, the bill was $ 9.98 and I handed the girl a twenty. She entered $ 10.00 by mistake and became flustered because the change came up as two cents. Some how she knew that wasn't right but couldn't calculate the right change. How sad, really. One of my favorite things to do at McD's(or anywhere really) is when the bill is $9.76....hand them $10.01. They actually have to enter it in to see how much change to give:lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members wheresgrant3 Posted October 20, 2010 Members Share Posted October 20, 2010 Approved! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Dogoth Posted October 21, 2010 Members Share Posted October 21, 2010 There is a perfect example of this in my work place. The establishment I work for has a stage dept and an A/V dept. They have found over the years that national acts won't put up with inexperienced crew so we have a small but competant crew (the youngest guy is 49). The Corporate convention clients often don't know the difference so they hire drones (low paid guys that worked in janitorial and have hooked up a stereo before). I'd rather not discuss how the corporate guys that DO know the difference feel but it doesn't make for return business. A few times we have been asked to train some of the A/V guys on the more technical aspects of audio, lighting (and video for that matter). Firstly there is no desire to learn on the part of the pupils and secondly there is no time alloted to do the training. Just as the article states, There is a lack of common sense and more importantly desire to learn. On rare occasions we are asked to assist the A/V crew. It always amazes me how, in half of the time, two of us can finish the same work that it takes six A/V guys to do. Common sense - working smarter, not just harder. Good article Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hegmatronicon Posted October 21, 2010 Members Share Posted October 21, 2010 Too bad I was made to feel as anonymous as the cow that got the bolt-gun to the head so they could make it. It's fast food. If you want personalized service - go eat at a restaurant. When i go to McD's - i want to go in, order, get my "food" and leave all with the least amount of hassle possible. I dont want small talk, i dont want to exchange pleasantries - i just want "fast food". In and Out. That's what McD's do - and they do it successfully. I have no argument however, with the observation that "kids" these days appear to be - on the whole - very stupid when it comes to adding/subtracting etc without a calculator. But what do you expect when they are taught basic maths skills such as these at ages 5 or 6 until say 9(?) and then from then on all tests involving maths are "calculator allowed" tests because the questions focus more on how to GET to the answer rather than just taking 11 from 33.5 and writing down the remainder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members monthlymixcd Posted October 21, 2010 Members Share Posted October 21, 2010 It's fast food. If you want personalized service - go eat at a restaurant. I can't really disagree... but those chains that DO go above and beyond get my repeat business and the fact that they do it without any significant upcharge is a bonus! My local Jimmy John's for instance is freaky fast as they say, but that's actually a bad thing since waiting in line there is actually fun... those guys/gals are hilarious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Gadget Posted October 21, 2010 Members Share Posted October 21, 2010 It's fast food. If you want personalized service - go eat at a restaurant. When i go to McD's - i want to go in, order, get my "food" and leave all with the least amount of hassle possible. I dont want small talk, i dont want to exchange pleasantries - i just want "fast food". In and Out. That's what McD's do - and they do it successfully. I have no argument however, with the observation that "kids" these days appear to be - on the whole - very stupid when it comes to adding/subtracting etc without a calculator. But what do you expect when they are taught basic maths skills such as these at ages 5 or 6 until say 9(?) and then from then on all tests involving maths are "calculator allowed" tests because the questions focus more on how to GET to the answer rather than just taking 11 from 33.5 and writing down the remainder. Just for fun sometime, when the cashier says the total is say $15.78, give them 21.23 and watch the look on their face. LOL John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hegmatronicon Posted October 22, 2010 Members Share Posted October 22, 2010 Just for fun sometime, when the cashier says the total is say $15.78, give them 21.23 and watch the look on their face. LOL John That would take me a few seconds to calculate. Also - we dont have 1 or 2cents here anymore. Lowest denomination of coin is 5 cents. Makes things easier Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Dookietwo Posted October 22, 2010 Members Share Posted October 22, 2010 Part of the problem is the total junk on tv the kids have to watch and aspire to. The Dad is a chubby idiot that can't seem to change a light bulb. The Mom is the smart one to a degree but spouts silly phases and has other issues. The kids are just silly as well. Their "problems" to be solved are mindless and the girls are sometimes shown for all practical accounts in "porn" dress up for ratings. They trash their dumb dad and see their mom as a friend and not their mother. ( Yes moms can be a friend but they have to be respected ) As part of the Leave it to Beaver generation we grew up with different kind of shows. Dad was a hard working man with a strong value regarding right and wrong. Mom worked hard as a stay at home worker guiding her children.The kids respected their parents. Being smart and excelling was the way to go. Smart was IN. I could not agree with Mr. Mogwix post more. To be smart or want to learn as much as possible or share what you know is to be chastised. Being Dumb is IN... There is excellent tools out there today. But its sad to say "some" of the operators are not up to the task. Not that it is their fault completely its just they never learned to see the whole picture. In live sound you should learn the whole picture. Microphones,cables,mixing desks, eq,gates,comp,dsp,speakers,power ampsand polarity,phase,time alignment, etc.etc. It is not wrong to use any of these. What is wrong is not trying. To say any one thing and more of the above is not important is to say don't bother. Try eqing. Try time alignment. Polarity or phase adjustment. Or an all pass filter. Learn about them. Understand how they work. You may make mistakes. You may not have that lightbulb moment first thing. It will happen. I believe everyone reading these post can learn all of these and more and use them correctly. There is one major problem LAZY! Being lazy is the easy way out. Don't learn. Say it doesn't matter. Don't share anything you learned. Being dumb is in. Stay with the in crowd. Time weeds out the lazy people. All those young people who are failing in the article will sort themselves out. Some of the young generation will excel. They will learn from their mistakes. It is a big mistake to generalize. A few dumb people is not a whole generation. Not everyone is a doctor. Not everyone is a rocket scientist. But we could if we wanted to. Its up to you to learn. Figure things out. The last thing is very important. Just because someone says its not important or not worth the time make your own assessment. Find out for yourself if it works for you. Also just because its hard to understand don't think anyone else can't figure it out or be able to do it. 4 wise men once said " There is nothing you can do that can't be done..." Be smart. Don't be dumb or lazy. LEARN Dookietwo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members agedhorse Posted October 22, 2010 Author Members Share Posted October 22, 2010 LEARN how do accomplish everything that NEEDS to be accomplished in the time available. This is real world stuff. There are things that I just don't have time (or inclination) to learn the details of because I have learned enough to understand that it's not important for the applications and work that I do. That leaves me time to focus on the really important stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Dark Ice Posted October 22, 2010 Members Share Posted October 22, 2010 Part of the problem is the total junk on tv the kids have to watch and aspire to. I was baffled at the popularity of family movies, X-factor/Pop Idol/American Idol, reality shows, etc. Until it became clear to me that people would much rather live with their head in the clouds and believe that one day they will be elevated and fame and fortune given to them instantly rather than have to get up off the setee and try being successful at anything from their own efforts. I reckon a lot of people watch these shows because they think the only way they are ever going to accomplish anything in life is through some means of being 'discovered' for some hidden talent they never knew they had. Its not enough to just keep your head down and try your best at whatever you do in life. Its just a {censored}ty job anyway right? Why bother? It could be years before a promotion or opportunity comes my way through hard work and I should have it all NOW. My goodness, the amount of people I know who are honestly continually pissed off because they dont have the things they think they should have in life. Because throughout their lives TV promised that someone normal just like them can have all their dreams come true in 24 hours. Its really such a pity they cant appreciate what they have, or make the effort to make the best of what they have, or try to improve their lives. Dookitwo, good post! Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Shaster Posted October 22, 2010 Members Share Posted October 22, 2010 One of my favorite things to do at McD's(or anywhere really) is when the bill is $9.76....hand them $10.01. They actually have to enter it in to see how much change to give:lol: I did something similar at the grocery store the other day. The guy entered the particulars into the cash register, and then gave me the wrong change anyway! When I pointed out the error and that he owed me .xx cents he took out a calculator to try and work it out - couldn't do it so he just gave me an extra dollar. This was after I explained exactly how much he owed me - but it was just too much for him to compute:facepalm: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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