I am a broadcast engineer. Occasionally I look to the professional forums for assistance in finding a replacement for some obsolete (made of “unobtainium,” we say) part. I have gotten to the point where I am reluctant to post such a request.
All too often, what I get is a cringe-worthy tranche of well-meaning replies suggesting the Most. Obvious. Thing.
Give me some credit, folks. Before I ask for crowdsourced parts, I exhaust every resource that I know – because this very thing grinds my gears so badly.
I know there are clueless engineers in my profession, as in any. And I am first to acknowledge that I can be as clueless as the next person.
But, folks. Really? Some of these twits even have the gall to act as though their answer to my problem is so obvious that I had to be a major putz to miss their “solution.” Grrr.
Still, I’d be foolish to come down on these folks. Occasionally they do suggest something useful, and today’s apparent idiot may well be tomorrow’s valued supplier of professional assistance.
