you tube uninformative videos

[bixxjs]

Hi All
As a lot of other members I enjoy watching YouTube videos that are related to our hobbies/pastimes/work.I live in the United Kingdom so I sometimes use these videos to decide which tools to buy and have imported as a lot of the items being dissected on the videos aren't available here.
This morning I watched a video comparing ratcheting wrenches.The host was comparing a fixed ratcheting combination wrench against a single flex combination,double flex combination and an extremely long single flex double ring.
How can this be a true comparison?
Non of the wrenches were alike!

 

[redmondjp]

You have found the downside of the internet - anybody with a computer and a videocamera can upload to it. That makes for a lot of chaff that has to be filtered out to get to the wheat.

And double-issue: when you are watching a Youtube video of somebody doing a timing belt replacement job, for example, you have to already know how to do the job correctly in order to discern that the person in the video is doing something incorrectly. The half-blind leading the blind.

I don't have a solution for this, other than to share videos and/or channels of people that group consensus says is a trustworthy information source. And to the contrary, pointing out people that don't know what they are doing.

 

[ebfabman]

You have found the downside of the internet - anybody with a computer and a videocamera can upload to it. That makes for a lot of chaff that has to be filtered out to get to the wheat.

And double-issue: when you are watching a Youtube video of somebody doing a timing belt replacement job, for example, you have to already know how to do the job correctly in order to discern that the person in the video is doing something incorrectly. The half-blind leading the blind.

I don't have a solution for this, other than to share videos and/or channels of people that group consensus says is a trustworthy information source. And to the contrary, pointing out people that don't know what they are doing.

Very well said. I agree completely with your suggestion. Its amazing how many first timers present themselves as experts.

 

[rburke65]

Like anything, just because someone tells ya something don't mean it's true.

 

[AJ.]

Very well said. I agree completely with your suggestion. Its amazing how many first timers present themselves as experts.

A classic example here

At least he changed the title to represent the truth after taking a hammering from almost everyone.

Cheers Andrew

 

[md21722]

There's a lot of **** out there, but also a lot of gems...

 

[MrCat63]

A classic example here

At least he changed the title to represent the truth after taking a hammering from almost everyone.

Cheers Andrew

Well heck, welding's pretty easy. Guess I'll rush out and get myself a welder.
I hope someone interested in learning doesn't follow his advice. Nonsense like that gets people hurt.
If you don't know to do something it's fairly easy finding someone willing to help you learn. At the least, crack open a book.

Mark

 

[bwringer]

For every amazing gem like Clickspring, Tubalcain or AvE, there are 1,000 mumbling idjits pointing the camera at their nose hair or directly into their flashlight.

I was once working on a something-or-other and I had no idea which way a certain clip went back in. I found at least 100 videos on Youtube purporting to show a complete rebuild of a left-handed franzinator.

I waded through twelve before I found a fuzzy, unlit, upside-down shot of the clip in the background that told me what I needed to know.

Every damn one of the videos wasted several minutes in the beginning begging me to subscribe and please watch Joe Fumblebuck's other videos. Then he carefully laid out and explained the complete history and functions of the advanced specialty tools needed (a #2 phillips screwdriver and a pair of needlenose pliers). Then we had to watch each agonizing quarter-turn of the screwdriver removing the four obvious screws holding the cover on ("Man, it's hard to turn this holding a camera in one hand. (Pant, gasp, breathe, breathe, gurgle, snort, repeat.)").

Then, of course, they cut to a shot of the unit completely disassembled, with the parts dumped onto a towel in no particular order. More fuzzy bumbling, and you hear a "click" as he installs the clip just off-screen ("The clip is sorta hard -- you gotta make sure it's the right way round, then really push hard to seat it...")

Aaaaarrgggghh...

 

[dadsEH]

And dont get me started about programming yer cell phone to unlock yer car !!!!
Damn kids... get off my lawn !!!!

 

[Socket Pounder]

Lot of younger people confuse watching videos or reading a blog as actual experience, internet education isn't experience. There is also a problem where something untrue gets passed around by people who don't know better and pretty soon it's repeated so many times that lots of people believe it and if you try to tell them the right way they think you are the one who doesn't know anything.

 

[ajchien]

For every amazing gem like Clickspring, Tubalcain or AvE, there are 1,000 mumbling idjits pointing the camera at their nose hair or directly into their flashlight.

I was once working on a something-or-other and I had no idea which way a certain clip went back in. I found at least 100 videos on Youtube purporting to show a complete rebuild of a left-handed franzinator.

I waded through twelve before I found a fuzzy, unlit, upside-down shot of the clip in the background that told me what I needed to know.

Every damn one of the videos wasted several minutes in the beginning begging me to subscribe and please watch Joe Fumblebuck's other videos. Then he carefully laid out and explained the complete history and functions of the advanced specialty tools needed (a #2 phillips screwdriver and a pair of needlenose pliers). Then we had to watch each agonizing quarter-turn of the screwdriver removing the four obvious screws holding the cover on ("Man, it's hard to turn this holding a camera in one hand. (Pant, gasp, breathe, breathe, gurgle, snort, repeat.)").

Then, of course, they cut to a shot of the unit completely disassembled, with the parts dumped onto a towel in no particular order. More fuzzy bumbling, and you hear a "click" as he installs the clip just off-screen ("The clip is sorta hard -- you gotta make sure it's the right way round, then really push hard to seat it...")

Aaaaarrgggghh...

1) you get what you pay for.
2) it's hard to produce a video with no actual budget.

 

[Boilerhouse]

Lot of younger people confuse watching videos or reading a blog as actual experience, internet education isn't experience. There is also a problem where something untrue gets passed around by people who don't know better and pretty soon it's repeated so many times that lots of people believe it and if you try to tell them the right way they think you are the one who doesn't know anything.

I watch a lot of "How To" vidoes. You Tube is by far the quickest and most convenient method of getting this information. However, as a completely free service, it is not without drawbacks.
Some of my tips;
Watch at least 3 different videos on the subject for different perspectives
If a video is well edited, no music or radio blaring away, use of tripod, good sound and lighting, there is a better chance the information can be trusted.
Look at the number of likes vs dislikes. Skim through the first page of comments. If the presenter has said or done something blatantly incorrect, it will often get flagged there.

 

[Socket Pounder]

I watch a lot of "How To" vidoes. You Tube is by far the quickest and most convenient method of getting this information. However, as a completely free service, it is not without drawbacks.
Some of my tips;
Watch at least 3 different videos on the subject for different perspectives
If a video is well edited, no music or radio blaring away, use of tripod, good sound and lighting, there is a better chance the information can be trusted.
Look at the number of likes vs dislikes. Skim through the first page of comments. If the presenter has said or done something blatantly incorrect, it will often get flagged there.

I don't know why you quoted me, but yes, I agree with you. Once you have done a thing, you have experience; watching a video is not experience. Some guys will hang out on forums, read a question and google the answer then post like they know something.

 

[R6 Racer]

I hear it often...
"I'll just learn how to do it on youtube" Or I'll just google it.
Love watching them try...
Experienced it many times with my kids & their friends when they were younger.
Cheap entertainment. Funny! Its also rewarding watching them learn.


Steve

 

[vetron]

even decent you tube videos waste the first minute completely "uh, er hi, today i'm uh going to do...uh "
people need to realize that a you tube vid needs to be 7 minutes long. not going to watch your 30 minute turn each nut and bolt.
and at the end of the video: JUST END IT. say thanks folks bye. not going to watch another whole minute of uh er hi, thanks, uh bye