Do Not Ask Me for Advice: Technical nor Business and Why

Do Not Ask Me for Advice: Technical nor Business and Why. I’ve been teaching and use digital tech for nearly FORTY years. I detail some of my experience on the bottom of this long document. I always say knowledge is like manure, it only works when it’s spread around. Ok, I paraphrased Jerry Herman’s lyrics to a fave song in “Hello Dolly.” Yes, before (and after) punk, there were Broadway musicals. Stephen Sondheim and so many others. And Martha Swope photos. I saw them as a child in Newsweek most every week. Ballet and Broadway. SHE inspired my interest in live music. Didn’t know that, did you? I don’t understand why people ask me questions and then change the subject or argue with me when they ask me for help. Some argue with me repeatedly AFTER I said fine, let’s move on, you do what you do. That’s fine. And they keep hammering me! As if wearing me down, insulting me, ignoring that it’s time to move on is going to work out well for all involve. Or try to tell me something I’ve been doing for years. Too many then defame me online as retaliation when I responded to their pleas for help. Hopefully I will recognize this behavior and more quickly remove myself. I get so upset I lose sleep and focus. Wow. Talk about a toxic situation! I spent decades thoroughly immersed in computer technology for one purpose. November 1980, I saw photos on the cover of time and Newsweek of Saturn. I knew they weren’t throwing little rolls of film millions of miles millions of miles back to Earth. I had to learn and use this new computer technology for my Clash and other photos photos that had color correction issues. NOW I am manually color correcting my Clash. Stunned at the gorgeous, amazing photos finally being revealed. Takes my breath away. I then need to dive into many black and white Clash photos. Many are too dark. Black and white photos can be considered color in the digital world or even the painting world. A black and white photo would be if you took a white piece of paper and drew with a black marker. We are actually looking at grayscale images. Color Correction IS the proper terminology for “Black and White” photos. Due to a variety of issues, black and white images often look rather dull and gray. I balance the spread of highlights and shadows to reveal more details. Then my photos appear more dynamic and three-dimensional. I really don’t understand the arrogance of people telling ME that the photo is black and white. ANY idea how INSULTING that is to a photographer? Do you know the bit about if you don’t know something, STFU. AND pay attention. Might learn something valuable. Why am I talking about color correction? Because THAT is the problem with trying to respond to someone’s request for help. They want to correct ME when they don’t know the terminology, concepts, processes or tools. IF they knew, they wouldn’t be asking someone dealing with all that for over 30 years. I don’t tell them how to fix their cars or what musical gear to use because I don’t know anything about that. I don’t tell other people how to do plumbing or electricity. But people think nothing of arguing or “correcting” me. One of many reasons I get into a black mood and isolate by diving back into my photos and tech. I’ve been willing to spend hours to help people by sharing my hard-earned knowledge when I believe in them and their projects. Too often my time and energy is wasted. I’ve been yelled at and the recipient of bullying abuse. Then defamed online because better to attack me than consider the solid advice I was trying to share. Don’t shoot the messenger. I set up a page for people to request my assistance several years ago. People would have to pay me in advance, not refundable, set up a time plus provide answer a form I created to enable ME to HELP THEM better. They and I need information regarding their goals, what they want to do, what they want to know from me. And more. I never launched it because I wasn’t sure that anybody would follow up. As much as I want to help others, I also am concerned about my well-being. No one should be emotionally battered when trying to share info. Recently I found myself falling into that rabbit hole trap of eagerly being willing to share top secret tips and tricks. I was subjected to all kinds of interruptions, distractions and arguments. I was so rattled and upset because I really wanted to help someone recently. But they interrupted me and changed the subject constantly for hours. I finally had enough and told I had to go. I’m sharing this with them. I know that people still have fears and reluctance about technology in 2026. It’s not my problem why people are proud of being technophobes. They have all kinds of dreams, so they ask me for help to fulfill their dreams. But they don’t really want to know or do the work. Fine. Not my problem. Better for me just to say no. IF I manage to find time, I want to post a bit of text with longer podcast episodes. What I use, how I researched, found, test and adopted it. Now I must remember to tell people, No you cannot ask me for advice. Don’t go there. Don’t ask me about Punk history because that is why I’m working on my punk Club. Any idea what it’s like to keep repeating the same information over and over again while letting your own work and your own life fall further and further behind so that’s it have a really nice day? Or to be willing to share and be yelled at, argued with, ignored? I wish you all the best. I’m not going to respond by helping anymore. Not for money. Not for free. Nothing. — Tiny bit of my teaching background: I love gathering and sharing information. I have eagerly and thoroughly enjoyed reading and upgrading my knowledge and skills all my life. I’ve been teaching and helping others since I was a small child. I earned art degrees but also education credentials. All with honors. I created and lead highly professional presentations and taught thousands of people in a variety of computer technology starting in 1990. I taught at UCLA Extension (where I earned my Certificate in Computer Graphics), Santa Monica College, and a variety of colleges, universities and computer training centers that were very active in the 1990s in Los Angeles and Orange County, a rather large geographic area. I taught apps/programs/software to some who never used a mouse before or could hardly speak English. I spoke at MAJOR computer conferences in 1990s in SoCal and the Bay Area. My writing was published in various Macintosh User Groups. And so much more! Plus earned BA in Art, CSUN and MFA in Design, CalArts PRIOR to punk. With HONORS. I paid my dues. I’m done.