The Answer to Any Question Isn't Really Very Helpful
node
In this forum I have noticed that the answer to any question is "do your own research", "try it for yourself", or "the software won't make you any better of an artist". Those are all correct answers, but are they really all that helpful? In my mind I think when you give someone an answer like that you are making an assumption that there situation is going to allow them the oppurtunity to do more research or try demos in a timely manner when maybe it won't.
I'll just use myself as an example. The reason I joined this forum was because I am building a hobbyist studio. I've been doing music and 2d and 3d and game related art and programming for 15 years for fun because I enjoy it. Because of circumstances I haven' been involved with the scene for a while but I'm rebuilding my studio while also working 12+ hours most work days at my job. And my job has me also doing work related stuff while I'm not even technically at work.
So while I'm rebuilding my music studio and my game art studio I have a TON of things to catch up and and reaquaint myself with. I can't just try every demo that there is or research every single program. And I think there are a lot of people who have to make a choice about what they are going to use and they just need a quick evaluation of what's what when they ask a question.
Just some food for thought. When I come to a forum for advice but instead I get a philosophy lesson it's not always quite as helpful as you might think. Like if someone completely new asked me whether they should learn Blender or DAZ3d. I would tell them Blender. I wouldn't say, "Depends on what you want. You should try them both." I would just say learn Blender. Some people might disagree with that. But my experience says blender. That's the kind of answer I'm looking for and I think some other people might as well when they come on here.
I'll just use myself as an example. The reason I joined this forum was because I am building a hobbyist studio. I've been doing music and 2d and 3d and game related art and programming for 15 years for fun because I enjoy it. Because of circumstances I haven' been involved with the scene for a while but I'm rebuilding my studio while also working 12+ hours most work days at my job. And my job has me also doing work related stuff while I'm not even technically at work.
So while I'm rebuilding my music studio and my game art studio I have a TON of things to catch up and and reaquaint myself with. I can't just try every demo that there is or research every single program. And I think there are a lot of people who have to make a choice about what they are going to use and they just need a quick evaluation of what's what when they ask a question.
Just some food for thought. When I come to a forum for advice but instead I get a philosophy lesson it's not always quite as helpful as you might think. Like if someone completely new asked me whether they should learn Blender or DAZ3d. I would tell them Blender. I wouldn't say, "Depends on what you want. You should try them both." I would just say learn Blender. Some people might disagree with that. But my experience says blender. That's the kind of answer I'm looking for and I think some other people might as well when they come on here.
Replies
First, The quoted text : that's no good answer and demonstrates your real problem.
I've seen people giving up on things because they got only one way to do it presented to them and it didn't fit them. Never finding out that an alternative was available that might have been more appropriate for them.
https://polycount.com/discussion/219240/topogun-3-looking-good#latest
If anything the most meta answer would be ... if you are sooooo absolutely short on time to the point where downloading the demo of a highly praised piece of content creation software to try it for yourself is not even an option ... then diving into hard-surface models requiring retopo and bakes is probably not the wisest idea to begin with.
It's just to me if I go to car dealership and ask the salesperson whether I should buy a minivan or a mini coupe for my family of 6 people I don't want tell me "It depends on whether or not you are a family of hobbits".
If you ask me "what 3D software should I learn?", I'll be honest and say "Maya and 3DSMax are the real industry standards; they're safe bets, and are very powerful. Blender is free, so it might be a good one to learn if you aren't sure you'll even like 3D, plus it's a powerful software that's gaining ground in the industry; Modo is very powerful too, very intuitive, and is also growing in prevalence."
The truth is, all these tools do 3D modelling well. The problem is, which will resonate for you, and work with your mind.
If you go to a car dealership and say "I want a car", you'll be asked a million questions; standard or automatic? Sedan, hatchback, van, SUV? What do you plan to use the car for? Do you have a family? Do you drive in the snow a lot? Do you have color preferences, or aesthetic preferences?
There are no easy answers, because really it all boils down to preference and needs. If you just want a 3D software that works, take your pick Franky-boy. They all work, and they all work well. If you need powerful animation tools, it narrows it down a bit, but not much.
and specifically How To Ask Questions The Smart Way :
What we are, unapologetically, is hostile to people who seem to be unwilling to think or to do their own homework before asking questions. People like that are time sinks — they take without giving back, and they waste time we could have spent on another question more interesting and another person more worthy of an answer.
That article is worth its weight in gold, well worth the read. Explains much of what you'll find in online technical forum culture.
To carry on a bit, sometimes you take the time to give a more detailed reply than usual, and you're met with silence. Or worse, a snarky reply from the OP, chiding you for not giving them the direct answer that they felt was owed, or even complaining at you for asking for more information about the problem. Sometimes that makes you question how much of your time you'd like to spend on answering threads.
Even though that's true, I still love answering questions in the Tech Talk the Coding forum. But in my 20-ish years on Polycount I kind of just know who's trying to help themselves and who's trying to con a tool out of me.
For example: https://polycount.com/discussion/221082/script-does-not-work-in-maya-2020#latest
OP there needs help, and I can probably fix it. I downloaded the file and the ReadMe.txt says to email him if there is a problem. Should I email the original author for the OP? No. What if the original author other already updated their tool, or offers to fix it in a few minutes since he knows his code? Why should I devote my until I have all the information?
So to sum up...
Yes, they help me help you.I wonder if the OPs desire for quick, and to the point, is symptomatic of a more "TLDR" attitude towards traditional forum posting/trolling for information, that by contrast can be replaced with succinct (potentially more helpful, if time is a factor for you) advice that you'd receive on, say, Twitter.
Critical thinking, if you can not learn how to do it or do it at all - sorry to say your value drops(to some employers,if i was one especially). Like i had to figure something out i felt no-one has shared or achieved yet, how do i get the answer to that if it doesn't exist? I had to do it myself and i did twice already.
I try my best to be informative, other times i do keep the solutions to myself if no one else has achieved it,(to debug make it the best there is ect.)
I once read on this very forum some years back that "i put in the time to learn how to do things and to do things the right way takes time and trial and error and i find that information usually is profitable for others, if i put in the time so can they." Something along those lines and it stuck with me and i am talking years back, probably pre-update/move/change.
When you are forced to get into the business mindset (which everyone seems to be on lately in this new decade.) and understand some knowledge can profit you and understand studios frequent this location to gain an edge / knowledge or to jump on a new "trendy tech/trick/tip" and exploit it for profit people become very hesitant on sharing information. Just my unwanted .02cents.
Also agree with frank, some knowledge out there isn't very helpful and misinformation in this new mis-information age... I guess learning from someone who has a proven track record of being very helpful is the best course of action to take when looking into finding solutions to challenges you want to complete.
Edit for consideration to op.
(Going to be considerate, yes time is rare, if you have other obligations that take it up. I have plenty, it isn't fair & yes in a way you have a point, however since we do not know how you conduct yourself and what takes priorities over other things. We can only speculate the excuse is lazyness or you wanting to give other things not so important time, say gaming or some nagging significant other, we do not know. So the default is, be very informative when you create a concerning question and use as much accurate information as possible to avoid running into a back and forth issue.)