One of the most popular items on LinkedIn, at least in video surveillance circles, is snarky / supercilious install photos.
For example:
Another recent one is the stack of junction boxes.
What is the purpose of this? It's certainly not educational in anyway. It's not like any reasonable person would use a tuna fish can in an install.
Does this really make people feel better about themselves?
I think that there is something in human nature that makes us want to point out deficiencies in others. Perhaps this is an attempt to make us feel better about ourselves, or maybe just justify the way that we ourselves do things.
There was someone in the security press (whose name I can't remember) who took it upon himself to point out defects in security/surveillance installations as he traveled throughout the country. I thought that many of these were cheap shots. It's easy to criticize the work of others, especially when you don't know the whole story behind the reasons that the installation ended up the way that it did. I can assure you that any integrator who has been in business for more than a couple years, no matter how large or small, has a small number of installations that he is less than fully proud of.
I must admit that as a young consultant, I was quick to point out problems in projects that I saw. As I became more mature, I learned that there was often a good reason why things turned out the way that they did, and I became a lot slower to criticize. Being on the receiving end of criticism myself also changed the way that I dished it out.
Michael, thoughtful comments as always!
As someone who gives and gets criticism regularly, a few comments:
I do think criticism (and even the 'threat' of criticism) can be very helpful. For example, for us, since we have a forum for thousands of people across the industry, it forces us to be sharper and more critical of ourselves before we publish because we know if we do not we will get hammered in the comments.
Also, I like getting specific, concrete criticisms. For example, am currently having an email exchange with a member who said in a survey response we should be more positive. I think he is right and we are discussing what more positive topics we should cover.
Bad criticisms are like the image above or things like IPVM does it for 'blogging clicks'. Criticism without substance is effectively low class disparagement.
I agree that there is a place for constructive criticism, but to the extent possible, it should focus on substantive facts instead of placing blame. As I used to tell my trainees - criticize the act, not the actor.
FWIW, I have no problem with the overall tone of IPVM. The publications in this industry have been nothing but mouthpieces for equipment manufacturers for the last 30+ years. It is refreshing to find someone who is willing to speak the truth, even if it sometimes comes off as a bit harsh.
Bad criticisms are like the image above or things like IPVM does it for 'blogging clicks'. Criticism without substance is effectively low class disparagement.
I'm confused.
Are you saying that if you personally saw that Star-Kist J-box in the wild you wouldn't snapped it and posted it here?
Are you saying that if you personally saw that Star-Kist J-box in the wild you wouldn't snapped it and posted it here?
I would not have posted it.
For example, when I go to shows, I hear manufacturer lower level employees say all types of incorrect things but I would only post if it was substantial / material enough. For example, if a regional guy says H.264 uses only P frames, I'd cringe but I wouldn't post on it, because it is relatively small.
Likewise, what's the point of posting something obviously stupid with the snarky remark of 'top notch installation'?
Btw, the LinkedIn poster did not take the photo, there's an earlier reference from Jake Leahy's Electrical Code Connection and other references across the Internet.
I would not have posted it.
Even if it was posted without a snarky comment?
like Critique This Museum's Camera Install?
The snarky comment is the first issue. A snarky comment is a disparagement, not an invitation to actually discuss / understand.
Secondly, I posted 4 images from different angles to give people context.
Third, it's not a tuna fish can. It's an actual installation, it may not be great, but it's not a joke. And there are quite a number of informative comments in the discussion.
The snarky comment is the first issue.
I only asked if you would post the picture.
[The museum camera is ] an actual installation....
Is the tuna can not an actual installation?
And there are quite a number of informative comments in the discussion.
Though there may be as many disparaging comments (even if you don't consider mine) in that discussion.
I'm still confused though, what did you mean by
Bad criticisms are like the image above or things like IPVM does it for 'blogging clicks'
I only asked if you would post the picture.
I am giving you the context of it. If the OP of the tuna can said 'Any idea why someone would do an install like this?" than I would not have objected. Buy saying dismissively 'top notch install' sets the tone for disparagement.
I'm still confused though, what did you mean by
I am referring to Jeffrey's criticism that IPVM does it for the 'blogging clicks'. Such criticism is meant to be derogatory. By contrast, if Jeffrey said IPVM claims X but our records at location Y prove ~X, that is a productive criticism, presuming he can find such ~X.
By saying dismissively 'top notch install' sets the tone for disparagement.
Agreed.
👀
I'm unsure if that emoji will post correctly, but it means "I'm looking at YOU pal!"
I don't spend a lot of time on LinkedIn so I haven't seen these, but the example provided is clearly someone looking for a laugh. There's no calling out the company or person responsible, or explaining why it's bad or what should have been done instead. No educational value or attempt to shame the responsible party.
I think we've all been that person at some point. I know I have - for better or worse. As with Michael, I've become less quick to criticize as I've matured - there's usually a semi-reasonable reason for the way things are. I still laugh about a story of a hand made wooden server rack with an oscillating fan for cooling though. I think LinkedIn probably isn't the best place for this. Maybe Reddit would be a better fit...
1.) Your last comment is absolutely spot-on. LinkedIn is not the place for A LOT of things that end up there, and this is one of them.
2.) On the other hand, I get a kick out of the photos. Those are things that nobody would ever post to Facebook (where something like that actually belongs) unless it's in some sort of video surveillance group where a bunch of nerds like me can chuckle at those things and say "you'll never believe what I saw...". I've had a few of those in the wild, where I just stood, mouth agape, staring at something that someone had done. Seeing them from others is amusing too.
But, I would never post something like that on LinkedIn. Of course, I never post much of anything on LinkedIn...
I agree with both of these posts, I would definitely Tweet a picture like that out; and I also have done some installs that are completely tweetable. Linkedin would not be the place I would bother posting that.
To be honest, I think that tuna can install was probably done out of spite or as a joke, and the person who did the install probably originally shared the picture. They drilled out the tuna can and used EMT connectors... thats the sign of an electrically-inclined troll, not a trunkslamming wire nutjob.
I cant believe It been about day and I get to be the first to say this,
"There is something fishy about that Junction Box
Some of them are reel funny, but others need to scale back their attempts at humor.
For God's hake, I reely don't mean to give anyone carp, but it's like every opporTUNAty salmon gets, they're shelling-out fish puns.
To John Honofish, I may be gillty of being a pain in your bass, but thanks a whale lot for making this thread a reelality- I don't care what they say, you're a wonderful sole.
At this point, I feel like I'm just trawling this thread. You can be certain, though, that Honofish is floundering over this, PERCHed at his keyboard, remarking to himself "Oh my cod, this scampi happening!"
Good news for snarky posters:
Current voter payout, #fishpun subthread only:
Agrees: 13 Funnies: 111 = $43.40
Bad News:
Expect a 1099 from J.H. at year end ;)
Good, Good, Let the puns Flow like the ocean waves over you and let them consume you.
Bwuahahahahahahahaha.
In all seriousness though I believe what John is referring to is its one thing to post that pic and have a ton of tasteful silly and non harmful puns like we have had here and another to to post that pic and Use it as propaganda/marketing, criticizing manufacturers, installers, and other negative methods.
We have all done something on the level of the tuna can in one form or another knowingly or not, whether we will admit it or not. I am sure if we went back on every install/repair we were ever apart of we could something you have done on the level of the tuna can.
anything to the contrary would just be some crazy fish tale.....
Can i pretty please get a source link to this page, I could use a good laugh this morning! cpb
As someone who posts this type of content on the regular, the intent is no other than to collaborate industry-related muses with my peers. As fellow coworkers and customers tell me quite often, they love seeing the photos I come up with. Granted, not all of them are my own, so there may be some redundancy, but nevertheless it gives folks a good laugh with something relevant to their industry, something that isn't political or otherwise better suited for one's personal Facebook account.
Some of the best recruiters and entrepreneurs out there will tell you that differentiating yourself amid the LinkedIn crowd is paramount to discovery, opportunities, and personal growth; I could be another white bread drone on LinkedIn with incorrect, dated information… Or I can set myself apart, even open a door to new business opportunities... oh, and maybe bring a smile to the casual passerby.
The guilty speaks :)
Some of the best recruiters and entrepreneurs out there will tell you that differentiating yourself amid the LinkedIn crowd is paramount to discovery, opportunities, and personal growth
But you are differentiating yourself through punching down.
Listen, I believe you that some people like it and to that end I can see the value from a networking standpoint. But, personally, it strikes me as counterproductive.
I could be another white bread drone on LinkedIn with incorrect, dated information
Or you could a guy with correct, novel information that helps people do better at their business.
I'm not punching anyone down. I'm not personally attacking anyone by name, unless… Guilty conscience, John Honovich? If I was saying things like "way to go IPVM Security for using twist-on BNC connectors and leaving 2 inches of copper exposed, stellar work", that would be different. These pictures are industry-funny, that's my angle. And besides, if I posted these photos to Facebook, my mom wouldn't get it, an upsetting reality when your mom isn't in the security industry. The struggle is real.
Guilty conscience, John Honovich?
I am hated by Dahua and Hikvision, hardly punching down.
These pictures are industry-funny
Funny in a 'look how dumb / stupid this is' kind of way.
My other general comment is that LinkedIn's feed has become so unwieldy and so cumbersome to continue to scroll down and figure out which post is meaningful (and there are some) vs the goofy images and the repeated messages (which increasingly dominates).
Like this one, which LinkedIn has now shown to me 20 times though I keep selecting to hide the post:
LinkedIn has become an echo chamber of sharing the same content over and over. Much of it is posts like the example above where people are trying to communicate "look at me, I am a hardcore business ninja", but they come across as unoriginal and uninspiring (at least to me).
sharing the same content over and over
Before the recent re-design, you used to be able to toggle over to chronological order but then they removed it. Now, you are forced to see the same things over and over again and have no way to determine what is actually new or potentially being missed.
Also, up until 2 days ago, they let you filter search results just to those inside posts (i.e., posts with 'IPVM' or 'Axis' or 'video analytics). Now, that's gone.
And thanks to everyone that just sent me a connection request on LinkedIn.
So lazy!
If the guy had just taken the time and removed the label prior to the install everyone would be wondering where he got those awesome round j-boxes from!
From what I saw, I think it was funny and not over the top. I think some things go to far, but I don't think this one did. Maybe if he had gone a little farther and said something like "Special needs people need jobs, too" or something condescending or insulting like that. But everyone has their own thresholds of what is acceptable and not acceptable.
People nowadays are always trying to come up with a new meme. They want to have the next top trending topic, or post or whatever.
It's "cool" =p
This is the Internet! It's always been known everyone has an opinion. Now the Internet enables anyone to drop their pants and let their opinion be seen.
;)
I don't want to sound shellfish, but I've ofishally had a great time with this thread.
We should all do this more often, just for the halibut.
Well John.
I see it as a form of Humor, separately of that do i think that a TUNA can was the only obvious solution if it needs to be at least IP67.
I'm from the Netherlands, and live in beautiful romania and spend 10 years on one of the canary islands.
If you think that a picture of a can is bad.... I've seen worse and better there and here.
I think we should see this pictures with a lot of Humor and tell our self's that we would never deliver this kind of installation to any of our customers and done with it.
Regards
maybe it is a fishing post!
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