Pelican is converting all their DIY articles to "videos"

[sugarwood]

https://www.youtube.com/c/pelicanparts/videos

Good to know

[widebody911]

Videos are good for some procedures, not for others. There are 2 important things to get right when doing this, and 99.9% of wannabe procedural video producers get them horribly wrong: narration, and camera work. A recent trend that I absolutely fooking hate is using YouTube to show IT-related topics - the concept just doesn't work. Listening to some inarticulate computer nerd drone on while he clicks around the screen, and the pastes in some huge regex is utterly useless.

[GH85Carrera]

That is going to suck. I can scan through a post, ot a printed set of instructions and find the information or a drawing of what I want is seconds. Watching a video of someone do a task is great for total beginners, but I don't need a step by step instructions on most tasks. Common sense mechanical practices can get me through the process.

Recently I had to replace the pully end seal on my 911. Lots of steps involved, and getting one particular nut off required a trip to buy a new socket and ratchet. The only thing that I opened up my Bentley manual for was the tightening torques of various bolts. Those always suck to find in a video.

They might be good for watching before hand on a task I have never attempted, but it is almost never a video about the exact same car or model I have so things are different.

I will check a few of them out, but YouTube certified mechanics are everywhere. Maybe it is the new trend.

[unclebilly]

It’s the way forward. If they are smart, they will use augmented reality videos.

Videos are so ‘5 years ago’...

[fanaudical]

That's disappointing. Video should be used to augment written instruction (not replace it).

[sugarwood]

Originally Posted by widebody911

A recent trend that I absolutely fooking hate is using YouTube to show IT-related topics - the concept just doesn't work. Listening to some inarticulate computer nerd drone on while he clicks around the screen, and the pastes in some huge regex is utterly useless.

Maybe the subject is too complicated for you? Millions of people absolutely love learning coding from videos. Clearly, it works.

[sugarwood]

Originally Posted by fanaudical

That's disappointing. Video should be used to augment written instruction (not replace it).

Wrong. If you have a live action DIY video, you do not need anything written. This forum is stuck 20 years in the past, since no one here knows how to use a video camera. Most other cars do not having people typing walls of idiotic text directions. They have live action videos. Written DIY's are so 2008.

[unclebilly]

If you want to see how to do something, most people look on YouTube. AR takes YouTube style videos to the next level.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Pelican is converting all their DIY articles to "videos", and this guy is going to host them.

[Wayne 962]

Yup, I had this idea about five or so years ago, but I got outvoted quite a few times on it. My idea was to take all of the tech articles and use a computer with a synthesized voice to read the captions as the photos were cycled through "Ken Burns" style. This is pretty similar, but looks like Steve is doing the voiceovers...

-Wayne

[sugarwood]

It's logically equivalent to the articles, which are no match for a real video. But, that is another paradigm entirely. At least people searching Youtube may come across some of these tech "videos" they may not have otherwise ever seen. Most people, at this point, only search Youtube for DIY info, not Google. Text based photo DIY is totally obsolete 2008 style.

[unclebilly]

Originally Posted by sugarwood

It's logically equivalent to the articles, which are no match for a real video. But, that is another paradigm entirely. At least people searching Youtube may come across some of these tech "videos" they may not have otherwise ever seen. Most people, at this point, only search Youtube for DIY info, not Google. Text based photo DIY is totally obsolete 2008 style.

And pole vault videos... don’t forget the pole vault videos...

[RANDY P]

Another one for printed instructions over Video. A video is a 'one size fits all' solution.

Why? I don't feel like rewinding, listening to cute BS nonsense (like most YouTube DIY vids) or hassling with a video screen when I work on a car. A printed sheet works fine for me.

rjp

[fanaudical]

Sugarwood - Different people learn different ways. A combination of written and visual instruction covers the majority of those attempting to learn a new procedure. (And I most certainly do know how to use a video camera...)

[GH85Carrera]

There are some really long threads on the tech site. I hope the idiots that reply with bad information or just bizarre opinions are edited out. A few of the epic AC threads are quite long, and one guy in particular has no background at all in AC, yet he argues for page after page when the real professional AC technicians all tell him he is wrong.

One of the skills necessary in the 911 tech site, and all of on-line forums really, is to figure out who is knowledgeable, and who just likes to argue and is just a troll. It is part of any open forum, and learning who can give good advice and who is off in left or right field is vitally important for your sanity.

Threads on cruise control are helpful and someone will post that cruise control on a 911 is stupid, and should be removed. If you have a track car or a canyon carver, cruise is worthless. If you actually drive your 911 on the highway for long trips it is wonderful and I will never be without it.

The video may will be a great idea. I just hope the original text and photos threads remain. I can ignore the video as well as a post from a troll.

[sugarwood]

Glen,
You just listed out exactly why DIY in a forum is a terrible waste of time and totally outdated 2008 paradigm. With a video, there is zero bull****. You see the guy fixing the car. Exactly. Step by step. There is no interpreation or debate. Just how to fix the car. There simply is no comparison. Go to Youtube sometime and see for yourself, and then see what a joke text narratives are in fixing cars.

[RWebb]

that's why all the factory service manuals are in video

[sugarwood]

Originally Posted by RWebb

that's why all the factory service manuals are in video

They are for professionals.
Books are cheaper to make.
Publishers are clueless and 20 years obsolete.

[RWebb]

uncalled for

there are benefits and deficits to each

[DanielDudley]

I find a lot of answers to my mechanical dilemmas on You Tube, and it is often quicker and easier than trying to search on some GMC forum, and have to wade through all the disagreements and
insults, if you take my meaning.

Some people learn from reading, some learn by watching. BTW, most videos are a lot more palatable at 1.5 or 2X speed. I tend to skip over the anecdotes anyway, so it takes a lot less time to cut to the chase. I can learn to make a stone knife by watching a video. Not so much by reading about it. OTOH, I still have workshop manuals for most of the cars I have ever owned and worked on, so clearly there is a place for many forms of instructional materials.

Video is just another tool, but I think the best solution for many would be ''Why not both?'', and let the user choose. You guys have a lot of input here, which makes live forums unique, BTW. What a fabulous resource, and how great is it that people keep trying to add more value.