Assumptions to Avoid

[wrathothebunny]

Ok, I decided to make a list that some may or may not find helpful in better facilitating constructive conversation here at CPF. You ever hear the saying, "When you assume, you make an A#@ out of 'U' and 'ME'?" It's B.S. You can't get through life without assuming (try even going to a restaurant without making any assumptions as to how to pay, or who is the waiter, or how to order, etc.). O.K., tangent - anyway, obviously some assumptions in certain cases are helpful, and others, not so much.

So here is my list of bad assumptions that I've seen driving some very unhelpful advice in these forums:

1) That a member is only going to carry one flashlight with them (often evident when someone elevates the factor of the flashlight dying or running out of juice to extra-ordinary significance).

2) That more lumens are always more desirable

3) That user interfaces you feel are clumsy/non-intuitive/non-efficient actually feel clumsy/non-intuitive/non-efficient to all other members - PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU HAVE NEVER EVEN USED THAT USER INTERFACE AND HAVE ONLY READ ABOUT IT

4) That size, weight, and cost, don't matter as much to many members as the beam quality or intensity.

5) That something that wouldn't be used for military/LE purposes isn't a valid and useful tool.


Well, these are my top 5 for right now, of course, feel free to add to the list.

 

[Led_Blind]

+1 to no 3

 

[KingGlamis]

Great list. I would add:

6) That a light that costs twice as much is twice as good.

 

[jtr1962]

7) That any light which doesn't use CR123s is somehow inferior.
8) That color rendering takes precedence over all else.
9) That anyone whose beam tint preferences don't match yours is wrong.

 

[KingGlamis]

10) That you must own a Sure Fire to be a Flashaholic. :laughing:

 

[asdalton]

11) That a simpler design is always more reliable.
12) That older technology is obsolete.

 

[Burgess]

That everybody cares about beam artifacts, rings, shadows, perfect beams, etc. as much as we do.


As one CPF'er stated, his wife sez:

"i don't look AT the beam, i look at what the beam is illuminating."


(sorry i don't recall this well enough to give credit to the Original Poster)

 

[barkingmad]

That everybody cares about beam artifacts, rings, shadows, perfect beams, etc. as much as we do.


As one CPF'er stated, his wife sez:

"i don't look AT the beam, i look at what the beam is illuminating."


(sorry i don't recall this well enough to give credit to the Original Poster)

It's true - can't say I come across many pure white walls I want to illuminate when out walking the dog at night... :naughty:

 

[DM51]

13) That this thread isn't really all about #3

 

[carrot]

14. That everyone needs a Cree light, even when there's a Luxeon one that suits the OP's needs better.

 

[zipplet]

15. That everyone is happy with performing a mod.

Imo, when a new member asks about a light for a task, we should not be suggesting mods unless they say they are competent or ask about them, they will probably be uncomfortable with it. Just my 2 cents.

 

[BSCOTT1504]

16. That LED lights are somehow superior to Incandescents...

 

[chmsam]

If I might be so bold, I'd make a few slight changes:

6) That a light that costs A WHOLE BUNCH O' MONEY is A WHOLE BUNCH BETTER. (and does anyone else sometimes feel that if you do not sell the kids and stop eating for a month to buy one of those lights, you're a lesser person?)

16. That ALL LED lights are somehow superior to ALL Incandescents... (Some are, some ain't, some wanna be for both)

And a new one or two:

17. That everyone here feels that a gee-whiz light with more than 300 lumens and 17 levels of interface somehow makes you an even more superior person.

18. That everyone here is a total, complete geek, and that we want the whole world to be just like us.

 

[GoingGear.com]

18. That everyone here is a total, complete geek, and that we want the whole world to be just like us.

Actually, this one might be fairly accurate.

Just kidding...

 

[Pax et Lux]

19. More is more - getting a whole roomful of China-made lights is better than having something you will want to use throughout the year.

20. Must buy flashlight. . . Got to have it! [Don't duplicate. Have a series of roles (night-time low level, houshold utility, EDC, car, spotter, etc) and fill each with a the best light you can afford; only replace one when technology has moved on to the point that your new light is a dramatic improvement].

21. Just because some people need more than 100 lumens or enough runtime to see them through to daylight again means we must. We can all be members of a SWAT team or living under a tarp somewhere in the backwoods if we really want. Of course.

 

[wrathothebunny]

19. More is more, but better is better - getting a decent light you will actually want to use, and will last you a couple of years, makes more sense than buying a whole bunch of cheap lights each time you go online.

20. Don't duplicate. Have a series of roles (night-time low level, houshold utility, EDC, car, spotter, etc) and fill each with a the best light you can afford. Only replace one when technology has moved on to the point that your new light is a dramatic improvement.

21. Anything over 100 lumens or six hours runtime is overkill. Really. Just because some people need more than this because they are in a SWAT team or living under a tarp somewhere in the backwoods does not mean that we are.

Pax et Lux,

These seem more like maxims than assumptions - in any case, assumptions (when such assumptions are presented as needing to be avoided) need to be phrased as statements that you would disagree with, not agree with. These appear to be "rules to live by" rather than "assumptions to be avoided."

Though this is a tangent, I would like to briefly discuss a couple of your rules. To address your "rule number 19," some people get nervous bringing expensive lights with them, say for camping. Having multiple cheap lights serves to reduce the fallout, both financial and operational, should you loose just one of them (or one of them should fail). To address your "rule number 21," many people here purchase lights for "bump-in-the-night" use, to illuminate and perhaps gain an advantage over potential intruders, or to scare troublemakers off the streets (perhaps dealing drugs, etc.). To effectively (temporarily) blind and disorient someone, I would recommend no less than 200 torch lumens out the front. Also, some people deliver pizza and the like, and city lights require a higher-powered incan to properly illuminate address signs from a distance. Thanks for the input though.

 

[Gunner12]

22. That all Chinese or Asian made lights are crap and should be looked down upon.

I've seen many posts that infer "Don't buy that light, it's made in China and will break when you touch it." It's not true. Yes I would admit that many "Made in China" stuff is of low quality, but that's because the company selling the product is not spending much money on the product, research, material and so on so the manufacturer can't produce a batter product due to the lack of money.

Look at Lumapower, Huntlight, Amilight, Fenix, and even some the cheaper companies like Ultrafire, EastwardYJ and MTE. They show that with the right amount or money and research, they can produce a very good, competitive light at a lower price point that some American companies.

 

[elgarak]

3a) That user interfaces you feel are non-clumsy/intuitive/efficient actually feel non-clumsy/intuitive/efficient to all other members.

:devil:

Swings both ways ...

 

[McGizmo]

• You have a light with a tint of {y} and therefor all other lights of same model have tint of {y} and even all lights using same model of LED have tint of {y}
• people read your post and words with understanding and the take you intended.
• others share your needs and priorities
• your assumptions happen to be true and relevant
• someone obviously better schooled in the art speaks truth in all cases and at all times
• Assumptions of motivations and reasons someone elses's business is conducted as it is and that it is your business by virtue of interest or topic of discussion
• That I or anyone else actually knows what they are talking about without question.

In general, assumptions to be avoided, IMHO, ar those not well founded with a good set of facts and understanding. One needn't avoid assumptions and at times must make them. One must be vigilant though and never forget when their basis is that of assumption and if possible seek verification.

 

[cave dave]

That manufactures will tell you the truth about output and runtime.

That other posters have actually read the entire thread up to the point of their post.

That other posters own or have at least tried the light they are raving about or dismissing. (see #3)