Dear whatokingu,
yes, indeed that's what I literally mean, it may sound insulting, and if you had read all the pages, some forumers are saying the same thing to the shop owners, or sales person : if you don't do something to improve yourself, you will be left down the road.
Actually I'm just using the Filipinos as an example, if they continue to stay in those danger prone area, more nature disaster will occur, and really no other people can help them. Look at our SCDF team who went there, basically just wayang wayang for a few days and then come back as hero. Those people there still suffering.
Now, we turn around and look at ourselves, even our Govt's policy is not to give free lunches or as religious speaking, GOD help those who help themself. Soon, the wet market will be gone, and later, no eggs for Singaporean.
Let's be pragmatic, we consumer of photographic item, might explore all the internt for just one or two particular items that we are interested in, but out there in the shop there stock so many different brand of cameras, furthermore each brand has got so many different models, adding to these are , printers, scanners, papers, ink, filters, flashes, tripods, light stand, bags, cables, batteries, chargers, video lights, reflectors, umbrellas, diffuser, memory cards, cable release, remote controller for cameras and flashes, lenses, background papers, poles, clamps..and whatever related, it is not possible for any salesperson to thoroughly know IN DETAILS and SPECIFICATION of all these products. Not forgetting, new products are pouring into the market every now and then, with analog products also to take care of.
It will be good for those who think that being a salesperson is easy, be one for a certain period and get the first hand experience. The argument will bounce back..nobody ask you to be a ...
Just look at the list of cameras on the DP Review already daunting. I doubt anyone will take the trouble to read evey brand of cameras, models and their spec.