Originally posted by vladimirjp
only one man can ever play purple haze and thats hendrix 
but this topic is very broad, i dont want to get into cemantics;
however, teaching a "technique" often times in cg, is simply "understanding" a technique". if i show someone how i animated a scene step by step, and ask the person to use my technique and re animate the same scene, i guarantee you it would be different. but we would take the same approach at problem solving, thats all.
so teaching someone your best knowledge does not mean that person's work will be better than yours; not in cg it doesnt. [maybe in martial arts or nuclear physics to some extend... ] but this is art. even if daVinci taught me how to paint, doesnt mean i would ever surpass him, maybe i would use his technique... thats all man. its exactly wha mike said. and that holds true
but i totally understand what you mean by this "but if you want to get really good you can't rely on people to do the work for you, or nurse you through it," and thats very true. but thats a slightly differenty topic
cheers
Very true, its a hard thing to describe beauce of the individuality involved. I used to work in the manufacturing design sector where it was always the same product and line.