Proper way to extend a monopod/lightstand/tripod

[AdobeCS]

So I was wondering if there was a "proper" way to extend a monopod/lightstand/tripod?
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&...eD2aAi&sig=AHIEtbTC4M2q4ZCVUb7xTrS3mnJy43UuLA
Reading the instructions here for the Lowel light stand, it says to extend stand sections equally and it also says to begin with the lowest section first when extending it. So would you extend the bottom piece first, or extend everything equally?

And with a monopod, the "thicker" piece is from the top, so would you start extending the monopod from the top instead of the bottom?

 

[morgan_moore]

If you have a tall lightstand you extend the top bits first so that if you need more height you dont have to be up there to do it

Beyond that this makes sense for max rigidity

S

 

[Cassius]

With light stands and C-stands you should always start with the topmost section, otherwise you may end up trying to reach the top when it's dangerous to do so. With tripods I start with the bottom, since I can raise the mid or high leg sections without having to hold as much weight which, again, could be dangerous. Tripods don't go up as high. With each I extend each section to its max before moving on, otherwise you could end up wasting time adjusting all three to be even when you could have just done one. There may be some structural reason to do otherwise, but I haven't been exposed to it.

Really this sort of stuff just comes from getting used to the stands and using some common sense to avoid dangerous situations and inefficient time management.