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Don't ask to ask, just ask (2019)

dontasktoask.com

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Re: Don't ask to ask, just ask (2019)

#5
post #2

https://nohello.net/en/

I want one of these sites for this flow-destroying scenario:

Bob: Hi

Me: hey Bob. What can I do for you?

(Five minutes later)

Bob: how are you?

Me: I’m ok Bob. What do you need?

(Five minutes later)

Bob: Do you know much about the daily Foo sync task?

That “how are you” gets me because its meant to be polite but it has the exact opposite effect. It’s funny because developers are often characterised as lacking social skills, but it’s usually the non-developers (analyst, PM etc) who do this.

Maybe also one for good old:

Bob:

Bob: Do you know what's going on here?

Re: Don't ask to ask, just ask (2019)

#9
This feels like one of those internet rules that stems from a neurodiverse IRC-type crowd

Neurotypical people use this sort of social foreplay as a way to handshake a conversation[1], where the tech types want an input/output process devoid of mood and feeling

It is silly and quite time wasting online too, but it's what they need to feel comfortable asking you questions. I figure if they need to adapt to some of my quirks I'll do likewise for theirs

[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_talk#Purpose

Re: Don't ask to ask, just ask (2019)

#10
I've seen a lot of this in internal Slack channels. There's 0 probability that I'll engage someone who is looking for an "expert in $x" even if I think that I could help. The worst is when a 3rd party tags you in with a comment like "oh hey, you know about this, can you possibly help?".
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