This isn't a black-and-white tactic. If you do this with people who know their stuff, they will just take it as you undermining them.
Don't answer the first question
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Re: Don't answer the first question
#12Domo is now apparently "Governed Data for AI Agents".
The desperation for commodity services and second-tier products to stay relevant is widespread. See also intercom.com "The only helpdesk designed for the AI Agent era".
Re: Don't answer the first question
#13The funny thing is, this works well with people too. Not to literally not answer, but dig into the question or problem they bring up to understand their mental model and whether there was just a miscommunication or an actual disagreement.
Re: Don't answer the first question
#14While this strategy is fine for clueless users, I suspect that it will lead to immense frustration for the ones with clues
In my experience, the ones who most fervently believe they have such “clues” are often the same ones who lack them. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve encountered engineers who become indignant when someone tries to redirect them to safe, scalable, and operable ways to solve problems. What they often want is to have the problem solved their way because it would be less work for them or otherwise advance their own personal interests, regardless of the problems that doing so would create or the risks it would pose. They don’t want a discussion; they want a rubber stamp.
Re: Don't answer the first question
#15This isn't a black-and-white tactic. If you do this with people who know their stuff, they will just take it as you undermining them.
I think it depends on the individual and the culture. In a strong culture, engineers don’t their egos get in the way of healthy conversations and will be capable of defending their position against probing questions without it upsetting them.
Re: Don't answer the first question
#16This isn't a black-and-white tactic. If you do this with people who know their stuff, they will just take it as you undermining them.
Yes it's called being XYed and it's infuriating when some condescending person decides they know so much better than you that even your question is wrong.
Re: Don't answer the first question
#17This isn't a black-and-white tactic. If you do this with people who know their stuff, they will just take it as you undermining them.
I think it depends on the individual and the culture. In a strong culture, engineers don’t their egos get in the way of healthy conversations and will be capable of defending their position against probing questions without it upsetting them.
How about answering the question and then add details later? IME that tends do work better.
Re: Don't answer the first question
#18This isn't a black-and-white tactic. If you do this with people who know their stuff, they will just take it as you undermining them.
Yes it's called being XYed and it's infuriating when some condescending person decides they know so much better than you that even your question is wrong.
What if they do, in fact, have the experience to “know better”?
Re: Don't answer the first question
#19“well the answer to your immediate question is X but that’s a pretty strange thing to ask for because of reason Y. Can you tell me more about the wider problem you’re trying to solve?” This is the right way to answer these questions. SO was famous for the infuriating "You shouldn't do X, so as a favor to you I'm not going to tell you how." or "Before I answer thee, thou must first answer me these questions three!" ki…
Your way is good because it answers my question first. I've been wanting to do a weird thing X and had to first spend half an hour convincing people that yes, I really do know what I'm doing, so they'd give me the one-liner answer I came for. Ultimately, it should be on me to choose whether I want to risk doing X or whether I want to take up your offer to explain Y, not the "as a favor to you, I'm not going to tell y…
If, as you admit, X was a “weird thing,” what’s wrong with taking the time to persuade your peers that it’s worth pursuing? That’s how you build consensus on a team and construct a decision record to help future teammates and other stakeholders understand it.
Re: Don't answer the first question
#20Earlier quoted context omitted.
Your way is good because it answers my question first. I've been wanting to do a weird thing X and had to first spend half an hour convincing people that yes, I really do know what I'm doing, so they'd give me the one-liner answer I came for. Ultimately, it should be on me to choose whether I want to risk doing X or whether I want to take up your offer to explain Y, not the "as a favor to you, I'm not going to tell y…
If, as you admit, X was a “weird thing,” what’s wrong with taking the time to persuade your peers that it’s worth pursuing? That’s how you build consensus on a team and construct a decision record to help future teammates and other stakeholders understand it.
They aren't my peers, and they don't have a stake in it. I'm usually just asking on IRC.