Update: I asked a really vague question here last month and got roasted

I posted something like 'how do I get better at stuff?' and a user named Greg replied, 'That's like asking how to be a person. Ask about a specific thing.' It was a bit harsh, but he was right. Now I try to ask about one clear thing, like 'best way to organize a tool list' or 'how to fix a squeaky floorboard.' Has anyone else had to learn to ask better questions after getting some blunt feedback?

4 comments

4 Comments

emma_jones2mo ago

Notice this happens everywhere, not just online. People ask huge, fuzzy questions at work meetings all the time, like "how do we improve morale." It just gets nods and zero action. The moment someone asks, "Can we start by getting better coffee for the break room," things actually move. Specific questions cut through the noise and force a real answer. Learning to ask them is basically learning how to get anything done.

milalewis2mo ago

Right? It's like they're allergic to a simple yes or no. Gotta keep the problem big and vague so nobody has to actually fix it.

ruby_bell472mo ago

Okay but are we turning this into a whole life skill now? It's just asking a question online, not solving world hunger. Sometimes your brain is just fried and you type the first fuzzy thing that comes to mind. Greg needs to chill.

cora8134d ago

I read somewhere that asking fuzzy questions actually makes your brain work harder to even understand what you're asking, so you end up wasting everyone's time. Ruby's right that sometimes you just need to vent, but Emma's also got a point about how specific questions actually get results. Greg does need to chill though, it's not like we're performing surgery here, just asking if anyone knows a good taco spot.