I agree that shaming / confronting people is not good for culture, but I disagree with the conclusion. "Y can be done (see below), but if you're actually trying

I agree that shaming / confronting people is not good for culture, but I disagree with the conclusion. "Y can be done (see below), but if you're actually trying to accomplish X here's a much more convenient way" is the kind of response that I appreciate most–not only has someone answered my question, but they've also helped correct whatever misunderstanding prompted me to ask about Y in the first place, and they've given me an easier way to solve X. For me, at least, a response that solves both X and Y is (if done politely) far preferable to one that only solves Y.