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Once in a while non-technical friends come to me and ask me to help them implement ideas they've come up with. Often enough, I think the idea is bad for one rea
by btrask 15y ago
Once in a while non-technical friends come to me and ask me to help them implement ideas they've come up with. Often enough, I think the idea is bad for one reason or another.
That puts me in an awkward situation. I don't want to work on an idea that I don't like, so I have to explain my concerns, whether or not they're objectively justified (or "bullshit").
Last time it happened (a couple weeks ago), I tried to give some suggestions for an alternative solution. He took it personally and asked point-blank if I would help him or not. Overall, it didn't go over well.
- thwarted 15y agoThe best answer here, which is honest, straightforward, and has the least chance of being inflamatory is something like "Sorry, I don't have time to help you with any of your ideas, I'm already working a bunch of my own ideas" (although, I might stick the word "shitty" before both instances of "ideas", depending on the audience, to communicate my position on Sturgeon's Law).