4 ms·

I think it is measure of time, for author it looks simple to put everything in few words instead of having long explanation, I find this typical in IT, where my

I think it is measure of time, for author it looks simple to put everything in few words instead of having long explanation, I find this typical in IT, where my coworkers all the time trying to compress explanation in fewest words possible. Maybe laziness or type of optimization, but usually back fires as other people ask you multiple questions, arising from their own point of view.

dangerface 5y ago
[flagged]
- h2odragon 5y ago
  Our genuine joy and excitement about the minute details of subnetting or data compression or whatever; during those explanations often doesn't help either. I scare people when im enthused about something. Its a bitch.
- karmelapple 5y ago
  > Non technical people only have the patience to learn / listen to very basic concepts. I know many people who would consider themselves non-technical, yet who certainly take the time to learn complex concepts. Some of those are indeed technological concepts. > I try to give short simple examples because when I try to tell people the truth their eyes glaze over and their brain turns off while the nerd talks his techno jumble. The short simple examples you give are also truthful, correct? Perhaps the additional information you'd like to explain simply isn't needed for the other person's goal. A great way to have both technical and non-technical people's eyes glaze over is detailing all kinds of minute details before describing some of the high-level goals or giving context as to why you're getting so deep into the details. As you mention, simple examples can get a lot across, and can be a springboard to more questions being asked, to allow the other person to decide what depth of knowledge they would like to know. The non-technical person you're talking to may very well have the patience to learn the deep technical truth you'd like to explain, but they may have no reason to know it. In the scenario you're thinking of, you're doing the technical work, not them, correct? So why would they need to know deep technical details? A basic outline, with some corner cases pointed out, is likely all they need. Not because they don't have patience to learn what you're explaining, but because they have other things that are more important to their or your organization's success.
- joeberon 5y ago
  > Non technical people only have the patience to learn / listen to very basic concepts. What a stupidly arrogant comment. Have you not heard of philosophy, for example?
  - davidivadavid 5y ago
    Or any non-STEM field...
  - amusedcyclist 5y ago
    Yeah but we generally don't work with philosophers, we work with sales people and marketers. I respect their skill but they generally aren't the types to be interested in learning new things
b3morales 5y ago
That doesn't sound like backfiring to me. The hardest part of explaining something complex is matching it to the recipient's existing frame of reference. Letting them lead the explanation by asking questions can be an effective way for them to fit the new information into their current understanding.
- NiceWayToDoIT 5y ago
  > The hardest part of explaining something complex is matching it to the recipient's existing frame of reference. Nicely said, I was trying to say that significant number of us is quite bad at it. And on the other hand, if frames are completely different, first compressed explanation looks like "noise noise word noise noise ...". On the other hand, often I see people struggling to start explaining as they know they will loose 30 min of time just to get to basics, so saying "I need computer in smallest box" - can be translated to "I want you to trust me and not bore me with you daily sale's pitch script you have learned by cart, I do not have time explain, I just need what I want not what you want to recommend me, unlike other customers I do not need your assistance I just need you to give me what I want. If customer is always right, just give me what I want, and I will make a purchase and you can move to the next customer." Sometimes I think that this inpatient arose from search engines, where you type at most 3 words and you get your 10 results you were searching for. So, I assume it is reflected how we communicate with other fellow humans, demanding immediate results instead of 2 way communication. We can argue it is rude, but for person who built his strong will over years in a hard way, attempt of manipulation and selling is also rude and intruding. I do not have you ever been to Turkey or Greece where you have these shop owners who are literally trying to drag you in to the shop so you can buy something. For them it is like a ritual or the game, but if you do not want to be part of that theater show, you will find it very annoying. In many Balkan countries they will ask you multiple times to eat or drink, and polite answer is "I cannot" but if you give that answer it is basically conversation starter for "Why? Are you ok? Is there something wrong...", it is part of social game to continue conversation. If you answer "I don't want to" although it is technically most correct, you will be showered with responses as "that is rude", "we will not poison you", "why is something wrong with my food", "why are you angry at me" ... and all you wanted to say is "I do not need any food or drink at this time as my body does not needed it, and I am perfectly content with my energy and liquid levels" :) So, for many technical persons, who live most of their live in their own head, trying to juggle multiple ideas and resolve who knows what, small talk can be a major annoyance. And I do not want to start with "this is secret project idea I am working on, I should not share it with anyone, someone may steal my idea ..." and everything along those lines...

dangerface 5y ago

[flagged]

h2odragon 5y ago
Our genuine joy and excitement about the minute details of subnetting or data compression or whatever; during those explanations often doesn't help either. I scare people when im enthused about something. Its a bitch.
karmelapple 5y ago
> Non technical people only have the patience to learn / listen to very basic concepts. I know many people who would consider themselves non-technical, yet who certainly take the time to learn complex concepts. Some of those are indeed technological concepts. > I try to give short simple examples because when I try to tell people the truth their eyes glaze over and their brain turns off while the nerd talks his techno jumble. The short simple examples you give are also truthful, correct? Perhaps the additional information you'd like to explain simply isn't needed for the other person's goal. A great way to have both technical and non-technical people's eyes glaze over is detailing all kinds of minute details before describing some of the high-level goals or giving context as to why you're getting so deep into the details. As you mention, simple examples can get a lot across, and can be a springboard to more questions being asked, to allow the other person to decide what depth of knowledge they would like to know. The non-technical person you're talking to may very well have the patience to learn the deep technical truth you'd like to explain, but they may have no reason to know it. In the scenario you're thinking of, you're doing the technical work, not them, correct? So why would they need to know deep technical details? A basic outline, with some corner cases pointed out, is likely all they need. Not because they don't have patience to learn what you're explaining, but because they have other things that are more important to their or your organization's success.
joeberon 5y ago
> Non technical people only have the patience to learn / listen to very basic concepts. What a stupidly arrogant comment. Have you not heard of philosophy, for example?
- davidivadavid 5y ago
  Or any non-STEM field...
- amusedcyclist 5y ago
  Yeah but we generally don't work with philosophers, we work with sales people and marketers. I respect their skill but they generally aren't the types to be interested in learning new things

b3morales 5y ago

That doesn't sound like backfiring to me. The hardest part of explaining something complex is matching it to the recipient's existing frame of reference. Letting them lead the explanation by asking questions can be an effective way for them to fit the new information into their current understanding.

NiceWayToDoIT 5y ago
> The hardest part of explaining something complex is matching it to the recipient's existing frame of reference. Nicely said, I was trying to say that significant number of us is quite bad at it. And on the other hand, if frames are completely different, first compressed explanation looks like "noise noise word noise noise ...". On the other hand, often I see people struggling to start explaining as they know they will loose 30 min of time just to get to basics, so saying "I need computer in smallest box" - can be translated to "I want you to trust me and not bore me with you daily sale's pitch script you have learned by cart, I do not have time explain, I just need what I want not what you want to recommend me, unlike other customers I do not need your assistance I just need you to give me what I want. If customer is always right, just give me what I want, and I will make a purchase and you can move to the next customer." Sometimes I think that this inpatient arose from search engines, where you type at most 3 words and you get your 10 results you were searching for. So, I assume it is reflected how we communicate with other fellow humans, demanding immediate results instead of 2 way communication. We can argue it is rude, but for person who built his strong will over years in a hard way, attempt of manipulation and selling is also rude and intruding. I do not have you ever been to Turkey or Greece where you have these shop owners who are literally trying to drag you in to the shop so you can buy something. For them it is like a ritual or the game, but if you do not want to be part of that theater show, you will find it very annoying. In many Balkan countries they will ask you multiple times to eat or drink, and polite answer is "I cannot" but if you give that answer it is basically conversation starter for "Why? Are you ok? Is there something wrong...", it is part of social game to continue conversation. If you answer "I don't want to" although it is technically most correct, you will be showered with responses as "that is rude", "we will not poison you", "why is something wrong with my food", "why are you angry at me" ... and all you wanted to say is "I do not need any food or drink at this time as my body does not needed it, and I am perfectly content with my energy and liquid levels" :) So, for many technical persons, who live most of their live in their own head, trying to juggle multiple ideas and resolve who knows what, small talk can be a major annoyance. And I do not want to start with "this is secret project idea I am working on, I should not share it with anyone, someone may steal my idea ..." and everything along those lines...