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> because they want to feel like they have the answers A huge pet peeve of mine: I ask a really difficult question that might be impossible to answer, then som
by schneems 3y ago
> because they want to feel like they have the answers
A huge pet peeve of mine: I ask a really difficult question that might be impossible to answer, then someone interprets it as needing ANY answer (rather than a correct answer) and they just start talking. Or they answer the surface level question but don’t understand how much deeper it goes.
Then if you respond to them to clarify they didn’t answer your question they either try again or seem wounded/hurt/offended when what I want them to come with curiosity and ask enough questions to make sure they understand the full scope of the question.
In the book Multipliers one of the things they say is that managers should be responsible for asking the right questions (rather than thinking they need to have the answers).
- ChrisMarshallNY 3y ago> Or they answer the surface level question but don’t understand how much deeper it goes. That's pretty much the gist of this shortie: https://littlegreenviper.com/miscellany/problems-and-solutions/ https://littlegreenviper.com/miscellany/problems-and-solutio...
- riazrizvi 3y agoIndeed. In the thread, we see that when people don’t understand something, rather than recognize that, they wrap the territory beyond understanding with superficial word wrapping. I guess it’s an intellectual/social strategy to economize mental load and also project confidence, but at the cost of curiosity and awareness. > Difficult engineers are difficult because they’re difficult It’s a statement with no information. Just a declaration on an intellectual map that says I don’t go past here.
- pg_1234 3y agoThe really telling sentence is: "I use the term "difficult" to differentiate between those employees where everything is going smoothly, and those where more effort is required." ... apparently "difficult" software engineers are those that might require the manager to do ANY WORK AT ALL. Seriously, if this is anything to go by, managers of non-difficult software engineers could be replaced by a cardboard cut-out ... which would be a major cost saving.
- riazrizvi 3y agoAlso “difficult” then, are software engineers who identify and raise a problem with the direction that the manager doesn’t get.
- izacus 3y ago> A huge pet peeve of mine: I ask a really difficult question that might be impossible to answer, then someone interprets it as needing ANY answer (rather than a correct answer) and they just start talking. Or they answer the surface level question but don’t understand how much deeper it goes. It's funny how many HN comments fit this mold. Which actually makes this site very entertainig, because there's not that many other sites where you can hear utterly deranged opinions about things you know about :D
- MichaelZuo 3y agoIt's clear there's been a bozo explosion.