this post was submitted on 13 Jul 2023
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It's true, but the "X-Y problem" is real.
The question may be "what's the best way to do X", when they actually want to do Y and they concluded, erroneously, that X is the best way to do it. Responders suspect this, so they want to steer the questioner to a best explanation to find out if that's the case, just to watch the questioner's tantrum when the immediate answer is not what they expect.
Speaking only for myself, if I want to know the best way to do Y, I ask about how I can do Y. If I'm at the stage where I've moved on to asking about how to do X, there's a reason I want to approach the problem that specific way -- personal preference, limitations of my setup, learning a new approach, whatever else -- and I'm not there to get into some asinine argument defending my choice, I'm there to find out how to do X.
So while I'm well aware of the thought process behind it, I will never not find it incredibly disrespectful to disregard the question being asked in order to make snarky little guesses at intent and answer a totally different question.
This, of course, assumes perfect understanding on your part. That could be a mistake, specially as you are, you know, asking for help.
The standard "come prepared with a good question" is simply not as hard for a savvy user to meet as you're making it out; certainly it's far easier than scrying between the lines and derailing the topic on purpose, and it strikes me as arrogant that anyone would trust their own attempts at mind-reading more than the clear words on the page. I've got a very good idea why you're taking this all so personally that you're replying to it three weeks after any of it was active.
Well, at least the very fact that you're taking it personally means it dug deep enough that you're aware it's a problem, even if you still have a bit of a journey before you accept it needs a change.
Your mistake is presupposing a savvy user.
Please enlighten all of us about the procedure granting you telepathy, or shut the fuck up.