One that comes to mind for me: “Whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” is not always true. Maybe even only half the time! Are there any phrases you tend to hear and shake your head at?

  • @felixwhynot
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    4121 days ago

    “Quick question” just means you want a quick answer

    • @[email protected]
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      1121 days ago

      I see it like a special move.

      Like I’m interjecting/interrupting.

      So like “Quick question attack! Where did you get that pie?”

    • tiredofsametab
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      820 days ago

      I try to only use that when it’s information I expect the person already knows and can answer quickly (i.e. generally very concrete yes/no questions of low complexity)

      • @Buddahriffic
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        120 days ago

        Yeah, I use it in contexts where if they know the answer offhand, great please help, but if they don’t know, I’m not requesting they spend time or effort looking it up. I can do that myself and don’t intend to offload that part.

        It’s like a short answer question on a quiz rather than a research paper term assignment, except leaving the answer blank on the quiz is an acceptable answer.

    • @elephantium
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      220 days ago

      I use this, and I struggle a little to disengage when the person I ask interprets it as “help me figure out how to solve this” when they don’t actually have the “short answer”.

      • @felixwhynot
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        220 days ago

        I think there is rarely a short answer despite what the question implies

        • @elephantium
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          218 days ago

          Yeah, that’s fair, especially in software work.