XY Problem
7 days ago
- #communication
- #XY-problem
- #problem-solving
- The XY problem involves asking about an attempted solution (Y) instead of the actual problem (X), leading to wasted time and confusion.
- To avoid the XY problem, always provide the broader context of your issue, share why other solutions were ruled out, and be open to providing more details when asked.
- Examples illustrate how focusing on the wrong solution (e.g., asking for the last 3 characters of a filename instead of the extension) leads to inefficient problem-solving.
- Another example shows how not stating the real goal (hiding OS detection) results in a lengthy, unproductive discussion.