Loud Thinking: Challenging life, software, and media
Tuesday, September 4, 2001 @ 19:19 | Challenge?

Leave your question disclaimers at the door

It's okay not to know everything, it's okay to forget -- except, apparently, if you're a highly accomplished programmer. In that case your pride will demand a full-stop on all professional help from the underlings on the tech ladder in most cases.

In the remaining, you'll feel forced to think up intricate question disclaimers to explain how you just don't have the time right now to check it yourself or how you've prioritized learning more important stuff (very common disclaimer for HTML questions). And often you'll even surrounded the poor question with disclaimers both before and after. Just to make sure, of course. And usually the disclaimers are even longer than the question itself.

Whatever the form, disclaimers are always insulting on the person who's help you're seeking. Take it from someone who have been on the receiving end a lot. So, could we please disband this practice of grade-A insecurity flashing? I'm tired of letting it slide by a smile and a nod. If you need help just ask for it.

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