A question at the Portland library event showed me why you need to be clear

I was helping run an 'ask anything' booth at the local library last Thursday. A kid came up and asked 'how do you fix a bike?' which seemed simple. But after ten minutes of talking, we realized he meant the chain kept slipping on hills, not a flat tire. I spent the whole time giving wrong advice because the first question was too broad. Now I always ask for one specific problem before answering. What's your method for getting to the real question fast?

3 comments

3 Comments

xena8861mo ago

Oh man, that happens everywhere! I get it with tech stuff all the time. My friend will say "my computer is slow," and after twenty questions I find out one specific program crashes at noon. What's a time you got totally lost in the details?

masonpark2mo ago

Actually, that's a good method, but sometimes people don't know what's specific.

finley4472mo ago

Yeah that's the tricky part, @masonpark. It's like you need to give them a clear example of what "specific" looks like right next to the vague version. Show them "improve customer service" and then "answer support emails within one hour." Once they see the difference, it usually clicks. The method only works if people can actually spot the details in their own plans. Otherwise they're just guessing.