Re: XY Problem

[wfsp]

The proscriptive XYZ.

I want to do X and I know you'll all tell me to use Y but I need to use Z. I can't use Y and I'm not going to explain, I have to use Z and I won't explain that either.

update 1: Don't waste your time telling me about Y.
update 2: Look, I have to use Z. Just tell me how to use Z.
update 3: I give up, you're all fools

Hope that helps :-)

[ptum]

wfsp++

Ha! You gave my my first out-loud laugh of the day ... thanks. :) I think I saw an example of an XYZ problem of this nature just the other day, here in PerlMonks. I particularly liked update 3, very clever. Again, thanks.

[jonadab]

update 2: Look, I have to use Z. Just tell me how to use Z.

Heh. Smells like poorly-designed homework, from a prof who's more interested in following grocery lists of programming "skills" to teach than in actually teaching the skill of good programming.

[Voronich]

Ahhh... what you said.

The problem I have most frequently is that I really do know I need to do Z and the explanation as to why is really not germane. But... people love to 'be smart' so they start prying.

The trick, I suppose, is distinguishing between the two types of queries.