DAE get a better answer by asking a dumber question?

I was at a library help desk in Austin last week, trying to find a specific tax form and kept asking for it by its official number. The librarian looked confused for a minute, then just asked me 'What are you trying to do?' When I said 'figure out what I can deduct for my home office,' she walked me right to the whole section. Has anyone else found that simplifying your question gets you better help faster?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_linda26d ago

Totally get this! I tried to explain a weird fridge noise to a repair guy using my best imitation sounds. He just stared. Finally I said "it groans like a tired dad when I get ice," and he instantly knew it was the water line. Sometimes you have to leave the official manual at the door and just describe the problem like you would to a friend.

karen_martin26d ago

See, I've had the total opposite happen... I tried the "describe it like a friend" thing with my car's weird clicking and the mechanic just got more confused. Told him it sounded like a cricket with a tiny hammer. He had no clue. I had to finally look up the actual part name online. Sometimes those technical words exist for a reason, you know?