Tried asking my question in a single sentence versus giving a full backstory

I was stuck on a coding problem and posted 'how do I fix this error' in one forum, then wrote a longer post with my code snippet and what I'd tried on another. The detailed post got three helpful answers in an hour, while the short one just got a 'what error?' reply. Has anyone else noticed that putting in more detail upfront gets you way better help?

2 comments

2 Comments

diana721mo ago

Ever tried that with tech support?

taylor.betty1mo ago

Absolutely! I've wasted hours getting nowhere with vague questions. People can't read your mind, and showing your work proves you actually tried. It's like giving someone a map instead of just saying you're lost.