Learn More
Resend Email
46
netikras
2y

The longer I work in IT, the longer it takes me to answer tech questions.

In my jr days I was confident and used to blab out the first thing [solution] that came to my mind. But now.. Now I tend to require a few minutes to think about the question, the problem, possible solutions, weight out their pros and cons and only then can I start answering.
If I don't wait, I usually tend to regret rushing as a better answer comes to me a few minutes later

is it just me getting old? Or do you have the same thing?

random

think time

answers

decisions
Favorite
Ranter
Comments
  • 30
    2y
    You’re getting wiser and older. I still jump on my first idea but then change it 3 times in the next 30minutes, colleagues got used to it 🗿
  • 23
    2y
    That's called "experience"
  • 3
    2y
    Try selecting the required level of completeness first before answering. Like in science communication, answers get way more digestable by muggles when you boil them down to the essentials. And you don't need to think as hard for a less complete (and therefore slightly wrong) answer.
  • 6
    2y
    What @Grumm said.

    As your experience grows, you will see shit hitting the fan over and over.

    Taking longer time to answer is simply "considering all things that may fail here" and that gives a more valuable answer than the one that didn't consider these things.
  • 3
    2y
    @Nanos That is because we have tried and failed multiple times and discovered that the only solution that works more than 50% of the time is to reinstall Windows.
  • 1
    2y
    It's great that you can do that. I only strive for this. Because every time I have to answer, I answer as quickly as possible because I worry about the competition.
  • 1
    2y
    @Nanos I only reinstall my gaming PC's Windows for major version changes. windows has become absurdly stable over the last decades.
  • 1
    2y
    @Oktokolo Damn... I haven't reinstalled windows since windows 7. (Like clean install)

    Since win7 I always used the free upgrade.

    Changed motherboards, added disks and all. But windows have been on the same ssd since 2012.

    (Maybe it is time to do a clean install :D)
  • 1
    2y
    @neriald @Grumm feels weird. Bcz at the very beginning of my IT career it used to take me a long time to answer because I didn't know how to - I had too little experience.
  • 2
    2y
    @netikras I get you, but now you have the power of dumping all information in 3-5 long breaths if they rush/annoy you 🤷🏻‍♂️
  • 0
    2y
    @Grumm If it is running fine, you don't need to reinstall. I just do the major version clean installs because they are so infrequent. And i don't weven know whether there be another one as Windows 10 might actually be the last Windows on the game PC (bought an AMD GPU recently).
  • 1
    2y
    @Grumm Pro tech sup tip: if it runs don’t you fucking even think about even having a thought about touching it. It will 99999% possibly break.
  • 2
    2y
    @KALALEX That is a pretty pre-internet take on things.
  • 2
    2y
    I have exactly the same thing. No words to add
  • 0
    2y
    for me it‘s mostly the other person that i tailor my answer for which takes most of the effort
  • 3
    2y
    Depending upon the situation this may be useful, but in IT it's usually more productive to say the first thing that comes to mind and try it out while you think about alternatives as well. Also if you're brainstorming together with other people, sharing all ideas and stating that you're not entirely happy and want to think more is very valuable because even your worst idea may expand your peers' perspective.
  • 2
    2y
    A lot of people in positions of authority like seniors are afraid of sharing imperfect ideas because they think it makes them look dumb.
  • 0
    2y
    @lorentz good points
  • 0
    2y
    @Oktokolo It looks like you are very lucky and haven’t touched legacy butchered code/infrastructure which was set up by one person named Cowboy xx
  • 0
    2y
    @KALALEX Sort of: I actually like refactoring and maintenance.
  • 0
    2y
    @lorentz That is probably a valid point.

    But telling as a senior, that you don't know how to make a query or do not understand some basic c# code...

    With the same degree + 30y of experience (So at least 20 more than myself) that makes him look even dumber than just at least trying. (Doing something wrong isn't a big deal if you at least try)
  • 2
    2y
    @Grumm Exactly, the typical reaction is to think for many hours without saying anything. So long that a small group of total newbies has a good chance of stumbling on to the perfect solution in the mean time by just guessing at models of the problem and validating them.
  • 0
    2y
    @lorentz too bad for him he is working with me xD

    If he cannot take or make the decision. I will not do it for him.
Related Rants
devRant © 2021 Hexical Labs LLC
Privacy Policy  |  Terms of Service
Add Comment