Answers to questions never posed

It seems like most of the time that I begin writing up a question for these forums, I wind up coming up with the answer while trying to articulately pose the question.

I'll write two eloquent paragraphs about my latest quandry and find myself pre-emptively defending the design decisions I've made - which turn out to be much more complicated when translated from code to English. After I realize how complex my precepts are, or what all the problems to consider are, I often think up a simple solution that bypasses all the craziness I was typing up.

How often does this happen to the rest of you?

Very often, but it's usually after I've already posted the topic, and bumped it alot, adding more and more information each post. Usually after a while there will be two posts in a row - one that says "Please help!" and the next, posted later that day, saying "Nevermind. Got it fixed."

Not exactly like your case, but somewhat similar...

Usually I find it's best to talk to someone who has no idea what you're talking about... My wife Hannah is a perfect candidate for this, she listens, trys to understand me explaining my latest AI idea (or whatever), as I try to break it down more and more to get her to understand I understand it more myself and usually come up with a more elegant solution. I'm not suggesting that she isn't intelligent for one moment, it's just that she's not wired for computer games.

Um... So I recomend a wife... or something!? :)

All the time! I'm halfway through typing the question and go heeyyy... there's the problem right there! And then I fix it in five minutes. Getting the problem properly mapped out and articulated seems to make all the difference.

I often arrange a meeting with the techie guy of the firm who hires me for contract work when I'm stuck on something. I begin explaining the problem to him to see if he has a preference but then I always just end up solving it and he just listens and nods (he does input sometimes too of course), but the act of going through it all step by step and having written it all down often just yields a result!

Happends to me all the time.
I once read that talking to yourself helps you think. But it feels a bit strange to sit here and talk to myself, so I usualy starts to explain the problem to my girlfriend. After a couple of minutes of explaining programming terms and whatnot I usually find the problem.
I guess it's those blank eyes looking back at me like if I'm talking crazytalk that does it.

Edit: After re-reading the thread again. I couldn't have said it better than Rob Farley. :)

i dunno... i'm a lil confused...

the title of this topic sounds something like 'memories of a future past' (which, by the way, is the title of a book i'm working on)...

... anyways, how can a question be answered, if it is never asked?

be patient with me...

--Mike

I frequent a few of these (let's admit it) fairly geeky sorta forums, but it's not often I see someone get told to "Get a Wife". :o)


Except for Peter Cook's priest character in "The Princess Bride": "Wuv, twue wuv..."

Would it work with a blow up doll? Sure if someone caught you explaining your new tweening routine too it they might think you were odd, but well .... if it gets the code done.

Mawwwige. Someone has beaten a giant. What you do not smell is iocane powder. Incoceivable!

I love that film. Love it bits.

It doesn't happen that often (unfortunately *sigh*) but sometimes when people call me over to ask a question, they'll figure it out while in the process of explaining the problem. They'll be like "Hey, it works! Thanks for your help."

"Um, sure, no problem."

Just after I click post, usually.

Happens to me sometimes, but not all the time. On another note, I've found answers to my problems before someone replies to my questions alot.

Happens to me sometimes, but not all the time. On another note, I've found answers to my problems before someone replies to my questions alot. With the exception of Math Problems.. I never figure those out on my own... ever..

>Answers to questions never posed

Yes and No! There, was that so hard!


Andy

Happens to all of us I would presume. I prefer not to ask people for help, so I run into problems and when I do post a question, I answer it myself soon after.

I've learned not to ask questions. Because i'm the smartest person in the universe, if i can't figure it out, noone can. And in fact i'm so smart that by the time someone explains it to me it will be more time and effort to read it than to figure it out myself. I am just soooo bloody clever!!! AMAZING!

> Because i'm the smartest person in the universe,
> if i can't figure it out, noone can.

Why do cats purr?

I need a girlfriend. Any volunteers? No, ENAY, you're automatically rejected.

Noel: Do they have sheep where you come from? In fact the answer to one of your questions never posed (yet) could be Baa.

my eyes!!! my minds eyes!!!!!

GA... that's was terrible...

go spank yourself ten times...

and noel... stay away from the sheep...


--Mike

If you're going down that route, you're going to have to buy some wellies... so I'm told. :P

@Noel. I am ugly and desperate. The answer is no.

big10: back legs

Bingo! You know too much about this Grey. And so do I. :)

that's cause I go sheep "dogging" hehe.

lol. Sheep can drive cars around your way? Impressive! :P

Ow, that's a blow to my confidence...