@FediTips Accusing someone of causing harm for using the non-technical definition of algorithm is kind of darkly funny in a way.

Like it's clear that they understand that words can have expanded and non-literal definitions, but seemingly only for words they want to use to make a fiddly argument about terminology sounds more dire.

Tbh, between the word "algorithm" and the word "harm", it is probably more important to insist on an accurate definition of the word "harm".

@Linux_in_a_Bit Another common thing I've encountered is feeling like people aren't really listening to you or aren't willing to take the time to understand the situation before they start throwing stuff at you.

This is sometimes how people recommend Linux itself, as a solution to a problem in a situation where switching to Linux would either be unfeasible or where that'd cause a lot more headache than simply finding a workaround for now and look into switching to linux at a later date when you're not actively trying to solve a problem.

A lot of these issues, I feel like, come from an inability a lot of people have to admit they don't know something. That's why they feel the need to make it out like you're the one wrong for asking the question, or try and steer them towards something you do have an expertise in even if that thing isn't actually helpful in the situation.

No reasonable person is gonna think less if you just admit you don't know. "I don't know, but I'll try looking into it" is a lot better than bullshitting some answer or deflecting the question. And when it comes to computers in particular, I'm pretty convinced there are only two kinds of people: people who don't know what they are doing at least half the time and people who are lying.

@ShadowJonathan I've had someone show up in my mentions with an encyclopaedic knowledge of fountain pen restoration and repair, help me successfully nurse a vintage fountain pen back to life and then promptly disappearing into the ether, this is the sort of thing we are missing out on.