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Advice on Advice

Kim Arnett  on November 28, 2018

There's a lot of advice floating around on the internet from people who have had journeys and want to share their learnings. It's one of the main r...
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Ben Halpern

+100 on ignoring.

Just because you think such and such technology is the wrong way to go doesn’t mean you have to show up every time someone is discussing it to say that.

Move along and ignore if you’re just going to be a disruption. It’s healthy and totally the fine thing to do.

If you care to weigh in on the matter and nobody is actively welcoming the debate, gather your thoughts and make a stand-alone post another time (or boost an existing one that you agree with, but do so outside the thread). I sort of mean this in online and in person terms.

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Kim Arnett 

YES PLEASE!

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Pavneet Singh Saund • Edited

This is great advice, and a great reminder! 😁

I can't help but think of the first peak of the Dunning-Kruger effect, and how easy to is to give advice as blanket statements, and also judge others negatively for not following said advice. My experience has been that the more I realise how little I know about topics and realise how much context matters the easier it has been to show empathy, and also decide when not to say something.

And to your point #4: as Woody Zuill says: "Turn up the good!"

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edA‑qa mort‑ora‑y

Yes, I agree. Indeed, I even have bullet points in my book outline about advice and situations. :)

It's also fine to thank people for being a good team member, or making a good argument, even if it's not something new to your personally.

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Pavel Gurkov

Sometimes the information being spread is plainly harmful. Misleading. Without any doubts, objectively. Due to Danning-Kruger of the advice giver, or whatever else, it doesn't really matter. Do you find it hard to remain empathetic and positive towards disinformation?

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Kim Arnett 

I would need an example. I would also say there’s a difference between facts and advice. Advice is based on experience, facts are not. There’s also a difference between advice and opinions.

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Philip Hallstrom

Q: Should I turn off the circuit breaker before replacing a light fixture?

A: Nah, as long as you're careful it's fine. Just don't leave both wires exposed at the same time.

I've seen the above multiple times and it is the most horrible "advice"... like end up dead if you mess that up level advice. But technically it's accurate.

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Adrian B.G.

A related talk I recommend to ppl that are just learning or teaching development stuff

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Kim Arnett 

oOo! Thanks for sharing!