Recently I read a post on Facebook, (gasp, murmur, shock)
It was just an acquaintance asking the general populace what kind of new computer they should buy.
Having an appreciable understanding of computers, I jumped into the gaggle of responses and added my own to the mix.
My feedback was simple, keeping my reply under a hundred words, I targeted the potential needs the person might have and provided solutions based on each scenario, with information like brand names, pricing, and where to go to find more professional help.
That whole situation makes sense right?
Of course it does!
There is an individual that needs something, but her lack of knowledge limits her ability to be sure she is going after the right item. She is missing information. That will always happen, and not knowing is a totally acceptable place to be in.
She even makes the right move – Seek information. Absolutely, you have made a good decision.
However, the NOT GOOD decision she made? She threw her question to the wind.
There were at least a dozen responses surrounding mine, all of which contained various tidbits of opinion but no information.
“Buy the one I got, mine works!”
“Don’t get this one, I had a bad experience once.”
“My cat peed on mine, that must mean it’s no good for the environment!”
(That last one I made up for the sake of hyperbole, but you get the idea)
Everyone with an opinion and an extra thirty seconds was responding.
Of course, they weren’t lending any sort of informed, thought out solutions based on filling her need.
They were just saying things about themselves and assuming they were contributing.
This isn’t their fault, and this is not the fault of the individual asking the question.
But it does pinpoint a crucial move that we must remember to make:
Ask the right people the right questions.