There are three kinds of people:
* Those that have the answers.
* Those that don't have the answers, but are willing to find them.
and
* Those that don't have the answers, and expect a member of the first two groups to figure it out for them.
At some point, each of us has been a member of all three groups.
We've all been the subject matter expert. We've all had to figure out how to program the microwave by ourselves. And we've all been too lazy to troubleshoot the problems with our computers and asked a 'knowledgeable' friend to fix it for us (well, maybe not all of us – but you get the idea).
And this is normal. Rather than self-diagnosing the weird lump on your elbow, it's more convenient (not to mention safer) to go to someone who's spent years studying for just such a purpose.
My quarrel is with those who make a lifestyle out of it.
There is someone in your place of work, right now, who manages to make the simplest tasks sound like astrophysics. They need a lot of attention. They've forgotten where the files are, despite having been told their exact location minutes earlier. In fact, you're pretty sure you saw them rifling through it when you came in that morning. It appears their impressive self-reliance recedes in the presence of other people.
It's as if competence is a secret to be learned.
Here's the secret!
Break the habit of looking to others for answers before trying to find them on your own. It'll only take you five minutes and I promise that in the long run, you'll save time, earn the respect of others, and become a billionaire.
Scout's honor.
Yes, I understand how you feel. Others have felt the same way and have found that a little bit of elbow grease goes a long way… :)
Ah, so. Well put, grasshopper.
(Sorry, sleep deprivation is making me quite a bit slap happy.)
I suspect that the people in group #3 didn’t bother to read through to the end, as it doesn’t apply to them, you see. I have a friend who lives quite firmly in group #3, and if you didn’t know this already, there is a group #4: People who don’t know the answer and prefer to just go on not knowing, living in their demented world of Choose Your Own Reality. They can be easily spotted through their warbling call, either:
“It’s not fair!” (Usually after some sort of reality smack down has taken place) or
“I don’t care!” (Usually followed by the declaration of their new reality of choice).
Said friend also likes to take more than the occasional stroll through the metallic but shiny daisy chain fields of group #4.
My personal preference is dealing with group #3 is to blankly refuse to assist them in their endlessly co-dependent lifestyle. A poker face and an ability to stare for long periods (blinking is allowed) at the offender while pretending to not understand that they are asking for something is required. Useful phrases include, but are not limited to:
“That sounds complicated.”
“Good luck with that!”
“Dude, that blows.”
“Wow, I wouldn’t even know what to do!”
Or, if occasion allows, various curse words strung together with a long and pregnant pause work also.
One must always follow statements with more blank staring. Eventually members of group #3 assume you are actually ONE of them, and either pick out easier prey or leave the group.
Group #4? It’s best to left to fate. Either they learn or they fracture with reality altogether. All words spoken may as well be in gibberish, although jive is fun, just for shits and giggles.