# Is there a term for people who "speak the outcome" to others and think that solves the problem? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 27, 2021, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-people-who-speak-the-outcome-to-others-and-think-that-solves-the-problem/953319 "2021-10-27T15:36:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2021, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-people-who-speak-the-outcome-to-others-and-think-that-solves-the-problem/953319/21 "2021-10-27T22:48:41Z")
Oh, I know the type. They’re people who think that every complex problem has a simple answer, like the whole world is one big Gordian knot and their truth-bombs are the sword. They’re usually people over a certain age. The correct term, I think, is “blinkered”. Their own point of view is the only point of view they can grasp. If something isn’t a problem for them, it isn’t a problem for anyone. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2021, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-people-who-speak-the-outcome-to-others-and-think-that-solves-the-problem/953319/22 "2021-10-27T23:03:09Z")
I’ve read “MOTO” for Master of the Obvious. As kids, people who said things like that were greeted with “DUUUHHHHHHHHH!” ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2021, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-people-who-speak-the-outcome-to-others-and-think-that-solves-the-problem/953319/23 "2021-10-27T23:19:47Z")
The Onion expertly skewered this kind of advice 24 years ago: > **[An Open Letter To A Starving Child](https://www.theonion.com/an-open-letter-to-a-starving-child-1819583391)** > > Dear Starving Child, > I saw your picture in one of these "Feed The Children" magazine ads. It said your mother dumped you in a Sri Lankan back-alley trash heap, and that you've been a street urchin, begging for scraps from Bedouin traders, since you... ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2021, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-people-who-speak-the-outcome-to-others-and-think-that-solves-the-problem/953319/24 "2021-10-28T00:03:10Z")
My occasional response to whining about “I don’t wanna” is “then don’t.” Is that speaking the outcome? It’s my philosophy for life, and I would probably make a poor Buddhist. “I don’t wanna” “then don’t” “but I’ll get in trouble, and I don’t want that” “then do it” Or if a kid asks for help with a homework problem, I would never just _give them the answer_. Is there a word for a person who gives you the answer directly? To the OP, I submit the words _economical_, _minimalist_, or perhaps more appropriate, _ **glib** _. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Karen\_Lingel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karen_lingel/32/18649_2.png) [@Karen\_Lingel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karen_Lingel)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2021, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-people-who-speak-the-outcome-to-others-and-think-that-solves-the-problem/953319/25 "2021-10-28T00:44:15Z")
Tautologism, maybe? Person would be a tautologist. A tautology is where the “cause” and “effect” are the same, for example: “Chicago is favored to win because people think they are the better team”. Or, you know, “the First Rule of Tautology Club is the first rule of Tautology Club”. ([xkcd: Honor Societies](https://xkcd.com/703/)) ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2021, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-people-who-speak-the-outcome-to-others-and-think-that-solves-the-problem/953319/26 "2021-10-28T00:56:51Z")
> [@Author\_Balk](#): > > You need to stop worrying about what the term is. #ISWYDT ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2021, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-people-who-speak-the-outcome-to-others-and-think-that-solves-the-problem/953319/27 "2021-10-28T01:14:56Z")
> [@Max\_S](#): > > My occasional response to whining about “I don’t wanna” is “then don’t.” Is that speaking the outcome? It’s my philosophy for life, and I would probably make a poor Buddhist. > > “I don’t wanna” > “then don’t” > “but I’ll get in trouble, and I don’t want that” > “then do it” > > Or if a kid asks for help with a homework problem, I would never just _give them the answer_ . Is there a word for a person who gives you the answer directly? > > To the OP, I submit the words _economical_ , _minimalist_ , or perhaps more appropriate, _ **glib** _ . > > ~Max How about ‘callous’? ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2021, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-people-who-speak-the-outcome-to-others-and-think-that-solves-the-problem/953319/28 "2021-10-28T03:11:04Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > For clarification, I guess what I mean more is the **behavior** , not the person. Like, what is the behavior called. Okay, I know I’ll get my ass reamed for this: The _behavior_ of telling you to change your thinking/feeling/attitude by simply changing your thinking/feeling/attitude is called _Cognitive Behavior Therapy_. And yes, many people swear by it and insist it has changed their lives, thus the ass-reaming I expect to get for this. More power to those people, I guess. But, since we’re all into tautologies here, let’s just say that CBT is the kind of thing that helps the kind of people that are helped by that kind of thing. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2021, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-people-who-speak-the-outcome-to-others-and-think-that-solves-the-problem/953319/29 "2021-10-28T07:00:11Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Like, what is the behavior called. According to Basil Fawlty, “stating the bleeding obvious”. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2021, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-people-who-speak-the-outcome-to-others-and-think-that-solves-the-problem/953319/30 "2021-10-28T07:03:34Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > Speaking the outcome” is already a really clear and concise statement of what you’re trying to find a term for. Well… It rather implies that there is some action or process that would resolve the situation, whereas what we’re discussing is pointless and ineffective “advice”. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2021, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-people-who-speak-the-outcome-to-others-and-think-that-solves-the-problem/953319/31 "2021-10-28T07:40:33Z")
“Glib” is the most concise suggestion so far, I think. If you want a posher word, try “platitudinous”, or “simplistic/simplism”. ---
**Author:** ![Uniqueorn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uniqueorn/32/2807_2.png) [@Uniqueorn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uniqueorn)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2021, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-people-who-speak-the-outcome-to-others-and-think-that-solves-the-problem/953319/32 "2021-10-28T07:58:17Z")
If you just give people advice, this is often called “being directive”, so we could add a pejorative adjective and call it something like “being obliviously directive”. ---
**Author:** ![Itsokaytohategoogle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f475e1/32.png) [@Itsokaytohategoogle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Itsokaytohategoogle)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2021, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-people-who-speak-the-outcome-to-others-and-think-that-solves-the-problem/953319/33 "2021-10-28T08:54:16Z")
Nincompoop/nincompoopish, hypocrite/hypocrisy, above it all, empathy free, mis-directive, stupid on the face of it, presumptive, ignorant, concisely ignorant, unfriendly, audio disabled, Trumpish, Mr. Big, Ms Big, bad example, someone to avoid, afraid of getting close, close(d) minded, thoughtless, tactless, useless, rude, on a soap box, insecure, personal messiah, selfish and I’ll finish it up with ‘specious’. ---
**Author:** ![Bonum\_Legatum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bonum_legatum/32/6183_2.png) [@Bonum\_Legatum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bonum_Legatum)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2021, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-people-who-speak-the-outcome-to-others-and-think-that-solves-the-problem/953319/34 "2021-10-28T10:19:39Z")
This appears to be similar to the original meaning of “begging the question”. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2021, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-people-who-speak-the-outcome-to-others-and-think-that-solves-the-problem/953319/35 "2021-10-28T14:41:22Z")
As old as the Bible. > [@](#): > > If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? James 2:15-16. A passage warning against hiding behind empty faith to avoid the moral obligation of offering effective help. No good word in mind for the phenomenon, but it’s an old problem. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2021, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-people-who-speak-the-outcome-to-others-and-think-that-solves-the-problem/953319/36 "2021-10-28T15:44:28Z")
Any answer containing the word " just" should NOT be given. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2021, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-people-who-speak-the-outcome-to-others-and-think-that-solves-the-problem/953319/37 "2021-10-28T16:06:55Z")
So… Just Don’t Do It…? ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2021, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-people-who-speak-the-outcome-to-others-and-think-that-solves-the-problem/953319/38 "2021-10-28T17:32:38Z")
> [@Maastricht](#): > > Any answer containing the word " just" should NOT be given. This is the truth as I see it. I have directly told people to not use the word “just” in responding when I ask for help (post brain injury, so have to ask for help a fair bit. If it was “just”, I wouldn’t be asking for help, now would I?). Damnit! Even the right-minded people have to be reminded to not use “just do…”. The best ones actually manage to and I love them for it. If I’ve asked for assistance, I have already tried to “just…”. ---
**Author:** ![Ranch\_Dip](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranch_dip/32/5238_2.png) [@Ranch\_Dip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranch_Dip)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2021, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-people-who-speak-the-outcome-to-others-and-think-that-solves-the-problem/953319/39 "2021-10-28T17:35:44Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > The _behavior_ of telling you to change your thinking/feeling/attitude by simply changing your thinking/feeling/attitude is called _Cognitive Behavior Therapy_ . And yes, many people swear by it and insist it has changed their lives, thus the ass-reaming I expec I’m no expert, but I don’t think their advise is “just don’t be anxious.” I think they help the people find triggers and strategies. ---
**Author:** ![Bonum\_Legatum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bonum_legatum/32/6183_2.png) [@Bonum\_Legatum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bonum_Legatum)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2021, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-people-who-speak-the-outcome-to-others-and-think-that-solves-the-problem/953319/40 "2021-10-28T20:03:46Z")
(On a tangent, this discussion of “just” reminds me of people who say “ **All** I want is…”) It is a stretch, but…New World Encyclopedia:“Bridge of Asses or Pons Asinorum (Latin for “Bridge of Asses”) is a term used to refer to **a problem that severely tests the ability of an inexperienced person** , and therefore separates the serious and dedicated students from the ‘asses’.” So a person who throws out a simplistic, unworkable solution might be a “simplissimus asinorum”. (Gee, I hope that proposing this solution doesn’t make me one.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-people-who-speak-the-outcome-to-others-and-think-that-solves-the-problem/953319.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-people-who-speak-the-outcome-to-others-and-think-that-solves-the-problem/953319.md?page=3)