# Unhelpful responses **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 16, 2018, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unhelpful-responses/824646 "2018-11-16T21:30:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2018, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unhelpful-responses/824646/61 "2018-11-23T21:08:51Z")
> [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](#): > > One thing that I’ve learned from dealing with the general public in retail is many, many people either do not know what they want or how to ask for it. Usually, you can provide much better help faster by finding out what they are trying to do. In other words, most people have a better understanding of what they want to do than how to do it. > > In your example, did you want single strand or braided? Plastic coated, galvanized, or bare? What gauge? Maybe you want welding wire. Flux-core or Solid? Or, perhaps you need the kind of steel wire that is made out of copper (don’t be surprised, I’d bet that they have had customers who needed just that). By finding out what you want it for, they can take you to where they keep that type of wire. I pretty much agree with you, but sometimes when I’m in Home Depot I just want to know the aisle that something is in “Screws” or “chain” because I want to browse myself. I can see how questions in that case would be annoying. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2018, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unhelpful-responses/824646/62 "2018-11-23T22:11:48Z")
The unhelpful response that I have been known to give to Certain People who ask “where are the scissors” is “where ever you put them when you used them last”. See also “where is the cordless drill”, “where are the screw drivers”, etc. Sometimes she abandons all civilized pretense. “Where are my sun glasses?” “I don’t know. Where ever you left them.” _a brief pause_ “OK - where are \*\*your \*\*sun glasses?” Which tells me I am about to start wearing the pair I keep in my car. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![svd678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@svd678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/svd678)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2018, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unhelpful-responses/824646/63 "2018-11-24T23:04:25Z")
I was looking for a taller than normal adult walker in Amazon. Someone wrote a query about how tall a specific model was. The answer was “It’s adjustible.” I bought mine elsewhere ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2018, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unhelpful-responses/824646/64 "2018-11-25T18:12:29Z")
It’s even more annoying when it’s a friend. With retail, your interactions are short and usually a one-off. But I have a friend who’s smart (law school) but NEVER answers the question you want her to. Me, texting friend: I’m shopping on Madison St. Thinking of getting lunch. You available? Friend: I LOVE Madison St. Me: Buuut, do you want lunch there? Friend: Esp. that kids bookstore… Me: Let me rephrase. I’m getting lunch at Pizzacato’s. Want to join me? Friend: Hundred Acre Woods! That was the name. Me: I’m sorry, we were looking for a Yes/No answer… … Me: So, howzbout lunch? Friend: I’m starving! Me: Good. I’ll be at Pizzacato’s at 12:30. I’ll save you a seat, near the fountain. Friend: I’m staaaaarving! … Me: At Pizzacato’s… just fyi… … Friend (three days later): You going to Stephon’s? Me: Yep! I’ll be there at 7 with a bottle of red and appetizers. You going? Friend: That Stephon cracks me up. … ---
**Author:** ![BrickBat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2018, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unhelpful-responses/824646/65 "2018-11-25T18:40:33Z")
> [@digs](#): > > It’s even more annoying when it’s a friend. With retail, your interactions are short and usually a one-off. > > But I have a friend who’s smart (law school) but NEVER answers the question you want her to. > > Me, texting friend: I’m shopping on Madison St. Thinking of getting lunch. You available? > Friend: I LOVE Madison St. > Me: Buuut, do you want lunch there? > Friend: Esp. that kids bookstore… > Me: Let me rephrase. I’m getting lunch at Pizzacato’s. Want to join me? > Friend: Hundred Acre Woods! That was the name. > Me: I’m sorry, we were looking for a Yes/No answer… > … > Me: So, howzbout lunch? > Friend: I’m starving! > Me: Good. I’ll be at Pizzacato’s at 12:30. I’ll save you a seat, near the fountain. > Friend: I’m staaaaarving! > … > Me: At Pizzacato’s… just fyi… > … > > Friend (three days later): You going to Stephon’s? > Me: Yep! I’ll be there at 7 with a bottle of red and appetizers. You going? > Friend: That Stephon cracks me up. > … Sounds like quite a cognitive block she has…for such a smart person. Is she like that in person? ( as opposed to texting ) ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2018, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unhelpful-responses/824646/66 "2018-11-25T21:28:05Z")
> [@digs](#): > > . . . > But I have a friend who’s smart (law school) but NEVER answers the question you want her to. > > Me, texting friend: I’m shopping on Madison St. Thinking of getting lunch. You available? > Friend: I LOVE Madison St. > > . . . That’s not a friend, it’s a personal demon. ROFL! ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2018, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unhelpful-responses/824646/67 "2018-11-26T02:56:44Z")
> [@BrickBat](#): > > Sounds like quite a cognitive block she has…for such a smart person. Is she like that in person? ( as opposed to texting ) See, that’s the weird part, and the reason I mentioned law school. She’s VERY intelligent. But busy and scattered. If you show her the texts, she’s shocked that she was so inconsiderate, but also thinks it’s hilarious. She’s one of three friends I have that I make “soft plans” with. I often end up telling my wife “I’m heading downtown to MAYBE have breakfast with Ed. He SORTA committed, so my last text was ‘Okay, I’ll get a table at Mickey’s at 9, hope to see you…’ Either way, home late morning.” ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2018, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unhelpful-responses/824646/68 "2018-11-26T05:14:23Z")
> [@](#): > > “I’m heading downtown to MAYBE have breakfast with Ed…” Oh, and don’t worry about me being lonely or bored if Ed doesn’t show. The servers at Mickey’s know I’m the guy who brings a stack of comic books just in case I’m 'stood up". They’ll even come by with the coffee pot and say “Heard from Ed yet? If he’s actually coming this time, I’ll bring his favorite coffee cup.” BTW, the manager knows he’ll get the comics after I finish them… hey, last week he scored a Weird Tales from the 60s with a great Jack Kirby story. ---
**Author:** ![bmasters1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5e925/32.png) [@bmasters1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bmasters1)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2018, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unhelpful-responses/824646/69 "2018-11-26T13:28:24Z")
> [@AskNott](#): > > Some years back, I asked a box-office woman if I could get two tickets for _The Swimmer._ > > She said, “Oh, you don’t want to see that. It’s terrible!” Then I would have said, “I didn’t ask you what you thought of the film-- I was desiring tickets! I can find out what people think of it by looking up reviews; I don’t need them from you!” ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2018, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unhelpful-responses/824646/70 "2018-11-26T20:27:44Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Is it possible that they knew of more than one kind of steel wire, and needed to know the application in order to sell you the right kind? “Steel wire for general hardware applications is in aisle 9, heavy-gauge steel wire for plumbing projects is in aisle 23, and you can use either kind for strangling hookers (#23 is cheapest and most reliable).” If this store is huge enough to have multiple separate aisles for stocking subclassifications of steel wire, I’m going elsewhere, as I get lost easily enough in the usual big box store. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unhelpful-responses/824646/71 "2018-11-27T01:28:57Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > (#23 is cheapest and most reliable) Wait, is that Hooker #23? (I always ask for a prime number. 13 and 17 have been so _reliable_ that I haven’t worked my way up to 23 yet…) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unhelpful-responses/824646.md?page=3)