[A4ET8a8uTh0]

<<I somewhat take issue with this, as people on the spectrum are more likely to over-communicate, all other things being equal.

I don't think I am on the spectrum ( I mean, I guess technically everyone is, which is why its a spectrum ), but I do know that I was ..what is a good word.. chastised.. no.. maybe gently admonished for putting up very long detailed summaries with some discussion of potential risks involved in an assumed approach, potential tradeoffs and pitfalls.

It really depends on your boss, but I come from compliance world, where you do want to CYA pretty extensively.

Anyway, back to the story. I was effectively asked to keep writing executive summaries. I hate to say it, but things seldom are that simple. I can simplify it for you, but you will lose a lot of context with that. And this how we get to the situation, where only one guy in the entire company knows how X actually works with all the constraints that it brings.

[cjblomqvist]

I agree (I think). I think the point is that by talking about the details the receiver doesn't get it more - it's more that some details stick instead (and thus the big picture is lost).

Thus, the only way forward is to summerize, and then point out that there are details/nuances (but not getting into it). Only if the there's interest in those nuances, then it's relevant going into them.

Same as with physics. First you learn Newton. Then you eventually realize Einstein adds nuance to the formula. Start with Einstein and it becomes much more complex, hard to grasp and less likely you'll understand anything. And, equally important. If the receiver doesn't want to know Einstein, then no point in talking about him.

One big problem I see nowadays is that more people do not care about the details, meaning it's less useful as a communicator to communicate then - but also that people do not fully grasp as much the nuances and believe (and search for) simple answers - and come to dangerous conclusions about them. From my POV this is the danger with the attention economy, leading to Trumpism and similar phenomena.

[nescioquid]

> One big problem I see nowadays is that more people do not care about the details...

I think people today care about the details just as much as people used to. It's just that there are so many more details to care about today.

The exhaustive CYA-flagging of risks (and similar behaviors) denotes more a problem of how incentive are aligned in that workplace rather than any lack of skill with words.

[cjblomqvist]

Maybe so. Maybe it's also being led aware of/naive about how much one knows? I would guess there's less trust/faith in authorities than before?

(but I lack facts, so maybe I'm equally wrong)

[cjblomqvist]

CYA?

[_greim_]

Cover your ass.

[galaxyLogic]

Right it's as if the low-information people are saying (and believing) "I have just as much the right to be correct as anybody else. It's my right. Don't tell me I'm wrong because it is my right to be the one who tells what is the truth".