[rgblambda]

>Spending more time investigating and figuring out why something is needed ~is this actually valuable~ is worth way more in the long run than solving useless problems.

I tried doing this a few times. It's hopeless. Responses to questions range from "I don't know, I was just told" to "Let me get back to you", with the occasional impression that the person being asked is thinking "Why is the worker thinking about the task instead of doing it".

I've come to the conclusion that it's easier to just do the task and leave the why of it to the people who are supposedly paid to worry about that.

[sschnei8]

Fair point, I think I’m approaching that view of just doing it, but I’m not quite there yet. You said it yourself that at least it makes them question the value of said task… and I don’t think bringing it up shines back on me negatively. Regardless I appreciate your thoughts.

[rgblambda]

>You said it yourself that at least it makes them question the value of said task…

I'm not quite sure I said anything closely approximating that?

[sschnei8]

“Responses to questions range from "I don't know, I was just told" to "Let me get back to you"”

I assumed you meant that this created a sense of reflection in the requester as to the value of their ask.

[rgblambda]

Yeah I can see that now, but for me "I don't know, I was just told" = "Don't know, don't care" and "Let me get back to you" = "I am ending this line of discussion. Don't bring it up again".

If there's a sense of reflection in the requester, it doesn't survive past the end of conversation with me.