Tag: Communication

  1. STFL #16: Some things cannot be said.
  2. STFL #18: Words mean things.
  3. STFL #25: The only way to talk to trolls is to hand them rope and watch what they do with it.
  4. STFL #34: The literal meaning of “literal” is literally the most abused word in English.
  5. STFL #67: Sometimes the best way to cope with a frustrating situation is to write a horrible letter explaining your problem to the responsible person in detail... and then destroy it.
  6. STFL #71: Never comfort someone by offering advice or saying “I understand.”
  7. STFL #75: If your code is unreadable, what makes you think your comments will be more helpful?
  8. STFL #86: Publishing negative things about others is poor taste. Publishing negative things about your employer is stupid.
  9. STFL #87: “Invalid” is the word most abused by engineers when something is incorrect.
  10. STFL #92: Be careful what you say. Sometimes people will listen.
  11. STFL #100: When someone asks an impertinent question, you should respond with an impertinent answer or nothing.
  12. STFL #103: Repartee is that which you think of hours after you need it.
  13. STFL #104: If someone says they are joking, how do you know they are being serious? If someone says they are serious, how do you know they aren’t joking?
  14. STFL #111: There are fewer people who correctly know how to use “fewer” and “less” all the time.
  15. STFL #114: If an engineer tells you something is the worst ever, what he really means is that it is pretty good, but needs some work.
  16. STFL #119: If you must choose between being nice and being honest, err on the side of honesty.
  17. STFL #121: Witnessing is good. Proselytizing is bad. Very few people discern between these.
  18. STFL #130: Some words lose their meaning if you use them.
  19. STFL #132: Never be surprised when someone has a serious problem, does not know what to do, asks for advice, and then ignores you because you did not confirm whatever preconceived tomfoolery they hoped to hear.