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+---
+id:
+aliases: []
+title: XY Problem
+tags:
+  - authorship/other-for-now
+  - destiny/permanent
+  - status/not-started
+  - topic/transparency
+  - type/encyclopedia-entry
+---
+# XY Problem
+
+> [!quote] [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XY_problem)
+> The XY problem is a communication problem ...
+> where the question is about an end user's attempted solution (X)
+> rather than the root problem itself (Y).
+
+> [!quote] [How To Ask Questions The Smart Way_ "Questions Not To Ask"](http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html#classic)
+> **Q:** How can I use X to do Y?  
+> 
+> **A:** If what you want is to do Y,
+> you should ask that question without pre-supposing the use of a method
+> that may not be appropriate.
+> Questions of this form often indicate a person who is not merely ignorant about X,
+> but confused about what problem Y they are solving
+> and too fixated on the details of their particular situation.
+
+> [!quote] [_How To Ask Questions The Smart Way_ "Describe the goal, not the step"](http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html#goal)
+> If you are trying to find out how to do something
+> (as opposed to reporting a bug),
+> begin by describing the goal.
+> Only then describe the particular step towards it
+> that you are blocked on.
+> 
+> Often, people who need technical help
+> have a high-level goal in mind
+> and get stuck on what they think is one particular path towards the goal.
+> They come for help with the step,
+> but don't realize that the path is wrong.
+> It can take substantial effort to get past this.
+> 
+> **Stupid:** How do I get the color-picker on the FooDraw program
+> to take a hexadecimal RGB value?
+> 
+> **Smart:** I'm trying to replace the color table on an image with values of my choosing.
+> Right now the only way I can see to do this is by editing each table slot,
+> but I can't get FooDraw's color picker to take a hexadecimal RGB value.
+> 
+> The second version of the question is smart.
+> It allows an answer that suggests a tool better suited to the task.