A user's guide for the people API

The challenge with “why are you using X” is that it can be interpreted in multiple ways, one of which is quite negative (on the “what idiot would use X” scale).

I tend to ask “what are you trying to achieve by using X” when I feel I need more backstory to offer assistance, as it’s less prone to negative misinterpretations and more likely to be heard as “I’m listening, tell me more”.

Sometimes wording to avoid misinterpretation is more important than words that *could have* the meaning you intended. I suspect that’s especially true when addressing someone already feeling nervous about asking (eg most newbies to an area).

Ewen