> The results are often surprising. For example, they've copied code from a blog which auto-formats <pre> contents
Perfect example! Often if you tell me “I tried to copy this and it didn’t work” I don’t know why. But if you show me how you copied and what exactly, things like this immediately pop up as possible clues.
I know it’s frustrating but it really does work on everyone. Half the time I show someone what I’m struggling with and I try to show them what I tried, the act of showing them reveals where I went wrong and I figure it out without them saying a word.
Perfect example! Often if you tell me “I tried to copy this and it didn’t work” I don’t know why. But if you show me how you copied and what exactly, things like this immediately pop up as possible clues.
I know it’s frustrating but it really does work on everyone. Half the time I show someone what I’m struggling with and I try to show them what I tried, the act of showing them reveals where I went wrong and I figure it out without them saying a word.