Why does nobody talk about the 'Ask Anything' rule of three?

Read a post where someone said you should phrase your question three different ways to get better answers. Tried it when asking about fixing a squeaky floorboard in my 1920s house. Got way more specific advice. Do you think this actually works, or is it just extra typing?

3 comments

3 Comments

betty_barnes9d ago

Oh wow, I totally would have rolled my eyes at that rule before. But I tried it last week asking about sealing old windows, and phrasing it three slightly different ways actually got me a fix I could do myself. It's like you're catching people who know different parts of the problem. Feels like extra typing at first, but it really does pull out the specific tricks.

ninah109d ago

My time's worth more than that.

patel.alice8d ago

Has anyone considered it's just about getting past people's reading habits? We all scan posts quickly, and asking the same thing three slightly different ways means your question hits more keywords. It catches the person who knows about old house settling, the person who knows wood types, and the person who's fixed a squeak with a simple shim. It feels like extra work, but you're basically casting a wider net with the same bait.