SC E01 — There Is Always a Silly Simple Question

Summary

The very first Sanity Check post. Explores the universal experience of professionals fielding “obvious” questions from friends and family — printer problems for IT grads, Instagram help for data scientists, medical advice for ophthalmologists. The central insight: “What is simple for you and me is difficult for others. What is simple for others can be difficult for you and me.” Argues for patience in teaching rather than solving, because building self-sufficiency creates lasting value.

Key Arguments

• Simple questions are compliments, not impositions — they reflect trust in your expertise
• Teaching beats solving — share knowledge to build self-sufficiency
• Every profession has its “silly questions” — the pattern is universal
• Patience and grace are professional skills

Writing Style Notes

Short, warm, accessible. The first piece in the collection — setting the tone of approachability and human connection in data work. No technical jargon. Personal anecdotes as entry point.

Connections

• 01-projects/newsletter/index — the inaugural Sanity Check post
• 06-reference/concepts/open-knowledge-sharing — teaching beats solving; sharing knowledge builds self-sufficiency
• 06-reference/2026-04-03-career-cold-start-algorithm — the humility of asking “simple” questions, from the other direction