There is a special circle of hell reserved for people who ...

[XmisterIS]

... pedantically point out inaccuracies in a question, rather than thinking laterally and answering the question, or asking you for clarification!

I raise it as bone of contention, because I have just been dealing with someone like that. He's a computer programmer, he has an encyclopaedic knowledge of all things computer-related but is singularly the most unhelpful person I have ever met!

If you ask him to explain something, he will point out where in your question you have used incorrect terminology, then he will state that he cannot answer the question because it is illogical. Then he will sit and blink at you with his completely expressionless face. I have never seen an expression on his face, ever. He doesn't laugh, smile, frown, anything and his voice never deviates from the same, even tone all the time. It's like talking to a machine.

He drives me NUTS!!!! All I can do is take a deep breath and keep calm when I need to deal with him. I have given up on conversations with him before because they get absolutely nowhere ...

(rant over!)

 

[661-Pete]

Really? I thought he was quite a nice bloke:

 

[amasidlover]

I'd be pretty confident he was somewhere on the Asperger's / Autistic Spectrum Disorder scale - even if not diagnosed. Its not unusual in engineering and technical professions...

 

[amasidlover]

I also bet he's not unhelpful if you get the question right - although be warned you might get an awful lot more detail in the response than you want/need!

 

[XmisterIS]

I also bet he's not unhelpful if you get the question right - although be warned you might get an awful lot more detail in the response than you want/need!

You're spot on with that actually! On the occasions when I have got the question "right", he has proceeded to tell me about the intricate workings of the entire piece of software, with the single-sentence answer that I'm looking for buried in there somewhere. Now I say to him, "Please could you tell me so-and-so in one sentence?" Which doesn't always work ...

 

[amasidlover]

Sounds exactly right, there is a specific art (or science) to enabling these people to work effectively and for getting information from them. Very talented technical people are difficult to find, but people that can effectively manage them are rarer than hen's teeth...

 

[Glow worm]

... pedantically point out inaccuracies in a question, rather than thinking laterally and answering the question, or asking you for clarification!

Sounds like your friend could be related to Mr Logic of Viz fame. Here's a typical 'Mr Logicism'...

Armed Robber: No nonsense. Just give me all your money. ​

Mr Logic: I shall commence by pointing out to you that my demeanour is not one which could be described as nonsensical. Consequently I can attest you have no cause to reprimand me on your first point. On to your second point: Bearing in mind the potentially lethal situation in which I find myself, to wit: your presence in conjunction with the presumably loaded firearm which is presently levelled at my cranium, I will comply with your request comprehensively, albeit reluctantly. Here, twenty-seven pence. ​

Armed Robber: Twenty-seven pence? F**k off. There's more than that in the till. ​

Mr Logic: Indeed, undoubtedly so. However your request was for *my* money. The currency in the till belongs to a third party and is therefore not "my money". However, if you are still desirous of said money I would suggest that you re-phrase your original statement to recognise and incorporate this important distinction. ​

In another episode Mr Logic was on board a flight where the Captain announced that "If you look out (the window) to the left, the Swiss Alps are 5 miles below us." Mr Logic responded by pressing the attendant call button and informing the stewardess that "The physical presence, or indeed absence of a mountain range is not ipso facto dependent on whether or not I look out of the window." As a result, the pilot jumps out of the plane rather than having Mr Logic point out another inaccuracy in his diction

Whoever your pal is he sounds like a right PITA!

 

[jimboalee]

Lift up the hair behind his ear to see his 15 way D connector.

If there isn't, he might be a later generation model. His model code and serial number will be below the Sirius Cybernetics Corp logo on the front of his fourth Lumbar vertebrae.

Probably a model before 'genuine people personalities'.