The category this article ignores are people who say things like "Why?" when they really mean "You're an idiot, stop being an idiot." In that case, more words aren't going to make things better, they'll make things worse.
The problem I have with the grizzledExpert-style responses is that their stance usually assumes a postion of hand-holding; that is, often it's assumed the BaffledNewb is misguided in their thought process (which they are in the examples given), but also that giving them an answer to a question they haven't thought to ask is the best course of action.
I think that if the BaffledNewb is allowed to encounter the consequences of obtaining literal answers to their questions, they'll have a better understanding of why their original question was misguided, and in the future (hopefully) learn to ask questions in a better manner as well as more fully understanding why the answer to their original question is not the best answer.
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[ 3.3 ms ] story [ 7.1 ms ] threadI think that if the BaffledNewb is allowed to encounter the consequences of obtaining literal answers to their questions, they'll have a better understanding of why their original question was misguided, and in the future (hopefully) learn to ask questions in a better manner as well as more fully understanding why the answer to their original question is not the best answer.