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This is a question Oblique Strategies for Work

We want you to share solutions that solved work problems - but don't explain the problem it solved.

The idea is that someone else, when they have a problem can read this and see if your solution jolts them out of their problem.

(This is obviously a tribute to Brian Eno's Oblique Strategies cards which were filled with stuff like "add backing vocals")

(I helped save b3ta! rob, Tue 15 May 2018, 10:45)
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This question is now closed.

We drilled a hole in the handle on the ball valve and tied two wires to it.
We then ran the wires around table legs and out of the steel shutter doors so yanking one wire from a safe distance (and from behind a steel door) closed the valve, yanking the other opened the valve.
(I helped save b3ta! Draconacticus Reject shampoo. Demand real poo!, Tue 15 May 2018, 12:56, Reply)

Persuaded a colleague that he'd be doing everyone a huge favour, and we'd all be especially grateful, if he did what was basically in his contract to begin with.
(I helped save b3ta! Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Tue 15 May 2018, 12:10, Reply)
Explain your problem to a rubber duck
useful for more than just coding problems
(horrid, Tue 15 May 2018, 11:37, 1 reply)
We'll just keep throwing hardware at it until it stops alerting.

(stevem2k, Tue 15 May 2018, 11:31, 2 replies)
"Wait 17 years and the solution will be obvious"

(I helped save b3ta! rob, Tue 15 May 2018, 11:28, Reply)
Can't think of anything to say?
"I echo the sentiments expressed so far. We must remain focused."
(ccc, Tue 15 May 2018, 11:26, 2 replies)
Go straight to the source.

(qbahn, Tue 15 May 2018, 11:18, Reply)
remove links to the dodgy part of the site

(horrid, Tue 15 May 2018, 11:17, Reply)
have a chat with somebody who's done it before. offer to pay for the coffee

(I helped save b3ta! cumquat may will not be commenting further on the allegations, Tue 15 May 2018, 11:15, 1 reply)
"Tell the client you followed their advice to the letter even though you didn't coz it was stupid"

(I helped save b3ta! rob, Tue 15 May 2018, 11:12, Reply)
Buy a tomato timer and force yourself to do 25 minutes.

(I helped save b3ta! monkeon schmonkeon, Tue 15 May 2018, 11:11, Reply)
Use a blockchain
Or machine learning
Or big data
Or the cloud
(horrid, Tue 15 May 2018, 11:09, Reply)
Write it out as a question, providing as much detail as possible.

(I helped save b3ta! monkeon schmonkeon, Tue 15 May 2018, 11:05, Reply)
Just block their IP(s)

(horrid, Tue 15 May 2018, 11:04, 1 reply)
Set up a Patreon page

(_Battered_, Tue 15 May 2018, 11:03, 1 reply)
"Sell it and walk away"

(I helped save b3ta! rob, Tue 15 May 2018, 11:02, Reply)
Count your losses and offer to buy your way out of it.

(I helped save b3ta! monkeon schmonkeon, Tue 15 May 2018, 11:01, Reply)
"Strategically book a holiday"

(I helped save b3ta! amygdala, Tue 15 May 2018, 11:00, 1 reply)
"Stop working on it, go back and look at it tomorrow morning"

(I helped save b3ta! amygdala, Tue 15 May 2018, 10:59, Reply)
"Blame an ex-employee for the screw up and tell the customer that as a result, she's been fired."

(ccc, Tue 15 May 2018, 10:58, Reply)
Write it all out very badly
then pretend a friend has handed you their bad writing and asked you for help
(I helped save b3ta! amygdala, Tue 15 May 2018, 10:58, 1 reply)
Do the stupid idea as a meticulous parody

(I helped save b3ta! amygdala, Tue 15 May 2018, 10:56, Reply)
"Go to Nando's and write on bits of paper until one of those bits of paper has a usable idea on it"

(I helped save b3ta! rob, Tue 15 May 2018, 10:49, Reply)
"Read the tutorial and learn it properly"

(I helped save b3ta! rob, Tue 15 May 2018, 10:49, Reply)
"Ask people to send money"

(I helped save b3ta! rob, Tue 15 May 2018, 10:49, Reply)
"Look at what was popular 20 years ago. Do that again"

(I helped save b3ta! rob, Tue 15 May 2018, 10:48, Reply)
"Pivot the project to something that you're better at, rather than the thing you've actually been asked to do"

(I helped save b3ta! rob, Tue 15 May 2018, 10:48, Reply)

This question is now closed.

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