Communication Skills Debate

Cluster focuses on the challenges and importance of clear communication, debating whether misunderstandings stem from the speaker's or listener's shortcomings, and emphasizing adaptation to audiences in technical and professional contexts.

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4,345
Comments
20
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#8635
Topic ID

Activity Over Time

2007
2
2008
29
2009
60
2010
88
2011
122
2012
127
2013
152
2014
108
2015
136
2016
163
2017
216
2018
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2019
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2020
352
2021
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2022
639
2023
537
2024
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2025
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2026
28

Keywords

IT LOT ELI5 OK TLDR communication communicating communicate grossly communicated convey incompetent knowing listeners understand

Sample Comments

drivebyacct2 Apr 26, 2012 View on HN

Communication skills matter, sorry.

commandlinefan Feb 3, 2022 View on HN

Sometimes I'm tempted to suggest that my communication skills are just fine, it's their comprehension skills that need some work...

mmooss Mar 30, 2025 View on HN

I see. Communication is tricky.

koinedad Aug 14, 2022 View on HN

Clear communication is not easy…

Strom Feb 6, 2017 View on HN

Successful communication depends on participants understanding eachother. You'll notice that the context of my comment was replying to a person who stated that they are not a programmer. Filling my post with unnecessarily precise lingo would work to undermine my goal which is to convey a basic idea.

mistermann Nov 7, 2019 View on HN

Great points, it's so tricky to communicate though.

SketchySeaBeast Mar 17, 2023 View on HN

Not just communicate well yourself, but also to understand what someone else is communicating poorly.

ktizo May 29, 2012 View on HN

No you don't understand. Or if you do, you are really bad at communicating.

android521 Aug 12, 2024 View on HN

when other people can't understand what you communicated , most of the times, it is fair to say that it indicates your communication incompetence instead of the other way around.

danparsonson Sep 1, 2025 View on HN

At a certain point, if someone doesn't understand what you're communicating, it's a problem with your communication and not with them. Personally I still don't understand what you're trying to say; it wouldn't hurt for you to expand on your point if you want someone to respond in a useful way.