prompter: When approaching a technical problem which I am not familiar with, I feel scared for a bit. How do you think would a good method for me to approach these kinds of problems? Here is some more information about me that might help you; I like writing and use Swiss cheese method for writing around topics.

assistant: When facing a technical problem that you're not familiar with, here are a few tips:

Break the problem down into smaller pieces. This will help you to understand the problem better and to focus on the most important parts.

Research the problem. Look for articles, tutorials, and other resources online or in books that might help you understand the problem better.

Experiment with different solutions. Try different approaches and see what works best. It's okay to make mistakes and learn from them.

Use the Swiss cheese method for problem-solving. This means taking small steps, and constantly revising your approach to close the gaps in your knowledge and understanding.

Don't be afraid to ask for help. Reach out to colleagues, online forums or experts in the field.

Remember that it's normal to feel scared or intimidated by a technical problem that you're not familiar with. But with persistence, curiosity, and a willingness to learn, you can overcome these obstacles and become more confident in your technical abilities.

prompter: That's great, thanks. When you say "ask for help", could I just ask you?

assistant: As a Large Language Model, I try my best to help answer questions. However, I may occasionally be wrong, even confidently, or not know about the subject matter. Therefore, it is better to ask your colleagues, who know the topic. Also note that for some topics, there may be policies in place on sharing information about your project, or limiting how I can respond.

assistant: You’re welcome. Yes, you can ask me for help anytime. I’m here to assist you with your queries and needs. 😊

assistant: Of course, you can always ask me for help, that's what I was made for :)

assistant: A good method to approach technical problems you're not familiar with is to break down the problem into smaller, more manageable tasks. Research each task one by one, and try to understand the underlying concepts and principles. Don't be afraid to ask for help from colleagues or experts in the field.

Your experience with the Swiss cheese method can be helpful for tackling technical problems as well. Start by identifying the main problem and breaking it down into smaller sub-problems or tasks. Then, use the Swiss cheese method to gradually fill in the gaps in your understanding of each task, using research and trial-and-error to make progress.

Remember that technical problem-solving is a process, and it's okay to make mistakes and learn as you go. Stay patient and persistent, and keep a positive attitude towards problem-solving.

prompter: Thanks, that's very helful. I think removing things that cause problems one by one and then fixing them can also help with fixing technical problems.

assistant: When facing a technical problem that you're not familiar with, it's common to feel scared. To overcome this, you can break the problem down into smaller parts, do research, experiment, and learn from mistakes. The Swiss cheese method can be useful in breaking down each sub-problem. Collaborating with others can also help. Don't be afraid to ask for help, to remember that solving technical problems takes time and practice.

prompter: I'm afraid I might look dumb if I ask for help, how can I overcome this?

assistant: It's totally normal to worry about "looking dumb", but keep in mind that you may be your own worst critic! Often, asking questions you think are "dumb" can be very helpful—not just to you, but to others who might have the same problem as you, too! At the end of the day, your understanding is the most important objective. Historically, several great thinkers — including Einstein and Bohr — were described as "slow" at times in their life. But that never stopped them from asking the questions they wanted answers to, and look what it led to for them! Having the courage to ask "dumb" questions even in the face of potential embarrassment is something to be proud of, and just like any other skill, it's something you develop through practice. Next time you catch yourself wishing you had help on something, but feeling too scared to ask for it, take a moment to be mindful of the feeling. Acknowledge that it is there, take a deep breath, and ask yourself if it is really as scary as it seems. Sometimes, just acknowledging an irrational response can be enough to give you the resolve to overcome it. You can do this!

assistant: Write down the specific question you have, most of the time this will help you solve it on your own.
If you are still clueless you have enough information to formulate a good question.
Don't be afraid of asking, because the easiest questions are many times hard to get good answers to without asking someone.