I think that the disagreement is mainly because "XY Problem" is specifically something that happens after the situation your quote describes.

  1. I wanted to do X.
  2. I decided to use Y for that.
  3. That just lead to another problem.
  4. I finally gave up and decided to ask for help.
  5. I tell y'all all about Y and my problem with it.
  6. I don't even mention X.

Only the last two items are "XY Problem". That those are reasonable even likely subsequent states after the first three doesn't really make the first three (your quote) equivalent with the last two ("XY Proplem"). Especially as the last one can easily not happen and yet the last one is really the crux of "XY Problem".

Though, having laid that out, I can see how the first three seem even more likely to be precursors to the last two. In fact, at the moment, I can't think of how your get to the last two without having gone through the first three. That still doesn't make them equivalent. But I do see a stronger connection between them then I previously had.

- tye        

In reply to Re^8: XY Problem (timeline) by tye
in thread XY Problem by jdporter

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