Ask HN: Do you find it challenging to talk to your users?
From my experience working as a PM with a medical&#x2F;educational&#x2F;hardware&#x2F;software product, I think everyone finds this process is extremely challenging.<p>First surprising thing I learned is that users don&#x27;t usually actually have the will to spend any amount of time giving feedback. But they will avoid admitting it. The second discouraging thing is that when you do get them to sit down and talk, you will find that they&#x27;re really good at subverting and evading any sort of plan you might have had. And then finally, after you have managed to collect information, it can be extremely difficult to interpret the results and come back with clear insightful ideas for changes and improvements in the product.<p>To me, interviewing and talking to users is something between the role of an anthropologist and journalist. You sort of have to charm them enough for them to open up, but you also have to maintain scepticism about what they tell you. You have to be inquisitive. And on top of that you have to be able to set aside your own interpretations and thoughts so as not to tip the scales. It can be emotionally draining, especially when you have your own convictions.<p>I work with engineers and they hate talking to users. The process can be very vague and often feels fruitless to them. Engineers can be stubborn and hold on to their worldview because they strongly believe theirs is objective and there should only be right and wrong answers.<p>I don&#x27;t know what it&#x27;s like at a smaller or larger scale. I can imagine some things are easier, and some are harder. A large company may have real resources to spend on finding the answers which can bring more people to the table. A single-person operation might not have those resources but could be sympathetic enough to bring individuals to the table based on sympathy.<p>However, when you make discoveries and insights, those are things that can make or break your entire product. It&#x27;s almost like panning for gold or fishing, you spend a lot of time searching and in doubt, and then you come across that one idea that really makes it all work. Anyways those are my thoughts. It&#x27;s incredibly satisfying and I love it but I hate it.