There’s an old adage from the early days of the internet: “The best way to get the right answer on the internet is not to ask a question, it’s to post the wrong answer.”
At first glance, it feels counterintuitive—almost rebellious. But once you experience it, you’ll know: nothing motivates people more than proving someone else wrong.
Why This Works: The Psychology of Correction
When you ask a question, people may scroll past, unsure if they know enough to answer—or fearing they might get it wrong. But when they see a wrong answer? That’s a challenge. A call to arms. The instinct to correct kicks in.
Whether it’s pride, the thrill of accuracy, or just wanting to protect the world from misinformation, people love correcting others. Especially online.
And unlike vague responses to an open question, corrections are often sharply detailed, backed by sources, and written with conviction. You don’t just get answers—you get passionate, well-researched ones.
Real-World Examples
- Stack Overflow: Ask a technical question, and you might get a response. Post a clearly flawed code snippet and say, “This is how I solved it”—and watch the swarm descend with “Actually…” comments and optimized fixes.
- Reddit: On subreddits from r/AskHistorians to r/ExplainLikeImFive, deliberately wrong or oversimplified posts often trigger long, expert-level explanations.
- Threads: Try saying something mildly wrong about a fandom or niche subject. You’ll summon niche experts faster than a Google search.
The Strategy: Use with Caution (and Ethics)
Let’s be clear—this isn’t a license to spread misinformation for clout. This trick only works when your intention is to invite correction, not deceive or manipulate.
Here’s how to do it ethically:
- Use obvious “wrongness”—something that signals you might be baiting correction (e.g., “Pretty sure gravity pushes things up?”).
- Be gracious when corrected—thank the person, engage, and clarify.
- Don’t go viral with misinformation—keep it to safe or low-impact topics.
When to Use This Tactic
- You’re exploring a new topic and want expert input.
- You’re in a community full of silent lurkers.
- You want to crowdsource better alternatives to a weak solution.
- You’re writing content and want engagement (beware trolls, though).
Bonus: It Works Offline Too
This principle isn’t limited to the web. Try saying the wrong thing in a meeting and watch your quietest coworker come alive with, “Actually, that’s not quite right…” Boom—now you’ve got engagement.
Conclusion
In a world of silent scrollers, passive observers, and “seen-zoned” questions, nothing stirs the pot like a wrong answer. It taps into our need to be right—and in doing so, gives you the right answer faster than any search engine ever could.
So next time you’re stuck, don’t just ask. Be (strategically) wrong. Because on the internet, nothing travels faster than a correction.