[durbatuluk]

"I think" posts should always handled with care because we have no real evidence, just your "I think". Pattern 12 is often used to promote critical thinking and to shake previous believes. Most teachers want the class to realize something is wrong because this type of realization helps the process of learning (knowledge coming from you, not them).

[SiempreViernes]

In the case of 12 the objection is that the author is unfairly tricking (intentionally or not) the reader into making a mistake, which is unnecessarily hostile.

That's why one of the suggested fixes is simply to place a warning that the following is not to be read as reliable gospel.

[Ensorceled]

Exactly. It doesn't even have to necessarily say "this is wrong" ... just something that causes you to engage with the example as potentially unreliable or not the best solution.

"The traditional way to solve this problem ..."

"Other tutorials suggest something like the following ..."

It's just sadistic to give an example that doesn't work and then I waste time looking for a syntax error or typo that doesn't exist.

[Ensorceled]

From the article:

> pattern 12: explaining the “wrong” way to do something without saying it’s wrong

I encounter Pattern 12 in three different ways:

1. Google for solution problem. Find tutorial. See solution that, for all intents and purposes, looks correct. Adapt to my problem. Doesn't work. Return to to tutorial. "Surprise! How much time did you lose!?!?".

2. Following tutorial. See solution. Something seems off. Wrack my brain trying to reconcile the solution given that it seems wrong. Scroll down. "Surprise! That was the incorrect solution."

3. Following tutorial. See solution. Seems legit, integrate solution into my learning. "Surprise. Now your brain is broke!"

There is no version of this pattern that I've encountered where I didn't both treat the author as an unreliable narrator going forward and also assume they were a bit of an ass.

You can't learn if you no longer trust your guide.