I found this on the Internet back in the 1980s, before the “GUI Revolution”, before there was a Web. There were several variations.
I recently found it again in my files. It’s no less true now, maybe more so.
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A man is flying in a hot air balloon and realizes that he is lost. He reduces height and spots a man down below. He lowers the balloon further and shouts:
“Excuse me, can you tell me where I am?”
The man below says: “Yes, you’re in a hot air balloon, hovering about 30 feet above this field.”
“You must be a programmer.” says the balloonist.
“I am.” replies the man. “How did you know?”
“Well,” says the balloonist, “you interpreted my request completely literally. Everything you have told me is technically correct, but it’s absolutely no help at all.”
The man below says “You must be a manager.”
“I am,” replies the balloonist, “but how did you know?”
“Well,” says the man, “you don’t know where you are, or where you’re going, but you expect me to be able to help. You’re in the exact same position you were before we met, but now it’s my fault.”
– Robert the Wombat