Cunningham's Law
The best way to get the right answer on the internet is to post the wrong answer.
Tiny Summary
Cunningham's Law: "The best way to get the right answer on the internet is to post the wrong answer." People love correcting others more than helping them.
The Phenomenon
Asking for help: "How do I sort an array in JavaScript?" → 0 responses
Posting wrong answer: "JavaScript doesn't have array sorting" → 47 people correcting you within minutes
Why It Works
Humans love being right: Correcting others feels good, demonstrates knowledge, provides social status
Lower barrier: Answering "How?" requires effort. Saying "That's wrong!" is easy. Correction is faster than explanation.
Applications
Stack Overflow: Post code "almost right but wrong" → Get corrected with working code (more effective than asking)
Documentation: Write incomplete docs → Community fills gaps by correcting (better than waiting for perfect docs)
Learning: State something confidently but wrongly → Experts rush to correct → Learn the right answer
Ethical Considerations
Don't abuse it: Wastes people's time, damages your reputation, pollutes search results
Better approach: Show attempted solution, ask specific questions, be honest about uncertainty
Key Insight
People are more motivated to prove you wrong than to help you. Use wisely.