I keep a WTF notebook (2021)

Purpose and Benefits of a “WTF Notebook”

• Many see value in logging confusing or frustrating things when joining a new team.
• Writing first, acting later gives time to learn context; some “WTFs” are genuine mistakes, others are subtle complexity that become reasonable with understanding.
• Helps separate emotional reaction from considered judgment, and leads to more thoughtful communication.
• Several commenters extend the idea to general work journals, idea lists, or “how do I do this again?” files.

Onboarding, Fresh Eyes, and Team Learning

• Strong agreement that you’re “only new once,” and new hires are uniquely good at spotting usability, process, and documentation issues others have gone blind to.
• Some teams formally ask new hires to fix onboarding docs or present their understanding of the system, which is reported as effective even at larger orgs.
• Others describe pushback when they tried to fix or document issues early, especially in rigid or political environments.

Timing and Style of Raising Issues

• One camp supports the “observe for a while” strategy: early, constant criticism alienates teammates and wastes time when you don’t yet grasp constraints.
• Another argues you shouldn’t need a 2‑week moratorium; you can raise issues immediately if you communicate respectfully and collaboratively.
• Several note that in security or high‑risk domains, dumping all issues at once overwhelms people; structured, delayed reporting can be more effective.

Concerns About Manipulation and Office Politics

• Some find the deliberate reputation‑building language off‑putting or “political,” focused on optics and performance reviews rather than shared goals.
• Others counter that being intentional about relationships and influence is a legitimate professional skill, not inherently manipulative.

Risk of Becoming “The Fixer”

• Mixed views on cultivating a reputation as the person who solves everyone’s problems.
• Positives: broad network, organizational leverage, potential for higher‑level roles.
• Negatives: risk of being flooded with requests, pigeonholed, or under‑promoted despite high impact.

Related Themes: Note‑Taking and Usability

• Multiple commenters endorse aggressive note‑taking as a predictor of success for new hires.
• Others draw parallels to watching real users interact with software: direct observation and “fresh eyes” reveal issues telemetry or veterans miss.