---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I hate when people ask me to: \"Massage…"
description: "\"I hate when people ask me to: \"Massage the data\".\" — Ronald Coase"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b04/ronald-coase-17623_ask-me_i-hate-when-people-ask-me-to-massage-the_3101548.png"
---

#  I hate when people ask me to: "Massage the data".

![“I hate when people ask me to: &quot;Massage the data&quot;.” quote by Ronald Coase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b04/ronald-coase-17623_ask-me_i-hate-when-people-ask-me-to-massage-the_3101548.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b04/ronald-coase-17623_ask-me_i-hate-when-people-ask-me-to-massage-the_3101548.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b04/ronald-coase-17623_ask-me_i-hate-when-people-ask-me-to-massage-the_3101548.png)

> “I hate when people ask me to: "Massage the data".”

[Ronald Coase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-coase/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Expresses frustration at vague, non‑technical requests that lack clear, actionable direction.

**In simple terms:** Annoyed by unclear data requests.

Key Takeaway

Clarify data tasks before starting.

Themes

communication data management clarity

Mood

frustrated irritated

Type

advice observation

When to use this quote

- team meetings
- data analysis
- client briefings

Key Concepts

project scope task definition

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you ask for specifics?
- What details would make the task clear?

A Different Perspective

If the request is vague, you may still need to interpret it.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Data](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/data/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Massage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/massage/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/)

## Related quotes

> [I hate it when people ask who broke up with who. Sometimes the one that ended it tried SO hard to fix it, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-silva/i-hate-it-when-people-ask-who-broke-up-with-who-sometimes-the-one/)

Cynthia Silva

> [I hate when a people ask u money and they already own you money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ig-catone-2-funny/i-hate-when-a-people-ask-u-money-and-they-already-own-you-money/)

IG:catone\_2\_funny

> [People always ask me if they're mine. Yes, they are... all bought and paid for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/people-always-ask-me-if-they-re-mine-yes-they-are-all-bought-and-paid/)

[Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/)

> [People ask me why I write. I write to find out what I know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/people-ask-me-why-i-write-i-write-to-find-out-what-i-know/)

[Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/)

> [When people ask me how old the Earth is, I tell them I don't know because I don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-people-ask-me-how-old-the-earth-is-i-tell-them-i-don-t-know/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [People ask me all the time how I got hired onto the Office. Another common question is how do I manage to stay so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/people-ask-me-all-the-time-how-i-got-hired-onto-the-office-another/)

[Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/)

> [I’ve always been able to tell a lot about people by whether they ask me about my scar. Most people never ask, but if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/i-ve-always-been-able-to-tell-a-lot-about-people-by-whether-they-ask/)

[Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/)

> [My dad bought me a guitar and people would ask me to play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-stewart/my-dad-bought-me-a-guitar-and-people-would-ask-me-to-play/)

[Rod Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-stewart/)

> [I sort of have various sort of theories when people ask me about songwriting because it is a mystery. You don't really know. Sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-lowe/i-sort-of-have-various-sort-of-theories-when-people-ask-me-about/)

[Nick Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-lowe/)

> [Do you know how many times a week people ask me why I'm yelling?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burr/do-you-know-how-many-times-a-week-people-ask-me-why-i-m-yelling/)

[Bill Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burr/)

> [People often ask me what happened to my first husband? And I say, I killed him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-henderson/people-often-ask-me-what-happened-to-my-first-husband-and-i-say-i/)

[Florence Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-henderson/)

> [People always ask me when they see me working out, "What are you training for?" The answer is I'm training for life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/people-always-ask-me-when-they-see-me-working-out-what-are-you/)

[Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/)

> [People ask me why I keep getting injured but I have just had to accept it is one of those things that happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-redknapp/people-ask-me-why-i-keep-getting-injured-but-i-have-just-had-to/)

[Jamie Redknapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-redknapp/)

> [“People always ask me "Son what does it take To reach out and touch your dreams?" To them I always say Are you hungry?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-mcgraw/people-always-ask-me-son-what-does-it-take-to-reach-out-and-touch/)

[Tim McGraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-mcgraw/)

> [People ask me about that all the time. They say, "Did you ever think of directing?" And I say, "It's completely out of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-rourke/people-ask-me-about-that-all-the-time-they-say-did-you-ever-think-of/)

[Mickey Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-rourke/)

## More by Ronald Coase

> [The main reason why it is profitable to establish a firm would seem to be that there is a cost of using the price…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-coase/the-main-reason-why-it-is-profitable-to-establish-a-firm-would-seem/)

[Ronald Coase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-coase/)

> [A firm, therefore, consists of the system of relationships which comes into existence when the direction of resources is dependent on an entrepreneur... As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-coase/a-firm-therefore-consists-of-the-system-of-relationships-which-comes/)

[Ronald Coase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-coase/)

> [Despite all the efforts of art dealers, the number of Rembrandts existing at a given time is limited; yet such paintings are commonly disposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-coase/despite-all-the-efforts-of-art-dealers-the-number-of-rembrandts/)

[Ronald Coase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-coase/)

> [Data can't speak for itself; it's up to you to give it a voice. Try to speak truthfully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-coase/data-can-t-speak-for-itself-it-s-up-to-you-to-give-it-a-voice-try-to/)

[Ronald Coase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-coase/)

> [ I can't remember one \[example of regulation\] that's good. Regulation of transport, regulation of agriculture - agriculture is a, zoning is z. You know,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-coase/i-can-t-remember-one-example-of-regulation-that-s-good-regulation-of/)

[Ronald Coase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-coase/)

> [In my youth it was said that what was too silly to be said may be sung. In modern economics it may be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-coase/in-my-youth-it-was-said-that-what-was-too-silly-to-be-said-may-be/)

[Ronald Coase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-coase/)

> [Ronnie had it right calling it Torture. That is a much more accurate description the way I see it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-coase/ronnie-had-it-right-calling-it-torture-that-is-a-much-more-accurate/)

[Ronald Coase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-coase/)

> [The tools used by economists to analyze business firms are too abstract and speculative to offer any guidance to entrepreneurs and managers in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-coase/the-tools-used-by-economists-to-analyze-business-firms-are-too/)

[Ronald Coase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-coase/)

> [The pollution problem is always seen as someone who was doing something bad that has to be stopped. To me, pollution is doing something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-coase/the-pollution-problem-is-always-seen-as-someone-who-was-doing/)

[Ronald Coase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-coase/)

> [ I can't remember \[of a good regulation\]. Regulation of transport, regulation of agriculture — agriculture is a, zoning is z. You know, you go… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-coase/i-can-t-remember-of-a-good-regulation-regulation-of-transport/)

[Ronald Coase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-coase/)

> [The law of property determines who owns something, but the market determines how it will be used.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-coase/the-law-of-property-determines-who-owns-something-but-the-market/)

[Ronald Coase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-coase/)

> [What I have done is to show the importance for the working of the economic system of what may be termed the institutional structure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-coase/what-i-have-done-is-to-show-the-importance-for-the-working-of-the/)

[Ronald Coase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-coase/)

> [We must first note that economic factors are taken into account in a world in which ignorance, prejudice, and mental confusion, encouraged rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-coase/we-must-first-note-that-economic-factors-are-taken-into-account-in-a/)

[Ronald Coase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-coase/)

> [In my long life, I have known some great economists, but I have never counted myself among their number nor walked in their company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-coase/in-my-long-life-i-have-known-some-great-economists-but-i-have-never/)

[Ronald Coase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-coase/)

> [Existing economics is a theoretical system which floats in the air and which bears little relation to what happens in the real world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-coase/existing-economics-is-a-theoretical-system-which-floats-in-the-air/)

[Ronald Coase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-coase/)

[Explore all 35 Ronald Coase quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-coase/)

## More Ask me quotes

> [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/)

[Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/)

> [I'd always have grease in at least two places, in case the umpires would ask me to wipe one off. I never wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaylord-perry/i-d-always-have-grease-in-at-least-two-places-in-case-the-umpires/)

[Gaylord Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaylord-perry/)

> [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/)

[Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/)

> [I am a practicing Catholic, but my lineage is Jewish, so if someone asks me if I'm Jewish, I say yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neve-campbell/i-am-a-practicing-catholic-but-my-lineage-is-jewish-so-if-someone/)

[Neve Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neve-campbell/)

> [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/)

[Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/)

> [I am a conservative type of person, so sometimes when I'm chilling with myself, people always come ask me, 'What's wrong with you? What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-wonder/i-am-a-conservative-type-of-person-so-sometimes-when-i-m-chilling/)

[Wayne Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-wonder/)

> [I have no hesitation in saying that although the American woman never leaves her domestic sphere and is in some respects very dependent within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/i-have-no-hesitation-in-saying-that-although-the-american-woman-never/)

[Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/)

> [My identity shifted when I got into # recovery . That's who I am now, and it actually gives me greater pleasure to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/my-identity-shifted-when-i-got-into-recovery-that-s-who-i-am-now-and/)

[Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/)

> [If you ask me to tell you anything about the nature of what lies beyond the phaneron… my answer is “How should I know?”……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-gardner/if-you-ask-me-to-tell-you-anything-about-the-nature-of-what-lies/)

[Martin Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-gardner/)

> [When a young artist asks me a question, I want to do what I can to give them an answer if I have it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tait/when-a-young-artist-asks-me-a-question-i-want-to-do-what-i-can-to/)

[Michael Tait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tait/)

> [I've never asked a girl out in my life, they have to ask me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/i-ve-never-asked-a-girl-out-in-my-life-they-have-to-ask-me/)

[Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/)

> [I would do almost anything Tina Fey asks me to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/i-would-do-almost-anything-tina-fey-asks-me-to-do/)

[Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/)

> [Space Jam is my favorite movie. Don't ask me why, it just is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/space-jam-is-my-favorite-movie-don-t-ask-me-why-it-just-is/)

[Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/)

> [If I had lost a leg, I would tell them, instead of a boy, no one would ever ask me if I was 'over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-edwards/if-i-had-lost-a-leg-i-would-tell-them-instead-of-a-boy-no-one-would/)

[Elizabeth Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-edwards/)

> [It is very hard to tell when I started to be a spiritual teacher. There was a time when occasionally somebody would come and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/it-is-very-hard-to-tell-when-i-started-to-be-a-spiritual-teacher/)

[Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/)

Browse all 1,282 Ask me quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I hate when people ask me to: \"Massage the data\".",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ronald Coase"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-coase/i-hate-when-people-ask-me-to-massage-the-data/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Ask me"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-coase/i-hate-when-people-ask-me-to-massage-the-data/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b04/ronald-coase-17623_ask-me_i-hate-when-people-ask-me-to-massage-the_3101548.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b04/ronald-coase-17623_ask-me_i-hate-when-people-ask-me-to-massage-the_3101548.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b04/ronald-coase-17623_ask-me_i-hate-when-people-ask-me-to-massage-the_3101548.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I hate when people ask me to: \"Massage the data\".” — Ronald Coase",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Ronald Coase",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-coase/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I hate when people ask me...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-coase/i-hate-when-people-ask-me-to-massage-the-data/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-coase/i-hate-when-people-ask-me-to-massage-the-data/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
