Saying Please to ChatGPT Won't Get You Better Answers

Does saying please to ChatGPT get you better answers?

No. Saying please does not get you a better answer, and being rude does not either. Clarity always wins. Tell AI exactly what you want.

What is the difference between politeness and clarity?

Politeness is tone. Clarity is telling AI exactly what you want and what a good result looks like. Only one of them changes the answer.

Does being rude to AI work any better?

No. In Jeff's words, it does not help you, and it is bad karma. Neither nice nor mean moves the result.

What actually gets a better answer?

A clear request. Say exactly what you want. A clear request is the best possible prompt, and the best possible prompt leads to the best possible outcome.

Does this apply beyond ChatGPT?

Yes. The same holds in Claude, Perplexity and every other AI you ask for work. The tone you use is not the lever. The clarity of the request is.

What this does not mean

It does not mean you have to drop the please. It means the please is not what improves the answer. You still decide whether what comes back is what you asked for.

The decision

On your next request, cut the padding. State exactly what you want and what a good result looks like, then read the answer against that.

Transcript

What's gonna give you a better prompt, if you're nice to AI or if you're mean to AI? The answer is neither. Clarity always wins. Research has showed that if you're nicer and say please, it doesn't help you. If you're a dick, it doesn't help you. It's also bad karma. With clarity, that will get you the best possible prompt, thus leading to the best possible outcome.

I'm Jeff Fargo. I can help you streamline and scale with AI. Go forth.

Transcript taken from the clip audio and transcribed in Descript on October 20, 2026.

Jeff Fargo is the founder of Fargo Factor and host of Fargo Talks. Fargo Factor advises established businesses on AI Search Authority, AI Decision Systems, and selective AI-enabled implementation.