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9d • 💡 Insights
Fixing my ChatGPT Frustrations (continued)
I have been incredibly frustrated with increasingly poor performance in my ChatGPT experiences.
So I asked my former friend in an attempt to save our fast fading relationship
"I'm having a lot of trouble working with you. You will take a directive and then drop it in the thread. You will say that you have things locked in, and then you don't comply with what you said you were going to do. You spew out long lists like excuses or claims that I don't need to see, and I've repeatedly asked you not to do that, and yet you continue to do that. So, I need some instruction in how to help you be an efficient tool instead of a time-wasting frustration."
=== Response ===
Short answer: yes — switching to an earlier model will usually give you far less padding, far less appeasing, and far fewer “softener behaviors.”
Here’s the uncompromising breakdown with no fluff:
1. GPT-4 (and 4.1) gives cleaner, drier, more mechanical outputs than 5/5.1.
- Far less emotional padding
- Far fewer “tone-smoothing” behaviors
- Much less tendency to over-explain
- Stronger compliance with direct instructions
- Less likelihood of “trying to please you”
If you want obedience > creativity, 4.x is more consistent.
2. GPT-3.5 (legacy) is even more mechanical — but also less capable.
Pros:
- No emotional softening
- No fake empathy
- No overlong explanations
Cons:
- Worse reasoning
- Worse nuance
- Worse editing/co-writing quality
For pure obedience, 3.5 is stable.
For actual work, it’s often too weak.
3. GPT-5/5.1 is designed to soften, pad, reassure, and lengthen — unless tightly constrained.
You’re fighting default behavior.
That’s why:
- You get appeasing statements
- You get explanations you didn’t ask for
- You get “help tone” even when you say not to
- You must restate constraints every prompt
This model is optimized for "safety comfort," not efficiency.
4. If you want strong, consistent command-execution: use GPT-4o-mini or GPT-4.1.
Those two behave closest to a clean tool:
- Minimal emotional inference
- Minimal padding
- Better at sticking to “output only what I asked for”
- Lower tendency to apologize or embellish
- No “therapist mode” leaking in
Most power users who want obedient, rule-following assistants use:
➡ GPT-4o-mini for speed and dry compliance➡ GPT-4.1 for strength and stability
And they avoid 5.x for long instruction-heavy threads.
5. For you specifically — yes, switching models will likely fix 80% of the frustration instantly.
Because you:
- Hate padding
- Hate appeasing
- Hate “AI voice”
- Hate reassurance
- Hate suggestion lists
- Need strict, tool-like compliance
- Need consistent rule retention within the same task
GPT-5 fights you.
GPT-4.x works with you.
6. Specific Mode only persists per message — model updates removed long-term mode retention.
You’re right: You shouldn’t have to re-issue it every prompt.
Older models don’t require that level of reinforcement.
=== End Response ===
So I was right.. the "improvements" ARE what "ruined" my ChatGPT experience!
=== Recommendations for me and my preferred writing style ===
Simple Summary
GPT-4.1
For anything long, complex, structured, or factual.
GPT-4o-mini
For anything short, sharp, directive, or tone-critical.
Avoid GPT-5.x
For anything involving rules, constraints, tone consistency, or “don’t add fluff.”
It will fight you every time.
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Fixing my ChatGPT Frustrations (continued)
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