What YC is (actually) asking: For example, When was a time you went the extra mile to get a job interviewers attention
What HN thinks YC I asking: "how they cheated a system for personal gain"
lol.
Source: Me, I got into YC by answering the question that way.
Are you suggesting that YC applications contain trick questions? Or that the questions are intentionally drafted in a confusing and/or misleading way? That seems kind of weird.
No, just that the questions are obvious to most of us except maybe the most cynical (like OP)