Asking stupid questions

[DrFaroohk]

Sometimes it's really obvious.

"What are you doing??" said in a snarky, demanding way.

"Well, do you see this pole in my hand?"

"Yeah."

"Do you see the mass of stringy cloth at the end of it?"

"Yeah."

"Do you see the bucket I keep dipping it in, and then spreading all over the floor?"

"Yeah?"

"So just what the fuck do you think I'm doing?"

Sometimes it's a stupid followup question.

"Hey, where'd Dale go?"

"I don't know."

"He didn't tell you?"

"Well obviously, if he told me, I would know. Hence my answer would be something other than 'I don't know.'"

"Did he leave a note?"

"Again, if he'd left a note, I would've either said "I read his note, and he said he's going to Florida.' Or I would've said "I don't know, but he left a note.""

"Well do you know what time he'll be back?"

"Also falls under the category of previous information I would have given you WHEN YOU ASKED ME THE FIRST TIME."

[the_std]

Or, perhaps...

"What's the difference between two completely different people?"

[jackfaire]

"He didn't tell you?"

"Well obviously, if he told me, I would know. Hence my answer would be something other than 'I don't know.'"

The others yeah your totally right this one is a valid question though but usually more rhetorical however often it's answered with, 'Well he did but I wasn't listening"

[Rageaholic]

I hate it when people ask pointless "why" questions. For instance "Why do you ride your bike?". Or if I forget something "Why did you forget it?". As if I deliberately forget it!

Another one, being asked if I want to taste something. If I say no, I should not have to justify myself!

I'm all for asking why, but sometimes the answer is obvious.

[DrFaroohk]

I am PLAGUED with why's. But it's stuff like..."OMG dude WHY are you wearing an AC/DC T-shirt?" Ummm...I'm wearing it because I despise the band, hate the shirt and it's totally uncomfortable.

I just hate being interrogated. Makes me feel like I'm under suspicion for something or done something wrong. And I don't really like to talk much anyway, so it's like, everything past my initial answer, which provides the same information, is jsut a fucking drain on me.

Sometimes in REAL Interrogations, it comes down to a behavior thing. It's like "Where were you last night at 8pm?"

"McDonalds."

"What? No one goes to mcdonalds at 8pm. Everyone in the world eats their dinner at 6pm, so I know you're lying."

"I did eat dinner at 6pm."

"Well now I know you're lying, because clearly, your 300 pound frame tells me you do not like to eat much. I Know there's no way you ate at 6pm and then had the stomach capacity to eat AGAIN 2 hours later. It's pretty obvious you're hiding something."

Yes, yes I know. The world is full...of....idiots.

I'm not sure who to blame.

[jackfaire]

Or if I forget something "Why did you forget it?". As if I deliberately forget it!

Also a valid question. Why did you forget isn't an accusatory, "What the fuck were you doing"

It's an attempt to be helpful, "Well I was watching TV up until the moment I left for school and didn't do a final check of my bag to see if I had all of my books for school so I guess next time I could stop watching TV early and check my backpack"

The why doesn't have to be because you did it on purpose but more is it something you can alter in the future so it isn't an issue again.

[blas87]

I don't like to make excuses for people who should know better, but in this case, I work with a lot of socially challenged people, especially conversationally challenged.

One guy in particular, is so bad at conversation, he has a habbit of repeating the last word or two of whatever someone just said, in the form of a question. Constantly. Then getting mad as hell when someone explains what that word or phrase means. Because, you know, as irritating as it is to be asked dumb questions, not everyone is used to him or sometimes you just want him to get mad so he'll go away.

For instance:

"Well, I'm going to go to lunch, if you want to let the crazy woman know that I took off and will be back in a flash!"

"In a flash?"

"You know....I won't be gone long."

"I KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS!"

Well, next time, don't fucking say anything other than "Ok," or nod your head.

[Mytical]

Some of my favorites are the how questions.

"How did you forget that?" Actually it was quite easy..I just..forgot.
"How did you get there?" Usually asked because they turn around and see me, but had no clue I was standing there. Hmm - I walked. I weigh 230 lbs..you need your hearing checked.
"How do you know?" reasoning, deduction, common sense..take your pick
"How can you just sit there?" Its easy really, its actually harder NOT to sit here. Oh you mean .. why won't I take your side on something I don't agree with, that you started, and that somebody else doesn't like? Even easier. You get yourself into the mess, you can get yourself out of it.
((Note:Now if somebody ELSE starts a mess, OR I actually feel a friend/family/loved one is in danger..that is another story altogether))

"How are you still standing?" usually after somebody hits me, and I am just grinning. Don't feel pain much because I LIVE with pain every day, the minor things like a punch I can ignore. Usually means I don't have to do anything, the smile creeps them out and they run for the hills. Its win/win.

Won't even go into the why..would be here all day.

[blas87]

Sometimes suggestions are just flat out stupid because they aren't possible. Suing, getting a lawyer, walking off of a job. Especially when it's just said by people who just like to pound on their chests and get rage-pornish over the smallest things. Everyone has a bad day at work or a shitty manager or coworker.

[Mytical]

Most of those people mean well Blas. They are trying to be supportive/commiserate with the person. It can get bothersome, but remember the spirit they post it in.

Edit: cause I realized it was not even slightly humorous..sorry Blas.

[jackfaire]

"In a flash?"

"You know....I won't be gone long."

Well but was he asking what Flash means or was he asking you to clarify what that means for you?

Any person that has ever responded to my "back in a moment" wanted to know Iif I meant 2 minutes or 5.

[blas87]

It's with any damn thing, I swear. Some words, places or terms, he probably truly doesn't know. He struggles with conversation in general, but it just makes me cringe when I need to deal with him at work and I know the moment I say something, I get the last few words I just said repeated back in the form of a question, then an immediate defensive guard up "I know what that means!" if I elaborate.

Though just to be a bitch, I do have a little bit of fun sometimes and just repeat it back at him again, but in the form of affirming what I just said, like "Yes. In a flash. Bye bye now!" and he gets all flustered and pissed off looking.

He's a person who should have an entire thread on CS devoted to him and his odd quirks that make him hard to deal with. Try to deal with him on a level he may understand, he gets mad at you. Try to take the adult road and just ignore it or deal the best you can, he gets mad at you as well.