Not everyone has the IQ capability to think out answers to their own questions. In the instances that it's not performative, it might have just been the best they could do. Then it's a question of choosing compassionate effort or dispassionate pruning out.
Related personal anecdote: When in the military, as both a joke and informal bet with a buddy, I attempted to go an entire workday without speaking. Other service members I worked closely with would come ask me questions and when I looked at them in silence they would not only answer their own freaking question, but answer it correctly. I would then nod to affirm and they would leave me be.
I ended up losing the bet, however. With only 10 minutes to go until liberty the monthly watch bill posted and I said "What the hell?" because I was surprised to be listed on it twice, which almost never happened to anyone at the large command I was at. It did turn out to be a mistake made by the watch coordinator. Regardless, my buddy was elated to win the bet last minute, but also somewhat shocked I had made it so long.
Anyway, the experience taught me exactly what the SDL is describing here. So many questions are retarded, needless, performative, or manipulative that they aren't worth answering. The post resonates.
Asking questions only comes off as intelligent when the speaker intentionally leaves out vital information as a check on the listener's understanding or attentiveness. Some teachers used this tactic to both engage and check the engagement their students.
Agreed. Why questions are the most annoying, especially at work.
“Why do we need to do it this way?” Usually the answer is “because that’s how it needs to be done.”
If clarification is absolutely necessary, “What’s the next step?” “How do I do this?” and “What is the customer hoping to accomplish?” are much better and more relevant questions to ask.
There's a lot of millennial and Gen Z adults becoming parents and quite often they will say that they won't use "because I told you so" to get their future children to do something and oh it was so frustrating that their parents didn't explain the reasoning behind parental decisions.
These parents are falling one by one as the child hits somewhere between 2 and 4 years old and they discover that there is in fact a good reason for parents to say "because I told you so" and it's delightful to see.
In my work I can't really avoid addressing stupid questions, so I entertain myself by providing content-free answers. Most of the time the performative answer is enough to get the questioner to shut up and go away. It's also a good primary sort, as the people who actually want to know something stick around and ask follow-up questions that actually want answers.
(Edit: ooh, 2 actuallys in one post. I need to de-stupid my own text I think...)
Thank, content free and performative answers brought back memories of dealing with an uninvited NPR reporter at a DC GRO Crystal City meeting. Confirmed my view of the uselessness of NPR other than as a tool. And how the DC establishment uses and manipulates the media real time.for their own purposes. Clown world is real.
Often enough in my experience somebody who could and should know better asking a ton of questions is just burning up daylight and sandbagging to avoid actual productive tasks.
I'll make exception with new hire low level apprentices asking a lot of questions, but there comes a point where I have to say "If I died in my sleep and it were all up to you, what would you do?
“Yet there were times when Stephen happened to be alone with her and she spoke in her earlier manner. From some context that he could not recall Stephen had mentioned his dislike of being questioned: ‘Question and answer is not a civilized form of conversation.’
‘Oh how I agree,’ she cried. ‘A convict is no doubt more sensitive on the point but quite apart from that I always used to find that perpetual inquisition quite odious: even casual acquaintances expect you to account for yourself.’
‘It is extremely ill-bred, extremely usual, and extremely difficult to turn aside gracefully or indeed without offence.’ Stephen spoke with more than common feeling, for since he was an intelligence-agent even quite idle questions, either answered or evaded, might start a mortal train of suspicion.” 15-Clarissa Oaks (The Truelove), ch.3, paragraph 58
Robinson Crusoe might be an adequate Gamma Instruction novel. He failed many times in doing things, and had no choice except to do them and find out. He came to repent his prideful ways. He had to learn from Friday and came to see him as an equal partner.
And since his parrot only repeats what he says, he could hear himself.
What’s a gamma?
Not everyone has the IQ capability to think out answers to their own questions. In the instances that it's not performative, it might have just been the best they could do. Then it's a question of choosing compassionate effort or dispassionate pruning out.
What a perfect post.
The SDL is too kind.
Related personal anecdote: When in the military, as both a joke and informal bet with a buddy, I attempted to go an entire workday without speaking. Other service members I worked closely with would come ask me questions and when I looked at them in silence they would not only answer their own freaking question, but answer it correctly. I would then nod to affirm and they would leave me be.
I ended up losing the bet, however. With only 10 minutes to go until liberty the monthly watch bill posted and I said "What the hell?" because I was surprised to be listed on it twice, which almost never happened to anyone at the large command I was at. It did turn out to be a mistake made by the watch coordinator. Regardless, my buddy was elated to win the bet last minute, but also somewhat shocked I had made it so long.
Anyway, the experience taught me exactly what the SDL is describing here. So many questions are retarded, needless, performative, or manipulative that they aren't worth answering. The post resonates.
Ray Shoesmith: “I don’t answer questions.”
Asking questions only comes off as intelligent when the speaker intentionally leaves out vital information as a check on the listener's understanding or attentiveness. Some teachers used this tactic to both engage and check the engagement their students.
Use AI for all your stupid gamma questions. Problem solved
Agreed. Why questions are the most annoying, especially at work.
“Why do we need to do it this way?” Usually the answer is “because that’s how it needs to be done.”
If clarification is absolutely necessary, “What’s the next step?” “How do I do this?” and “What is the customer hoping to accomplish?” are much better and more relevant questions to ask.
There's a lot of millennial and Gen Z adults becoming parents and quite often they will say that they won't use "because I told you so" to get their future children to do something and oh it was so frustrating that their parents didn't explain the reasoning behind parental decisions.
These parents are falling one by one as the child hits somewhere between 2 and 4 years old and they discover that there is in fact a good reason for parents to say "because I told you so" and it's delightful to see.
Very annoying on a conference call where a decision needs to be made and someone decides fill the air with their vanity question of the moment.
In my work I can't really avoid addressing stupid questions, so I entertain myself by providing content-free answers. Most of the time the performative answer is enough to get the questioner to shut up and go away. It's also a good primary sort, as the people who actually want to know something stick around and ask follow-up questions that actually want answers.
(Edit: ooh, 2 actuallys in one post. I need to de-stupid my own text I think...)
Thank, content free and performative answers brought back memories of dealing with an uninvited NPR reporter at a DC GRO Crystal City meeting. Confirmed my view of the uselessness of NPR other than as a tool. And how the DC establishment uses and manipulates the media real time.for their own purposes. Clown world is real.
Often enough in my experience somebody who could and should know better asking a ton of questions is just burning up daylight and sandbagging to avoid actual productive tasks.
I'll make exception with new hire low level apprentices asking a lot of questions, but there comes a point where I have to say "If I died in my sleep and it were all up to you, what would you do?
Big boys eventually need to behave as such.
From the great Patrick O'Brian:
“Yet there were times when Stephen happened to be alone with her and she spoke in her earlier manner. From some context that he could not recall Stephen had mentioned his dislike of being questioned: ‘Question and answer is not a civilized form of conversation.’
‘Oh how I agree,’ she cried. ‘A convict is no doubt more sensitive on the point but quite apart from that I always used to find that perpetual inquisition quite odious: even casual acquaintances expect you to account for yourself.’
‘It is extremely ill-bred, extremely usual, and extremely difficult to turn aside gracefully or indeed without offence.’ Stephen spoke with more than common feeling, for since he was an intelligence-agent even quite idle questions, either answered or evaded, might start a mortal train of suspicion.” 15-Clarissa Oaks (The Truelove), ch.3, paragraph 58
Robinson Crusoe might be an adequate Gamma Instruction novel. He failed many times in doing things, and had no choice except to do them and find out. He came to repent his prideful ways. He had to learn from Friday and came to see him as an equal partner.
And since his parrot only repeats what he says, he could hear himself.
"But what were you thinking when you said..."