Have any of you ever known someone who asked a lot of questions? Not the occasional “What about blah blah?” type thing. I'm talking full-blown FBI interrogation. I don't mind a question or two that's no big deal. I do mind when we are no longer having a conversation and it feels like I'm taking a pop quiz.
At first I thought it was just an odd personality quirk on my part. I'm discovering that isn't so. I'm starting to notice many people are annoyed by rapid machine gun type questioning. I've even started to notice that half the time these people know the answers to some of these questions. Yet, they ask anyway. Why? What's wrong with them? Do they not know that they appear not all that bright when they ask stupid questions? Here is a perfect example:
Person 1: I'll be leaving early today. I'm taking the kids to Hurricane Harbor.
Person 2: Oh, really? What time are you leaving?
Person 1: 2:00
Person 2: Will you be coming back to work?
SAY WHAT? Why? What is the point of that question? Just once I really wish someone would answer instead of just staring mouth agape. Sometimes I wish it had been me that was asked. I could have come up with something creative. I love a good opportunity to let my little creative light shine. How about this? “As a matter of fact, I am coming back. I'm just dropping Myles off at Hurricane Harbor. Yeah, he's only 3, but he really needs to learn how to fend for himself. We're not even going back to pick him up. Bob and I thought it would be a nice break until he turned up again. If he doesn't make it back, we can have more…no big whoop.” I bet that would slow down the interrogation considerably. I could even follow that with “What? What's my next question? Come on give me your best shot. That was just a warm-up answer.”
Oh and how about these question askers during lunch? Yeah, I love that! Lunch is ruined, you know why? Because I'm not supposed to talk with my mouth full. My mom said so. Here is an example of how lunch goes.
Interrogator: What are you getting?
Me: Scandinavian Yak soufflé.
Interrogator: Is that good? I've thought about trying it. Have you had it before? What did you think? What seasoning do you use on Scandinavian Yak?
Me: Uh-huh, hu-huh, mmmm, oregano.
Interrogator: Do you think I'd like it? Is the meat tender? What is that with the meat? Is that a turnip? Have you ever had a turnip? Aren't they related to the radish? I think turnips and radishes are third cousins, don't you? Is it good?
Me: Uh-huh, uh-huh, parsnips, no, no, not sure about the phylum, order, genus, species for turnips or radishes, I already answered that.
WOW! I can't deal with that. It's stressful! If I want to answer a bunch of questions, I'll have lunch with Alex Trebek and Pat Sajak, AT THE SAME TIME! Betcha I'll answer less questions.
