Saturday, April 19, 2014

Why I'm Afraid of Questions

"Before I refuse to take your questions, I have an opening statement."
-Ronald Reagan

Q: Do you want chicken or fish for dinner?

A: I like chicken, but we had chicken last night.  We should each more fish, but all we have is the frozen battered kind.

Q: Do you want to go to a movie?

A: I like going to movies.  But we three videos at home we've been meaning to watch that are free.  We haven't gone to a movie in ages.

Q: Which shirt do you like better?

A: The red one is fun, kinda fun and funky.  The blue one brings out your eyes.


All of these are actual conversations that I've had many times in the past, and it drives those conversing with me absolutely batty, because I am psychological adverse to giving a straight answer to a question. I can't do it.

I don't mean to be this way. I know it's maddening. I'm not even completely certain why I do it.  In part I think it's because I'm deathly afraid of conflict (well, I used to be, I've gotten better, which is why it didn't make it as my "C" word).  I am terrified I'm going to give the wrong answer, or an answer the poser doesn't want to hear, and thus they will be mad at me.  A lot of problems and conflict in my life comes from trying to avoid problems and conflict.

I hate being wrong. Drives me nuts. I especially hate being reminded that I'm wrong, so another reason I don't like answering questions is because I'm afraid someone will hold me to my answer.

Yeah, it's cowardly. I know that. Are you surprised?  I'm writing a list of 26 things I'm afraid of, here...

6 comments:

Birgit said...

Sometimes I can answer a question pretty fast and other times I must ponder it and hate that I have to decide

Kathe W. said...

hilarious dialogue! were you at our house?

J Lenni Dorner said...

Wow. Those answers would drive me nuts. Maybe. Then again, my spouse tends to answer 80% of my questions with silence, figuring that I'll just select whatever answer I was hoping for or something.

Is it as bad with yes no questions? (I realize that I just asked a question, and now probably have you in fear... whoops, sorry.)

Stopping by from the #atozchallenge !
@JLenniDorner

C.D. Gallant-King said...

The longer you have to think about it, the harder it is to answer. Usually best just to say "no" and then revisit later if necessary.

C.D. Gallant-King said...

I can neither confirm nor deny that I am watching you right now...

C.D. Gallant-King said...

Yes and no questions are equally as bad. You would think that with only two options, I wouldn't have an out, but I'll always have to slip a "but" in there somehow.

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