Why do you want to know? I didn’t do anything!
When asked a question, what is your first reaction, to answer the question or to defend yourself?
Submitted 8 months ago by spiderwort@lemm.ee to [deleted]
Comments
hydrashok@sh.itjust.works 8 months ago
MrJameGumb@lemmy.world 8 months ago
Why would I need to “defend myself” if someone’s just asked a simple question?
leraje@lemmy.blahaj.zone 8 months ago
They’re linked aren’t they? If someone asks you a question they’re asking for why you hold a particular opinion, therefore simply by providing detail you’re defending yourself, or at least the opinion you hold.
spiderwort@lemm.ee 8 months ago
That’s plausible. A question is a demand. As surely as a rock falling towards your head.
Deestan@lemmy.world 8 months ago
To answer the real question: “Everyone lives just as full a life as you, they think just as deeply as you do. Sure, people are brand loyal and don’t think about things for themselves sometimes. But you, Mr. People Are Sheep, do the same thing, just in other areas of your life.”
As put by reddit.com/…/if_you_have_a_people_are_sheep_menta…
spiderwort@lemm.ee 8 months ago
I’ll just put you down for option B.
RightHandOfIkaros@lemmy.world 8 months ago
It depends on the question.
If the question seems to come from a place of genuine curiosity or if the person seems to be asking in good faith I usually try to answer the question to the best of my ability (and sometimes I might still try to answer even if its clear the pwrson is not asking in good faith).
If the question is obviously coming from a place of bad faith or is obvious the person asking doesn’t actually want an answer, sometimes I will still try to answer but most of the time I won’t even bother.
If the question is accusatory in nature, I will obviously want to defend myself if I am innocent of the accusation.
spiderwort@lemm.ee 8 months ago
Do you have something to hide?
RightHandOfIkaros@lemmy.world 8 months ago
I suppose I do have things to hide, but I don’t make an active attempt to try to hide anything I do or have.
As a side note, this is what I would consider a “bad faith question.” This is a question that you are asking as an attempt to hit me with some “gotcha” moment. If I answer “No,” then you say I am being defensive. If I say “Yes,” then you say I am lying. I may be dumb but I wasn’t born yesterday.
You don’t actually want to know what things I have to hide if I had any, and you likely don’t care. A person would respect other’s privacy and not ask out of that principle anyways, even if you were curious.
awwwyissss@lemm.ee 8 months ago
Why does your account have so many downvotes? Did you piss off the propagandists on lemmy.ml or something?
spujb@lemmy.cafe 8 months ago
to cry i don’t do well under pressure
Boinkage@lemmy.world 8 months ago
I don’t have to answer this! I didn’t do it! You’re the one who’s wrong!
oo1@kbin.social 8 months ago
Normally I like to treat questions like telephone calls; ignore them for as long as you can and hope they go away.
I guess that is basically defensive but maybe "passive defensive".
It's what I do to viruses too.spiderwort@lemm.ee 8 months ago
Simply ignoring a question is difficult for me.
I feel compelled to answer. And kinda literally. This has faded with time but still.
I’m trying to do it your way. It seems healthier. Especially in this place.
undrwater@lemmy.world 8 months ago
Clarify the question. Make sure I heard it correctly.
Nemo@midwest.social 8 months ago
It’s actually to look for ambiguity within the question, and answer the question in whichever way it could logically be taken farthest from the actual intent.
spiderwort@lemm.ee 8 months ago
Ya I’ve seen that one. Usually less innocent tho. More of a you are damned for even asking, kinda interpretation.
squid_slime@lemmy.world 8 months ago
Yes
dream_weasel@sh.itjust.works 8 months ago
That’s my purse! I don’t know you!
xmunk@sh.itjust.works 8 months ago
It depends on the question and asker - usually I’ll answer, sometimes I’m unable or unwilling to.
Taniwha420@lemmy.world 8 months ago
Not sure you’ve given us enough context. Why would I feel the need to defend myself when someone asks me directions.
I have a suspicion you’re asking if someone questions my actions or something.
Alice@hilariouschaos.com 8 months ago
I feel like people are yelling at this guy or something
spiderwort@lemm.ee 8 months ago
It might be an intelligence test. It might be a test to see if you are “in on the joke”. It might be a test to see which group you belong to. No question is innocent.
Brotherly@lemm.ee 8 months ago
Some guy on the street asked me if I knew where the nearby salad restaurant was. There was only 2 ways this could go. Either he wanted a salad for lunch. Or, as you suggest, he was testing me. Was I apart of this fabled salad group or one of the forsaken “others”? The pressure was on to say the least. I don’t normally believe in a higher power, but I said a quick prayer for help to get me through this challenge. I gathered all my strength and told him “just a block that way” as I pointed down the street. Now, I could only wait for what felt like a millenia. Finally, he let slip the words “cool. Thanks” as he headed in that direction. I think i passed his nefarious test. But the only thing I’m sure of is that I barely made it out of there in one piece.