(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . When we want to know what we don’t know, ask questions [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2023-10-28 To quote a U2 song title: “And I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”. All well and good, I s’pose. But, what if we don’t keep at it? And, keeping at it means asking the right questions. It’s at this juncture that I need to insert another song quote, this one coming courtesy of British rock band, the Animals, the verse in question being: “Oh Lord, please don’t let me be misunderstood.” So, one time my two employers and I got into a discussion and one of them went on and on about an entirely different person, noting how rude individual D was, the one boss then proceeding to write that person off as a jerk. As you’d expect, that conversation hadn’t run its course. It went further. The one boss then, as if to be seemingly engaged in deep introspection, wondered if all rude people were jerks. Not your at-work typical fare, but okay, I’m game. I’ll engage. And so I said the first thing that entered my mind, which was: “Steve Martin’s a jerk and he’s not rude” (at least I don’t think he is), hoping, obviously, to get a laugh. Quite to my surprise and maybe dismay, the two just looked at each other and reacted as if I was being serious. In the immortal words of singer/songwriter Phil Collins of the group Genesis: “There must be some misunderstanding.” Fitting. Don’t you think? Which, I think just goes to show that sometimes it’s difficult to tell with some people just what their reactions will be, how they interpret what it is we’re trying to communicate and probably the reason behind our questioning something. And, speaking of people not “getting it,” that’s nothing unusual: It happens all the time. And, whenever we “don’t get it,” that’s a cue to ask questions. What this thread today is all about. So, what to do when asking a question and not getting the answer being sought? Well, in my book it’s okay to pose that same question to that same person a second and, a third time, if need be. The whole point of our asking questions in many but not always all cases, is to get information, to get the facts, the lowdown, scoop, story, etc. End of story? Heavens no! Some, meanwhile, insist on getting from others information they already know; their doing so if for no other reason than to hear the queried give confirmation. This is common practice and happens in law/legal and journalistic circles. The tactic is employed if/when one is trying to get at the truth of a matter. There’s nothing wrong with a lawyer or reporter doing that. It is a part of the job and process that can and does get messy at times. Okay, so now turning attention to ordinary people in going about their ordinary lives, the reality is: If/when ordinary people don’t understand an answer, such shouldn’t just say “okay” and then just move on to the next matter. One should be encouraged or want to ask the same question again. And, if that doesn’t do the trick, then resorting to possibly rephrasing or wording the question differently. I would ask: “Why not?!” Especially, if the inquiry bears fruit. So, I talked about part of a reporter’s job being to ask questions to ascertain the information being asked of the so-queried. As a journalist, when I send an email to — or call — a prospective contact or source, I hope I get a response. In that department, I strike out sometimes, to use a baseball metaphor. When this happens we sometimes compensate by saying something to the effect of: “Although I (we) reached out, so-and-so could not be reached for comment.” It may be journalists’ one regret, but it is what it is. What can I tell you?! The rhetorical question Rhetoric — there’s plenty of that going around these days — and the rhetorical question is almost always inserted to drive home a point. The person asking is not looking for an answer per se. The missing “why?” Finally, I think people in too many situations neglect to ask that all-important “why?” question. The “why?” question is designed to get additional information. There are so many times when I wish someone would have just gone that extra mile and asked me why I did what I did. When they don’t take that opportunity, my reaction? Don’t you even want to know?!! I think Billy Beane (played by actor Brad Pitt) when conversing with right-hand man Peter Brand (played by Jonah Hill) in the movie Moneyball perhaps said it best. Beane responded to Brand’s interrogation having to do with why Beane abruptly ended a call with a fellow baseball type, Beane’s response to Brand being: “When you get the answer you’re looking for, hang up.” End of story, now? This time, yes! [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/10/28/2202161/-When-we-want-to-know-what-we-don-t-know-ask-questions?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=more_community&pm_medium=web Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/