Post what you're thinking right now.

[Callaway]

Does she say that she don't know because she genuinely doesn't know, or because she can't (or doesn't want to) explain it? I know the latter to be true with my son, in many cases, and I know I've used it more than once myself.

I'm not sure, but I think that she probably doesn't know.  She is pretty literal, so if she knew but could not explain it, I think she would probably say that instead, since sometimes she gives reasons that make no logical sense to me for other things she has done.

For example, when she snatched her grandmother's glasses once years ago, she said they made her grandma look sick, which made no sense to me.

[odeon]

My son sometimes gets very frustrated and stressed when we ask him something. Clearly he knows the answer but the idea of having to respond overwhelms him.

[Parts]

My son sometimes gets very frustrated and stressed when we ask him something. Clearly he knows the answer but the idea of having to respond overwhelms him.

I get that way too   Sometimes I just can't talk

[Pyraxis]

I hate being asked "What do you want?" and variations on it as an open ended question. Like "What do you want to do today?" or "What do you want to eat?"

It's much easier to answer something like "Would you rather have spaghetti or curry?" or "Do you want to go to the store today?"

[ozymandias]

I hate being asked "What do you want?" and variations on it as an open ended question. Like "What do you want to do today?" or "What do you want to eat?"

It's much easier to answer something like "Would you rather have spaghetti or curry?" or "Do you want to go to the store today?"

Agreed, give me a specific choice, not a question that I will probably guess wrong because the person asking me is thinking something differently.  If I'm going to step off the precipice at least let me know what choices of bottom I'm aiming for! 

[Christopher McCandless]

My son sometimes gets very frustrated and stressed when we ask him something. Clearly he knows the answer but the idea of having to respond overwhelms him.

Is he too young to have mastered the art of waffle yet?

[Christopher McCandless]

I hate being asked "What do you want?" and variations on it as an open ended question. Like "What do you want to do today?" or "What do you want to eat?"

It's much easier to answer something like "Would you rather have spaghetti or curry?" or "Do you want to go to the store today?"

The top 3 normally get a round of witty sardonism when I can be bothered to try answering them. Though the worst questions tend to involve emotions. "So, what makes you happy". I havent got a quick answer that avoids questions yet for that one...

[Pyraxis]

LOL, "What makes you happy?" would get a "does not compute!" from me, unless it was one of a select few people in particular circumstances. But that kind of question doesn't get asked a lot in casual conversation, in my experience.

[Christopher McCandless]

LOL, "What makes you happy?" would get a "does not compute!" from me, unless it was one of a select few people in particular circumstances. But that kind of question doesn't get asked a lot in casual conversation, in my experience.

Nope it doesnt get asked in that, which is why I dont have an good answer for it yet. But college welfare asked it to which I gave a very vague response... :S

[Peter]

LOL, "What makes you happy?" would get a "does not compute!" from me, unless it was one of a select few people in particular circumstances. But that kind of question doesn't get asked a lot in casual conversation, in my experience.

Nope it doesnt get asked in that, which is why I dont have an good answer for it yet. But college welfare asked it to which I gave a very vague response... :S

Why did they want to know?  If you said that a yacht would make you happy, would they give you one?

[El]

I hate being asked "What do you want?" and variations on it as an open ended question. Like "What do you want to do today?" or "What do you want to eat?"

It's much easier to answer something like "Would you rather have spaghetti or curry?" or "Do you want to go to the store today?"

Agreed, give me a specific choice, not a question that I will probably guess wrong because the person asking me is thinking something differently.  If I'm going to step off the precipice at least let me know what choices of bottom I'm aiming for!  

Lol, I motherfucking hate being asked vague questions, or having vague instructions, for that matter.  Is it a dysfunction or an overfunction, though, that I have trouble saying something so general it's not really meaningful?  I have to wonder if people who like to give succinct but at least partially inaccurate answers are able to do so more through apathy or stupididty than talent at simplification.

LOL, "What makes you happy?" would get a "does not compute!" from me, unless it was one of a select few people in particular circumstances. But that kind of question doesn't get asked a lot in casual conversation, in my experience.

If asked, look the questioner right in the eye, and say, with a totally striaght face, "Setting kittens on fire."  They won't ask again.

[ozymandias]

I hate being asked "What do you want?" and variations on it as an open ended question. Like "What do you want to do today?" or "What do you want to eat?"

It's much easier to answer something like "Would you rather have spaghetti or curry?" or "Do you want to go to the store today?"

Agreed, give me a specific choice, not a question that I will probably guess wrong because the person asking me is thinking something differently.  If I'm going to step off the precipice at least let me know what choices of bottom I'm aiming for!  

Lol, I motherfucking hate being asked vague questions, or having vague instructions, for that matter.  Is it a dysfunction or an overfunction, though, that I have trouble saying something so general it's not really meaningful?  I have to wonder if people who like to give succinct but at least partially inaccurate answers are able to do so more through apathy or stupididty than talent at simplification.

LOL, "What makes you happy?" would get a "does not compute!" from me, unless it was one of a select few people in particular circumstances. But that kind of question doesn't get asked a lot in casual conversation, in my experience.

If asked, look the questioner right in the eye, and say, with a totally striaght face, "Setting kittens on fire."  They won't ask again.

Now that is an answer!   I wish I was that bold to say it!   

[Pyraxis]

I have to wonder if people who like to give succinct but at least partially inaccurate answers are able to do so more through apathy or stupididty than talent at simplification.

Little of both?

If asked, look the questioner right in the eye, and say, with a totally striaght face, "Setting kittens on fire."  They won't ask again.

 
I wish my wits worked that fast IRL! I so have to try that. It would even almost be true.

[ozymandias]

I hate being asked "What do you want?" and variations on it as an open ended question. Like "What do you want to do today?" or "What do you want to eat?"

It's much easier to answer something like "Would you rather have spaghetti or curry?" or "Do you want to go to the store today?"

Agreed, give me a specific choice, not a question that I will probably guess wrong because the person asking me is thinking something differently.  If I'm going to step off the precipice at least let me know what choices of bottom I'm aiming for!  

Lol, I motherfucking hate being asked vague questions, or having vague instructions, for that matter.  Is it a dysfunction or an overfunction, though, that I have trouble saying something so general it's not really meaningful?  I have to wonder if people who like to give succinct but at least partially inaccurate answers are able to do so more through apathy or stupididty than talent at simplification.

LOL, "What makes you happy?" would get a "does not compute!" from me, unless it was one of a select few people in particular circumstances. But that kind of question doesn't get asked a lot in casual conversation, in my experience.

If asked, look the questioner right in the eye, and say, with a totally striaght face, "Setting kittens on fire."  They won't ask again.

To be fair, in my nursing training I was trained to ask "open ended questions" to develop a good patient profile.  I believe this true in Psychology as well.   Letting or leading the patient/client to supply more info than a direct question, answerable by a simple yes or no answer.  Now, then we separate the professional from the unprofessional.  "What makes you happy?" from some interviewer for me applying for a nursing position would set my alarm bells ringing.  Because I don't suffer fools, and I like to see fools suffer, BUT, a nursing job interviewer would not see the humor in that and might consider me a threat.  If this was asked me by someone I casually knew or was somewhat friendly with, I think I would snort derisively and return the question back at them or say, "Why do you ask."

In private and with people I don't know or trust, I prefer to keep my thoughts to myself.

[ozymandias]

I have to wonder if people who like to give succinct but at least partially inaccurate answers are able to do so more through apathy or stupididty than talent at simplification.

Little of both?

If asked, look the questioner right in the eye, and say, with a totally striaght face, "Setting kittens on fire."  They won't ask again.

 
I wish my wits worked that fast IRL! I so have to try that. It would even almost be true.

Yes, my wits don't always work at lightning speed.  But, then PMS Elle does have open mike Comedic experience.  That would certainly sharpen ones repartee.