Acquaintances who never ask questions

Marv Malone

Member
Location
midwest USA
Do you have friends or people you talk with who never ask you a single question? I know a few, neighbors and a manager I am friendly with. Are they just polite and have no interest in you or me? I have known them for years and I like their company maybe because I'm lonely. I don't volunteer much information about myself to others, maybe that's why.
 
Do you have friends or people you talk with who never ask you a single question? I know a few, neighbors and a manager I am friendly with. Are they just polite and have no interest in you or me? I have known them for years and I like their company maybe because I'm lonely. I don't volunteer much information about myself to others, maybe that's why.
I do... and I always think it's very strange... I don't know whether it's becuse they're just no interested or if they're just too self absorbed... but it's odd that they can be in my compny for sevral hours sometimes and just never ask anything about me...
 
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I'll take the other side of this and be the "acquaintance who doesn't ask questions." So unless someone is real close to me, why would I not ask questions? Basically because so many people now get so stinkin' offended at insignificant things, that you never know what their reaction would be. I could ask a question and hear "stay in your lane and don't be so nosy." (which happened to my cousin.)

Frankly it's just easier (and safer) to let them tell you what they want to without questions that could be considered probing. 'Tisn't like it was 20-30 years ago. 🄺
 
I'll take the other side of this and be the "acquaintance who doesn't ask questions." So unless someone is real close to me, why would I not ask questions? Basically because so many people now get so stinkin' offended at insignificant things, that you never know what their reaction would be. I could ask a question and hear "stay in your lane and don't be so nosy." (which happened to my cousin.)

Frankly it's just easier (and safer) to let them tell you what they want to without questions that could be considered probing. 'Tisn't like it was 20-30 years ago. 🄺
for me I'm not talking about strangers asking personal questions...I'm talking about people who are family members....
 
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I seldom ask questions. If you want to say something about yourself you do it and if you don't you don't. I was on a forum. Just immediately started to talk and lol the owner berated us and said that we had to ask questions and be welcoming to new people. There was an Australian guy. He was like nope. Me too. Culture is similar, I have the idea. You don't force someone to ask questions.
 
Do you have friends or people you talk with who never ask you a single question? I know a few, neighbors and a manager I am friendly with. Are they just polite and have no interest in you or me? I have known them for years and I like their company maybe because I'm lonely. I don't volunteer much information about myself to others, maybe that's why.
If you don’t volunteer much time information about yourself then they probably figure that you do not wish to share. There’s such a thing as keenly interested and then there’s asking too many personal questions. If someone wants you to know information about yourself, you can probe the conversation with subtle questions. If you don’t get a friendly or open response , that ā€˜Usually’ means ā€œMind you own business.ā€
 
Do you have friends or people you talk with who never ask you a single question? I know a few, neighbors and a manager I am friendly with. Are they just polite and have no interest in you or me? I have known them for years and I like their company maybe because I'm lonely. I don't volunteer much information about myself to others, maybe that's why.
This reminds me of a Poker game, keeping one's cards concealed until the other player(s) make their play.
 
What you don’t know can’t be used against you in court - Uncle Vinny the Knife.

I had a coworker who talked constantly usually about herself. I finally learned to ask some inocuous question that would get her going for a long time. I then busied my mind with various things I had to plan my day around while she chatted on and on and on about herself. I don’t think she ever caught on to my lack of attention to her chatter, or cared anyway.
 
This is the story of my life. I had never thought about as @CallMeKate said, that it's a reluctance to offend people. I think in my case,, though, when people don't ask me questions, they just don't find me interesting enough.

I heard that it's one of the tests that you can do if you're trying to figure out if someone considers you a friend or not, if they never ask you questions, they probably don't consider you a friend.
 
I have two important people in my life that rarely ask questions or volunteer information but when they do it’s important to listen carefully and pay attention.

I don’t volunteer much information about myself unless I feel that it has some benefit to the person that I’m with.

I tend to clam up when I feel that I’m being pumped for information or I’m with someone that is gossiping about the people in their lives. I always wonder what the gossips say about me when they move on to their next information sharing session. šŸ˜‰šŸ¤­šŸ˜‚
 
If people are interested in you or me they will ask questions, and they may initiate too.
My sisters had very little interest in my life. Except when obliged to.
So this guides my thinking. Friends ask questions even if they don't care...
but neighbors and casual acquaintances, rarely or never. Perfunctory. But my neighbor
has known me over 20 years, we talk, but he still doesn't know much about me. An oddball
he is and looks like he's homeless but isn't. He may be like that with everyone. Females are different because if they know I
"Like" them, and they are married, they are coy, reticent to talk much to me. Afraid I'll get the wrong
idea. Hey, I am more than a generation older, anyway. My mood really lifts talking with em.
I am reserved, even online, and I can't change that.
 
I have one aquaintance that never asks personal questions and has a very limited vocabulary and doesn't offer much in the way of conversation.

Other aquaintances I have ask me all kinds of personal crap but if I ask them questions I am being nosy and they get rather snotty about it.

I think it's weird that people have a problem with getting to know one another anymore. Instead of getting to know someone they talk at you instead of with you.
 
If people are interested in you or me they will ask questions, and they may initiate too.
My sisters had very little interest in my life. Except when obliged to.
So this guides my thinking.
Ah. Now I understand. My sister didn't talk to me much, because she's 10 years older and who's gonna hang out with a little kid when you're 16 and rather hang out with your friends and boyfriend. Because of that I always had the feeling that female colleagues were not interested in talking to me. I did not have that with men, because my older brother always hung out with me. When I realized this I found out that my female colleagues are really sweet and we get along great. I also get along way better with my sister now.
 
My neighbor’s youngest son, who just moved away, would ask me questions about being a pilot. After he graduated from high school, he is now attending a university in Tennessee studying aviation. I suggested he go into the military and if he qualifies, they will teach and train him for free, instead of blowing away over a 100 Grand. He wasn’t interested in the military.

I used to go to career day at high schools, which I think have faded away now, but I would get lots of questions. I especially tried to recruit the young girls and people of color because the aviation business is in need of more diversity. I tried to persuade them to qualify through the military because it’s not cheap getting through the requirements.
 
My father is like this, will often talk about himself but almost never asks how I'm doing. I finally just gave up. I let him talk. It makes me sad, though; I can't imagine not being interested in what is going on in my own children's lives.
Both my parents were like this, the parents of all my friends growing up were like this, can't imagine what it would've been like to be different; portrayals of happy families have always been like fairytales to me.
 
Andre Van Duin - But otherwise everything goes well

Good morning
Good afternoon
How are you doing?
Well let's not talk about that.
How come?

My wife ran off with my best friend
My boss fired me last month
I didn't earn a penny last week
That's not much
but I may not complain for the rest
although
The baker doesn't deliver anymore until I pay him

The man from the garage took my car back
my bike was stolen so I have to walk
but otherwise everything goes well
although
My dog has given birth and my cat is rutting
my sister has a friend and is now in her last days (pregnant)
My brother fell down the stairs and broke his wrist
but I may not complain for the rest

Although recently with the storm the tiles flew from the roof
exactly at the moment when, in the kitchen fire broke out
I run to the kitchen and twist my foot
but otherwise everything goes well
although

A tax collector with an assignment
suddenly stood at the door, I will have to ask for postponement
creditors keep ringing at the door bell
but I may not complain for the rest
although
My mother comes to stay and she takes her sisters with her
when I bent over this morning my glasses fell into the toilet

My fiancƩ came to tell me that she should marry
but otherwise everything goes well
although
The cat almost stitched in a piece of cat bread
My father was caught drunk in his car
My dog almost got run over when I called him
but I may not complain for the rest
although

I have to go to the hospital with a broken leg
that was because of a fight with my girlfriend her husband
she's back with him but I couldn't care less
but otherwise everything goes well

Yeah I thought I'd ask how you were doing.
Yeah I thought let's answer.
I won't do that again.
No please don't do that anymore.
But for the rest all goes well?
Yes for the rest all goes well.
Oh luckily, that's enough for one week isn't it?

La-la-la
But for the rest
everything is okay
For the rest all goes well

although..
 
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