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Questionable Queries: Navigating the Quirks of Curmudgeon Psychology

What is one question you hate to be asked? Explain.

As a psychologist, I am inquisitive, curious, and genuinely intetested in asking certain key questions of people. However, there exists a repertoire of questions that make my inner curmudgeon cringe – the eye-roll-inducing, pro forma inquiries that dance on the line of insincerity. “How do you feel?” many ask, as if emotions can be neatly packaged into a soundbite. Oh, the irony of asking a psychologist if they really care about feelings.

Then comes the perennial puzzler, a question that refuses to retire: “Where are you from?” Despite proudly donning the metaphorical “I’m a New Yorker” badge, the relentless pursuit of my origin story persists. Perhaps I should start replying with, “I hail from the land of being asked the same question repeatedly.”

And let’s not forget the geography quiz that seems to haunt me: “Do you need a passport for Puerto Rico?” No, Puerto Rico isn’t a secret realm; it’s a bona fide part of the U.S.

Now, the pièce de résistance – the ever-curious, occasionally intrusive, “What are you thinking about?” Ah, the beauty of zoning out, lost in a mental meadow where thoughts need not be herded. Sometimes, my mind is an empty stage, and asking about the inner workings feels like demanding an encore when the curtain has fallen.

In a twist of irony, my son mirrors my sentiments. He, too, bristles at the onslaught of questions, declaring my well-intentioned inquiries an “interrogation.” Well, if two questions constitute an interrogation, call me the unwitting detective of domestic dialogue. Oh, the joys of sharing a household with a fellow question-repelling son.

6 replies »

  1. Perhaps A Most ‘Ridiculous (MANY COME)
    Question’ i Get in Life is ‘Why Do You Dance’

    That Answer Is Simple Dear Miriam Hehe ‘Why
    Don’t You Dance’ And

    Refer Them Back

    to the Guardian’s

    of the Galaxy Movie

    As the Next Question i Might

    Ask ‘Them’ is Why Are’t You Happy?

    Not Unlike Bugs Bunny i Don’t Mind
    Answering

    Questions

    Hehe ‘What’s Up Doc
    Or Better Put Elmer Fudd
    At Least according to the
    Local Demographic Who

    Still Can’t Discern a

    Lie from Truth

    Or a Con Man

    From Sincerity
    With Empathy to Boot…

    YET WHAT DO YA expect
    From Folks Who Believe a
    God Is Inerrant WHO Directs
    A Story Book Dude Called Moses
    to Do A Genocide in a Short Story
    Called ‘Numbers 31’ Saving the Close

    to Puberty 32,000 ‘Virgins’ Indentured as ‘Raped Slaves’

    There is No
    Question that
    the Human Condition
    Overall Is Not Rational

    All We Can And Will Do
    is Create Greater Stories
    With More Respect and
    Less Harm to Bond and Bind Over With SMiLes…

    Yet that’s Gonna take More Than Suffocating
    X-Twitter Breaths…

    Happy Hang
    Over From
    Lies ‘Nutty Wednesday’…

    Gotta Answer Be A (Or Bird)
    Squirrel Yes Make it my World..:)

    Like

  2. iN mY 5 Years of Visiting EacH And Every Day
    1 Day Yes 2 Days Even More Rare 3 Days

    i Do Believe Never Although THere is
    Still Space Left in the Day Or Perhaps

    Time if You Flow Back ThiS Way

    Before Midnight of Course

    Dear Miriam Anyway

    i Notice Change

    And i Look Forward
    to Your Highly Inspiring
    Writing Soon Again With SMiLes…

    And Do Note Per the
    Post i am Still Replying
    to Regarding Questionable
    Queries i’m Not Asking Why

    Just

    Basically

    Hi and
    Your
    Absence
    is Surely Noted

    By

    -me..:)

    Like

  3. The only one I have that bothers me is “Are you related to Amelia?” and we don’t even spell our last name the same way (she’s Earhart, I’m Ehrhardt). After approximately 92,000 times, the question has lost its charm, if it ever had any.

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