What Are You Looking For?

People ask questions. That's what we do. I ask questions to myself. I ask questions to others. I have questions asked to me.

On its face, we ask a question because we are searching for an answer. Makes sense, doesn't it? That's what we learn in school. That's what we learn by observing as a youngster. But in actual experience, we find that isn't always the case.

Have you ever been asked a question and, when you answer, the other person is upset? The asker may be angry or may disagree or argue with you. This person didn't want an answer; they wanted a confirmation. They already knew what they wanted to believe, and they simply needed to hear an outside person say the same thing (but they couldn't tell you that because you had to agree with them without knowing that you were agreeing with them).

There are so many things one might look for when asking a question. It could be information (what day is it?), confirmation (this was a good story, right?), deception (do you think I can't tell you're lying when you do that?). And with rhetorical questions, they may not be looking for something from you, but wish to instill thought within you.

Writing is about questions. Life is about questions. There is so very much out there and questions are how we find things. But before you ask somebody a question, ask yourself: What am I looking for? (And before you answer somebody else's question, ask them: What are you looking for?)