Any questions?
@katcarneo (1433)
Philippines
July 18, 2012 7:27pm CST
Oftentimes, my nostrils flare in annoyance and I bite my lips when in a meeting or seminar at work because of the kind of questions certain people ask.
For example, while in a seminar conducted by our new health care provider explaining to us employees the benefits and coverage of our package, a subtopic mentioned was the limitations of it. The insurance company will not cover expenses one has obtained from participating in extreme sports, the powerpoint slide says. One person raises his hand and asks "If I play basketball and twist my ankle, will I be covered?" What a time waster! Since when did basketball become an extreme sport?
At another seminar explaining to us employees the Team Leader Apprenticeship Program for those aspiring leaders, the powerpoint slide showing the qualifications of potential apprentices shows "must have been employed in the company for at least six months" as number one. Someone raises his hand and asks "I've been here for only four months, can I not participate in the program?" DUH.
At a meeting our supervisor told us to come to work in business attire the next day (we don't have a dress code at work and we usually come in casual wear) because there will be visitors from other countries who are potential clients. One person asks "Can I wear jeans?" WAAAAH.
Any such experiences wanting to strangle someone for asking a such questions?
1 person likes this
3 responses
@ratyz5 (7808)
• Philippines
19 Jul 12
I have been in situations like that, when someone clearly stated something that isn't as confusing or difficult to understand and then someone would just have to ask a question which obviously isn't in accordance with the previously given statement.
There is no harm in asking, yes indeed, but when the question can already be answered with common sense, the person asking the question would just make himself or herself ridiculous. If it were more technical, or a question being inquired upon couldn't really be answered due to the statement presented before didn't really provide clarification, then by all means, questions should be welcome and entertained.
Whenever I present something and a question gets asked which can easily be answered with the presentation that I have been showing, I would often start my answers by saying, 'If you were listening..' or 'If you were paying any attention a while ago..' but if I really don't mind showing the obvious, I would just answer plainly. Perhaps a follow question would come up and the initial question just happens to be needed.
@katcarneo (1433)
• Philippines
19 Jul 12
"... a question being inquired upon couldn't really be answered due to the statement presented before didn't really provide clarification, then by all means, questions should be welcome and entertained."----Exactly. This is why presenters ask "Any questions?" To address concerns, ideas, or inquiries that are unclear. I completely hate it when people ask questions with obvious answers or when they could've figured out the answers themselves, had they only thought about it some more.
If I were asked such questions, I'd probably reply as you have, pointing out that this has already been mentioned and why in the world are you asking it again? This is one of the reasons why I didn't apply for the TL Apprenticeship program although I am eligible, and to the best of my knowledge, qualified. I would hate to be asked such questions and will probably not be able to respond without flaring my nosttrils and biting my lips in annoyance.
1 person likes this
@ratyz5 (7808)
• Philippines
19 Jul 12
We can't avoid these kinds of situations or people for that matter. They simply have to ask questions which the corresponding answers are already obvious. Perhaps if they were taking down notes, they'd somehow understand and wouldn't really bother to ask questions during the presentation but ask them anyway right after when things have been completely presented.
I guess you really have to tolerate those kinds of people every now and then. Shows your strength in dealing with people who would be annoying and can just simply test your patience. Not being easily distracted with trivial inquiries but even use them to further emphasize points to consider that are within the presentation.
@katcarneo (1433)
• Philippines
19 Jul 12
I often say I ah highly tolerant of people's quirks, and that is true, It is just that this is the thing that annoys me the most. Maybe some people do not like it when others smoke, or speak too loudly, or dress provocatively, but for those things I couldn't care less. But when someone asks a question with an obvious answer, or an answer that was just previously mentioned, I go grrrrrrr!
1 person likes this
@Raine38 (12250)
• United States
19 Jul 12
Some people just can't help their big mouths or their smart aleck-iness. That or they just want some attention. Or they're trying to be funny which, will give them attention. Face-palming questions like that can be deliberately asked if, for example, it's all meant to be as a joke. But of course, there are lots of instances that questions like these are uncalled for.
Every organization will always have these kind of people, we'll never get rid of them. But if they're obviously doing more harm than good, like in your example, dragging a seminar instead of helping it be understood and wrapped up, someone should be able to shoot him down in flames. Not too much, just enough to make him/her realize that that isn't the time for antics.
One experience I had was when this particular guy who Just got highlights is trying to be smart or funny or whatever. The presiding officer in that meeting announced the office's total plastic wrapper ban. This guy asked, but when we get home, we can already use plastic, right? The presiding officer said "You shouldn't have gotten those highlights, the chemicals shrunk your brain".
FTW! :)
@katcarneo (1433)
• Philippines
19 Jul 12
Hahaha so much win! Two of the people I mentioned earlier, who are quite consistent with asking these senseless questions, seem to do it for the reasons you mentioned---to be funny or to draw attention to themselves. However, the other one seem to be so serious in asking the questions that sometimes it is really so hard to decide whether he is trying to be funny or he is just plain stupid. Of course we don't want to call anybody like that, but sometimes it is hard to resist saying that in my head.
@katcarneo (1433)
• Philippines
19 Jul 12
My partner and I always have a good laugh about these things afterwards. While in the meeting I get very much annoyed, but later when I retell the story it gets funny. Especially when I re-enact the facial expression I make when people ask such questions. My friends have a good laugh at the flared nostrils, haha.
@Raine38 (12250)
• United States
19 Jul 12
I'm with you in that, in my head they have already suffered all the name-calling that I could think of to the best of my colorful vocabulary haha! But then people like this make up for good dinner time stories with the family. It's either you just laugh it away or be uptight if we let these affect us much.
