TYPES OF PEOPLE WHO ASK QUESTIONS

Questions are important part of our lives. These helps us explore things around us, it provide clarity and satiates our mind when in doubt and uncertainty. However, I happened to be irritated by people who misuse questions. I bet you also know someone who is of this kind or somehow you encountered this even once in your life. 

I encountered a lot of people who ask questions. I saw them at home, classrooms or schools, seminars, workplace, and places where there are discussions. Based on my experience and my friends’ experience, I was able to classify the types of people who ask questions. Here they are:

SMAG (Smartass who Brags). This is a type of person who asks questions to elevate himself from the listeners and to impress them. Most of the time, he has prepared answers to his own questions. Usually, he will provide his own answer after the speaker finished answering the question. Revealing his own answer takes two forms: One, he provide an answer to his own question to show the lack of substance of speaker and two, to show his dissatisfaction to the speaker. This type of person has narcissistic tendencies. He tends to be right at all times and he wants to show to others how smart or great he is. Your nod and approval gives him a sense of worth. When you hate him, he will view it as a good indication that he is effective. Your hate means you envy him because he is great. 

Of all the types, this one and the mixed-type (which will be introduced later) really annoy me big time.

Source

Whippersnapper. From the word itself, it is a young and inexperienced person who considered being overconfident. This type of person asks questions to brag themselves that they know better than you do. The difference between SMAG and whippersnapper is the former is smart while the latter does not actually have enough mental inclination. This one just have cocky attitude and has a tendency to argue with the speaker. Better leave this person because you will only waste your time. 

The Skeptics. This person asks questions to validate what they know. He is skeptical for sometime but there is always room for him to accept someone’s viewpoint. He usually asks questions for the benefit of the doubt. He loves to interact, give additional details to the speaker’s answers, and loves to share ideas. He is eager to learn new ideas. The only problem that you might encounter with this person is he do not accept easily your ideas, you must provide proofs to persuade him. 

Naysayers. No matter what you said or do, your answers are not enough. This is an individual who asks questions for the sake of opposing your ideas, not for the sake of truth. This person just loves arguments.

The Just-Folk. This person marked an absence of understanding of the topic. He does not really know any information that you just have said. He asks questions for the sake of understanding the topic. You can also call him cumulative type. You have to repeat what you just have said to imbed the information in his head.

The Great Pretender. This person ask question just to let you know that he is listening when in fact he is not. Usually, the questions asked was something you already mentioned. Beware of this person, he is only trying to cover up his lack of attention to the topic by asking off topic questions or nonessential questions. So aside from asking questions that were already mentioned, this person is marked by an absence of appropriate facial reactions, excessive nods when you are talking, hollowed look or pretense eye contact (looking at you but seemed thinking about something else), and excessive uh-huh after your statements.

Awkward-Breaker. This one asks questions to have an interaction with the speaker. This person just asks questions to get your attention and to break the silence. It is uncomfortable to have a deafening silence. Questions are also a way of getting your attention that someone is still listening although the questions raised by this person are nonessential. 

The Mixed-Type. Of all the types, this one is the most annoying. You really don’t want to encounter this type of person. You are unfortunate to have an interaction with this type. This type of person is a combination of smag, whippersnapper, and naysayer. Yes, you are really in trouble with this person. Hahaha. But don’t lose hope, my friend. This is only a challenge! Better keep silent and try not to argue with this person because you are not alone to notice that there something wrong with him! If you keep silent and avoid arguing with him, you’ll see that it will be better. People who listen to you and to this type of person will see you more positively than the one who acts aggressively towards you. 

I hope you enjoy this post. These are my own observations across situations. It is not a legitimate theory or any other personality disorders. Again, these things are not actually accurate because they are only part of my experience. 

Leave your comments below. I will highly appreciate your response and love to hear also your experiences.