# Simple questions and non-responsive answers **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 20, 2008, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956 "2008-05-20T11:36:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/1 "2008-05-20T11:36:53Z")
[For reference.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=468606) Why is it, if I start a thread with a sentence like this. “If you were given a choice of having all the buildings in the world painted the same single primary or secondary color, what color would you choose?”, I am guaranteed to get the following types of responses: “Invisible” “Red and blue” “Rainbow” “Paisley” “I would let everyone choose their own favorite color” “I once saw this house that was painted a cross between pink and puce-I’d pick that color” “Could you define ‘color’?” “Could you define ‘Building’?” And so on, ad nauseum, ad infinitum. What is it about the need of some people to game the system, no matter what they are doing? If I ask a simple question, I’d like an answer that pertains to that same question, not some sort of “clever” workaround or rewording of the question. Is that too much to ask? ---
**Author:** ![atomicbadgerrace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@atomicbadgerrace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/atomicbadgerrace)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/2 "2008-05-20T11:41:53Z")
I call these “Ralph Wiggum answers.” Ralph: (Whispering) Lisa, what’s the answer to number seven? Lisa: (Whispering) Sorry, Ralph. That would defeat the purpose of testing as a means of student evaluation. Ralph: (After a pause) My cat’s name is Mittens. ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/3 "2008-05-20T11:49:07Z")
Your question in that thread was particularly badly phrased, hence the need for people to get further clarification. That the discussion didn’t go in the direction you intended because you didn’t define the question properly isn’t the fault of other people. The question you pose in _this_ thread is straightforward enough to understand and can be answered, the other one wasn’t (what does “to make any already established religion reality for the rest of time” even mean?) and I don’t think it’s a fair comparison. ---
**Author:** ![Omegaman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e480ec/32.png) [@Omegaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omegaman)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/4 "2008-05-20T11:54:07Z")
Sounds kind of like that “Think outside the box” shit gone wild. Almost every single day I call one of parts drivers and ask “How long before you get to so and so?” And I’ll hear “Well I’m on Sahara and Las Vegas Blvd”. I just shake my head and call them back “Could you be a little more specific, you know like " LOOK AT A FUCKING CLOCK, DUMBASS!!!”. O.K., so that’s what I want to say but you get the picture. It wastes both of our times by the other person being a dork. I’m really quite patient with the drivers for the most part. Yelling at workers is uncalled for at the least and unproductive at the worst. God, I’m glad we have a pit here so I can vent! ---
**Author:** ![atomicbadgerrace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@atomicbadgerrace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/atomicbadgerrace)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/5 "2008-05-20T11:56:10Z")
[QUOTE=Illuminatiprimus] (what does “to make any already established religion reality for the rest of time” even mean?) [/QUOTE] Whoosh? I thought it pretty straightforward. Take any established religion, and its tenets become truth. It becomes fact. ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/6 "2008-05-20T11:58:22Z")
Surely the whole point of a religion is that you believe that its tenets ARE truth - if not why are you supporting it? And wouldn’t the obvious answer be “the religion that I follow”? And if you don’t follow one, why would you pick one? Or am I just gaming the system here? ---
**Author:** ![atomicbadgerrace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@atomicbadgerrace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/atomicbadgerrace)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/7 "2008-05-20T12:00:12Z")
[QUOTE=Illuminatiprimus] Surely the whole point of a religion is that you believe that its tenets ARE truth - if not why are you supporting it? And wouldn’t the obvious answer be “the religion that I follow”? And if you don’t follow one, why would you pick one? Or am I just gaming the system here? [/QUOTE] IMO, you’re gaming the system. I think his intent was clear-- you don’t have to think too much about it. No excess thought needed. Just. pick. a. religion. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/8 "2008-05-20T12:28:54Z")
Can’t we discuss what color Hitler would have selected? As to the REAL OP, well, I would refer you to the term “herding cats”. Consider yourself fortunate anyone replied at all. BTW, this thread led me to reply in the linked one. You probably won’t like my answer. ---
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/9 "2008-05-20T13:16:12Z")
Here’s what I would say: it’s a reaction against the arbitrariness of the hypothetical question. Why only one color, for example? Yeah, yeah, I know, it’s your question and you should get to dictatorially define the parameters. Still, there’s a natural counterreaction that says, “Who died and made _you_ king?” ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/10 "2008-05-20T13:25:25Z")
Hitler? Hitler was an amazing painter. One day, he could paint a house. Two coats! ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/11 "2008-05-20T13:25:53Z")
[QUOTE=Illuminatiprimus] Your question in that thread was particularly badly phrased, hence the need for people to get further clarification. That the discussion didn’t go in the direction you intended because you didn’t define the question properly isn’t the fault of other people. The question you pose in _this_ thread is straightforward enough to understand and can be answered, the other one wasn’t (what does “to make any already established religion reality for the rest of time” even mean?) and I don’t think it’s a fair comparison. [/QUOTE] Bullshit. Which word were you having trouble with? Single? Established? Religion? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/12 "2008-05-20T13:32:54Z")
> [@](#): > > What is it about the need of some people to game the system, no matter what they are doing? If I ask a simple question, I’d like an answer that pertains to that same question, not some sort of “clever” workaround or rewording of the question. > Is that too much to ask? On _this_ Board? Yes. Dopers don’t take directions well, but they Play Well With Others. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/13 "2008-05-20T13:38:57Z")
[QUOTE=E-Sabbath] Hitler? Hitler was an amazing painter. One day, he could paint a house. Two coats! [/QUOTE] Yes, he originated Blitz painting, where the exterior paint was dropped by dive bomber. And later the interior was done by paint balls and paint grenades. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/14 "2008-05-20T13:44:20Z")
[QUOTE=Boyo Jim] Can’t we discuss what color Hitler would have selected? As to the REAL OP, well, I would refer you to the term “herding cats”. Consider yourself fortunate anyone replied at all. BTW, this thread led me to reply in the linked one. You probably won’t like my answer. [/QUOTE] You didn’t exact say _which_ established religion you would pick that would fulfill your need to destroy everything, though. Other than that, I’ve got no problem with your answer-I’m trying to conduct a poll of sorts, not a debate. ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/15 "2008-05-20T13:46:45Z")
I think it’s as simple as people getting far away from the question in their head and then typing their thoughts. I’ve typed long thoughtful responses about what I would do in the situation described in an OP, only to reread the OP and recognize that it doesn’t ask what we would do, only if we would do what’s described. It could also be that it’s a kneejerk reaction to the idea that a thread that just read: …One color [ul] [li]Red[/li][li]Orange[/li][li]Blue, naturally[/li][li]Red[/li][QUOTE] Orange [/QUOTE] +1 [li]Purple[/li][li]Yellow[/li][/ul] doesn’t tell the whole story. People want to tell you WHY they want Yellow, or why your parameters are too limiting. As for your other thread, I am very religious, and do in fact suspect that many people would be a lot happier if they were to embrace my particular faith. You didn’t ask about individual religions or faiths, though. The God to whom I pray is the “God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers…” and therefore the same God as that of a whole lot of monotheistic religions. I figured my answer wouldn’t be interesting, or add much to the discussion. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/16 "2008-05-20T13:47:56Z")
Why…uh…not? Really, it’s cause most of us think too much. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/17 "2008-05-20T13:50:11Z")
[QUOTE=Czarcasm] You didn’t exact say _which_ established religion you would pick that would fulfill your need to destroy everything, though. Other than that, I’ve got no problem with your answer-I’m trying to conduct a poll of sorts, not a debate. [/QUOTE] Well, I don’t actually know of any religion with that set of beliefs. Can I make one up, and give it a name? Um, everybody believes in logic and the application of scientific principlesto problem solving, there is no god or afterlife, and life’s meaning is whatever we make of it here on earth. Let’s call it Scientology! Oops,… ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/18 "2008-05-20T13:52:10Z")
[QUOTE=Boyo Jim] Well, I don’t actually know of any religion with that set of beliefs. Can I make one up, and give it a name? Um, everybody believes in logic and the application of scientific principlesto problem solving, there is no god or afterlife, and life’s meaning is whatever we make of it here on earth. Let’s call it Scientology! Oops,… [/QUOTE] I really hate to get snippy, but I think I’ve covered that response several times already-_single established religion_. ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/19 "2008-05-20T13:53:07Z")
[QUOTE=Boyo Jim] Well, I don’t actually know of any religion with that set of beliefs. Can I make one up, and give it a name? Um, everybody believes in logic and the application of scientific principlesto problem solving, there is no god or afterlife, and life’s meaning is whatever we make of it here on earth. Let’s call it Scientology! Oops,… [/QUOTE] Actually what you’ve got there is the core of Satanism. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/20 "2008-05-20T13:56:03Z")
[QUOTE=Sal Ammoniac] Here’s what I would say: it’s a reaction against the arbitrariness of the hypothetical question. Why only one color, for example? Yeah, yeah, I know, it’s your question and you should get to dictatorially define the parameters. Still, there’s a natural counterreaction that says, “Who died and made _you_ king?” [/QUOTE] I don’t really get this. It’s natural to get defensive and change the parameters to any question? Wouldn’t that kind of make this place useless? It already makes it frustrating sometimes. I think, as it was stated earlier, that it’s all about people wanting to be clever and “deep”. Pfffffft. Just answer the question as posed. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956.md?page=2)