Not answering is the best answer June 23, 2007 9:45 AM Subscribe
I like that this AskMe question doesn't have a "correct" answer, and yet most all the answers so far are spot-on.
Great point, the current somewhat simplistic definition of "helpful" is problematical and limits potentially best answers. It's essentially a context limiting approach wherein the wider context of a question is not allowed to be addressed. If someone asks for suicide advice we might want to say "don't do it" rather than "use a gun". A too literal-minded rules interpretation could disallow the latter answer as off-topic (perhaps even moralizing?) and not immediately useful to the poster. Interesting.
posted by scheptech at 10:01 AM on June 23, 2007
posted by scheptech at 10:01 AM on June 23, 2007
I have been trying to start a rebellion against the Jabbas. This is just the leading point of the wedge.
posted by The Deej at 10:29 AM on June 23, 2007
posted by The Deej at 10:29 AM on June 23, 2007
Maybe the author didn't think they were helpful or correct. Regardless s/he is anonymous and can't mark an answer as best, which may just explain it.
posted by milarepa at 11:06 AM on June 23, 2007
posted by milarepa at 11:06 AM on June 23, 2007
I don't think there's any reason to assume the OP doesn't think they are helpful or correct. Mister Crash's point is that many of the answers, such as mine, don't really seem to answer the question directly, which is usually frowned up. Yet the "incorrect" answers really are the best ones.
However... even those of us who may appear to have not answered, technically have answered correctly.
Q- "...he's asking me to bring in things so he gets a better idea of who i am. What should I bring?"
A- Bring in things that will help him get a better idea of who you are.
This reminds me of a set of questions I was asked in a leadership conference. We all had to write our answers, then share it in front of the rest of the group.
"Who are you?"
"What do you want?"
No further clarification was given. That was a very difficult assignment.
posted by The Deej at 11:24 AM on June 23, 2007
However... even those of us who may appear to have not answered, technically have answered correctly.
Q- "...he's asking me to bring in things so he gets a better idea of who i am. What should I bring?"
A- Bring in things that will help him get a better idea of who you are.
This reminds me of a set of questions I was asked in a leadership conference. We all had to write our answers, then share it in front of the rest of the group.
"Who are you?"
"What do you want?"
No further clarification was given. That was a very difficult assignment.
posted by The Deej at 11:24 AM on June 23, 2007
"Mister Crash's point is that many of the answers, such as mine, don't really seem to answer the question directly, which is usually frowned up. Yet the "incorrect" answers really are the best ones."
Yeah, that's what I was saying. It's just an interesting data point.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 11:38 AM on June 23, 2007
Yeah, that's what I was saying. It's just an interesting data point.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 11:38 AM on June 23, 2007
This reminds me of a set of questions I was asked in a leadership conference. We all had to write our answers, then share it in front of the rest of the group.
"Who are you?"
"What do you want?"
God I hate going to those things. Really. I mean, the first one was useful, but every one since then has just parroted the same information in a different order. Either that, or it has flatly contradicted what the previous one told me.
How about this, you hired be because of my leadership background, right? How about you just let me do my thing. It seems to be working pretty well so far.
"Who are you?"
I'm quin.
"What do you want?"
Everything you've got. Start with the wallets and watches. Put them into the bag please. No really, I'm not kidding.
posted by quin at 11:46 AM on June 23, 2007
"Who are you?"
"What do you want?"
God I hate going to those things. Really. I mean, the first one was useful, but every one since then has just parroted the same information in a different order. Either that, or it has flatly contradicted what the previous one told me.
How about this, you hired be because of my leadership background, right? How about you just let me do my thing. It seems to be working pretty well so far.
"Who are you?"
I'm quin.
"What do you want?"
Everything you've got. Start with the wallets and watches. Put them into the bag please. No really, I'm not kidding.
posted by quin at 11:46 AM on June 23, 2007
The question is odd. I feel sorry for the OP. To me they are not comfortable with the task at hand. On a side note I miss all this. Hello.
posted by sjvilla79 at 11:46 AM on June 23, 2007
posted by sjvilla79 at 11:46 AM on June 23, 2007
"Who are you?"
"What do you want?"
I'm Pup. I want to go home.
They HATE that answer...
posted by pupdog at 1:39 PM on June 23, 2007
"What do you want?"
I'm Pup. I want to go home.
They HATE that answer...
posted by pupdog at 1:39 PM on June 23, 2007
"Who are you?"
"What do you want?"
Interesting. These were also the questions used to understand people by the Vorlons and the Shadows in Babylon 5.
posted by grouse at 1:40 PM on June 23, 2007 [1 favorite]
"What do you want?"
Interesting. These were also the questions used to understand people by the Vorlons and the Shadows in Babylon 5.
posted by grouse at 1:40 PM on June 23, 2007 [1 favorite]
grouse
It's also the standard response when someone unexpected knocks on your door.
posted by Sangermaine at 2:04 PM on June 23, 2007
It's also the standard response when someone unexpected knocks on your door.
posted by Sangermaine at 2:04 PM on June 23, 2007
"Who are you?"
"What do you want?"
There's something Voight-Kampff-ish about those.
posted by Chrysostom at 4:03 PM on June 23, 2007
"What do you want?"
There's something Voight-Kampff-ish about those.
posted by Chrysostom at 4:03 PM on June 23, 2007
It's also the standard response when someone unexpected knocks on your door.
What kind of scary place are you from?
posted by dame at 4:18 PM on June 23, 2007
What kind of scary place are you from?
posted by dame at 4:18 PM on June 23, 2007
Goddam
posted by Aloysius Bear at 4:59 PM on June 23, 2007
hr tag stripping. You'll just have to imagine the intended large white circle in the previous comment.posted by Aloysius Bear at 4:59 PM on June 23, 2007
"Who are you?"
"What do you want?"
I'm a friend of Sarah Connor. I was told she is here. Can I see her, please?
posted by kisch mokusch at 5:05 PM on June 23, 2007 [1 favorite]
"What do you want?"
I'm a friend of Sarah Connor. I was told she is here. Can I see her, please?
posted by kisch mokusch at 5:05 PM on June 23, 2007 [1 favorite]
There's something Voight-Kampff-ish about those.
"Uh-- Uh-- I want to protect little creatures from ever feeling pain!"
posted by salvia at 5:19 PM on June 23, 2007
"Uh-- Uh-- I want to protect little creatures from ever feeling pain!"
posted by salvia at 5:19 PM on June 23, 2007
Holden: I mean, you're not helping. Why is that Leon? (pause) They're
just questions, Leon. In answer to your query, they're written down
for me. It's a test, designed to provoke an emotional response.
(pause) Shall we continue? Describe in single words, only the good
things that come in to your mind about: your mother.
Leon: My mother?
Holden: Yeah.
Leon: Let me tell you about my mother. (shot fired)
posted by exlotuseater at 6:07 PM on June 23, 2007
just questions, Leon. In answer to your query, they're written down
for me. It's a test, designed to provoke an emotional response.
(pause) Shall we continue? Describe in single words, only the good
things that come in to your mind about: your mother.
Leon: My mother?
Holden: Yeah.
Leon: Let me tell you about my mother. (shot fired)
posted by exlotuseater at 6:07 PM on June 23, 2007
dame, I'll be incorporating that into the standard series of questions from now on, asking each in a higher and more quavering tone:
[knock, knock]
Who are you?
What do you want?
What sort of scary place are you from?
Perfect.
posted by Elsa at 7:43 PM on June 23, 2007
[knock, knock]
Who are you?
What do you want?
What sort of scary place are you from?
Perfect.
posted by Elsa at 7:43 PM on June 23, 2007
"Who are you?"
"What do you want?"
What... is your favorite color?
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 8:02 PM on June 23, 2007 [1 favorite]
"What do you want?"
What... is your favorite color?
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 8:02 PM on June 23, 2007 [1 favorite]
What is the air-speed velocity of an unleaden swallow?
posted by nursegracer at 9:46 PM on June 23, 2007
posted by nursegracer at 9:46 PM on June 23, 2007
If you could be a tree... what kind of tree would you be?
posted by The Deej at 10:38 PM on June 23, 2007
posted by The Deej at 10:38 PM on June 23, 2007
Who are you?
What do you want?
What's your name?
Who's your daddy?
Is he rich like me?
/ or /
I'm me
Me be
Goddam
I am
I can
Sing and
Hear me
Know me
posted by carsonb at 11:15 PM on June 23, 2007
What do you want?
What's your name?
Who's your daddy?
Is he rich like me?
/ or /
I'm me
Me be
Goddam
I am
I can
Sing and
Hear me
Know me
posted by carsonb at 11:15 PM on June 23, 2007
"What do you want?"
Information.
And they said "Lights out"
And it was lights out
And they gave you your medication
I know what you want and you know what I want
Information
Information
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 5:44 AM on June 24, 2007
Information.
And they said "Lights out"
And it was lights out
And they gave you your medication
I know what you want and you know what I want
Information
Information
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 5:44 AM on June 24, 2007
Wow, this thread went from zero to silly in a hurry.
posted by deadcowdan at 6:15 AM on June 24, 2007
posted by deadcowdan at 6:15 AM on June 24, 2007
Not that I'm complaining, mind you.
posted by deadcowdan at 6:16 AM on June 24, 2007
posted by deadcowdan at 6:16 AM on June 24, 2007
My guess is that it wouldn't have mattered how you answered that question, because even if the OP had taken, say, that Epson Stylus CX5800 printer I might have suggested--you know, the one with the DuraBrite inks that clog the nozzles so you have to spend days on the phone and on Google Groups finding various futile possibilities for a solution, like ammonia and alcohols to dissolve the ink, all of which turn out to be a massive waste of time because you have essentially a $300 door stop (and couldn’t you have figured that out sooner and made better use of your time?)--the psychiatrist would ask why the OP would take the recommendation of a total stranger rather than bring something more personal, and they’d be away. So it's just a jumping-off spot, so to speak--unless, of course, the shrink had experience with one of those Epson printers and then they would go on about that for several sessions.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 10:01 AM on June 24, 2007
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 10:01 AM on June 24, 2007
My shrink.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 4:24 PM on June 24, 2007
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 4:24 PM on June 24, 2007
My shrink wrapped information around me instead of leaving it out to spoil like meat.
posted by cgc373 at 5:08 PM on June 24, 2007
posted by cgc373 at 5:08 PM on June 24, 2007
(What do you want?)
(What do you want?)
Zooropa...vorsprung durch technik
Zooropa...be all that you can be
Be a winner
Eat to get slimmer
posted by The Deej at 6:21 PM on June 24, 2007
(What do you want?)
Zooropa...vorsprung durch technik
Zooropa...be all that you can be
Be a winner
Eat to get slimmer
posted by The Deej at 6:21 PM on June 24, 2007
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posted by mr_crash_davis at 9:47 AM on June 23, 2007