I've noticed that people on ATS rarely answer questions. The majority of the time I ask a question, people respond with questions or rhetorical statements, or make wild assumptions about what I belive. Anything but answer the question. I recognize that deliberately ignoring your opponent and spamming your own rhetoric is sometimes an effective debate tactic, but it's seriously counterproductive when trying to have a meaningful discussion with someone.

Example 1:
Joe: OMG! THAT'S JUST WRONG!!!!
Me: What's wrong about it?
Joe: Are you kidding me? Don't you see it?

No. That's why I asked. Giving an answer like this is completely useless and just leads me to believe that Joe is an idiot who has no reason.

Example 2:
Bob: I believe X.
Me: Ok. Why do you believe X?
Bob: You're an idiot for not believing X.
Me: Excuse me? I'm not saying you're wrong, I just want to know WHY you believe X?
Bob: I believe X and anyone who doesn't is wrong.


I regularly see exchanges like this. There are very few people on ATS who are willing and able to answer a direct question.

Why is this?

Why do you ask, are you stupid or something???

I get this sometimes too, I just hate when they act like YOUR the one with the problem for not being able to see it their way, I just think their not able to put a proper response into words, so their forced to put up the Fifth grade defense.

Cali baby !

I think other boards are worse, but i know what you mean.

I've also noticed this.

When I ask what I consider to be a reasonable question then I'm am called various names.... My new favorite is disinfo agent.

Where do I sign up to get paid to ask questions?

What is it you want to know? Whose asking and why?

Generally, this is how it is when dealing with the public. It is like trying to herd cats! The question is not only misinterpreted from the beginning, but, instant fodder for an argument. Once you begin to deal with intelligence levels from the very stupid to the over educated, you'll end up with every kind of answer but the one you had hoped for.

This is why, I generally no longer ask anyone for their opinion, or thoughts on anything. What little sanity I have left, I'd like to hang onto...

I would guess because of two main reasons...

1. People state belief as fact, and when their facts are challenged by scrutiny or scientific truth they take it personally and become upset.

2. The average person is of average intelligence. Maybe they're just not as smart as you expect them to be.



[edit on 28-10-2009 by ImplausibleDeniability]

Originally posted by Jauqx
Why do you ask, are you stupid or something???

i was going to make that comment!!!

lol

people who cant answer questions simply dont actually think for themselves. therefore, they CANNOT answer questions.

It's because a lot of people here believe in conspiracy the same way that other people believe in religion.

The way their mind is wired... some people attribute all things to "God" that don't have an explanation (due to ignorance or whatever) and for the same reason, other people attribute it to "The powers that be (i.e. conspiracy)"

You can clearly see the parallel between "proof" that God exists because they saw a picture of Mary in a reflection or because their "prayers" were answered.. conspiracists use the same trite "evidence" for their beliefs as well: fuzzy pictures of UFOs, fabricated quotes from the internet, and the deliberate misinterpretation of information.

Just like asking a religious person "How or Why does God exist?"

Many people on ATS aren't going to answer your questions.

Originally posted by LordBucket

Why is this?

dont you see it? or are you one of those sheeple?



i think frankly, most the time they dont know the answer themselves.

about two weeks ago i was in a discussion in a thread here and i kept asking for what they meant by something tasting like "living water" and they kept telling me to imagine water that was alive and how it would taste.

they really have no clue themselves because they havent thought anything through.

or maybe its just that people assume something is some way just to have an opinion. they side with whatever their gut tells them.

Ask me no questions, I'll tell you no lies.

Do these jeans make me look fat?

Regards...KK

[edit on 28-10-2009 by kinda kurious]

Why can't people answer questions?

I suspect that in the middle of the discussion of a controversial topic, someone makes a post under the assumption that somebody on ATS is going to disagree with them. I think that is a safe assumption. Some people may be a little more sensitive to disagreement. Maybe bad experiences in the past.

Therefore, one reason some people might not answer questions is because they may perceive the questioner as attempting to initiate a debate using a Socratic questioning format. Very rarely do I see questioners state, "I'm not trying to start a debate with you, I'm really trying to clarify what you meant."

Socratic questioning over the internet is particularly difficult to deal with online because it takes a great deal of time, effort, and energy to engage in it effectively. There's also online avatar bravado/pride at work which may prevent some people from effectively answering questions in a non-defensive way.

I'm sure there are more answers, but this one popped in my head in response to your question. Hadn't seen "fear of Socratic debate" posted yet.

meep norp lok tu
lgren hoxen curr