Customer says inside of fridge that was just delivered is damaged. I ask if all the outer packaging was intact when it arrived. She describes the interior damage. This happens NINE times. I finally had to say, “I need a yes or no answer. Was the outer packaging intact when the fridge arrived at your home?”

“Oh. Yeah it was.”

Why? Why is that so freakin difficult?! It’s all day every day.

I don't need your life story. I need a one-word answer: "YES" or "NO." Sometimes it's like pulling teeth.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
I don't need your life story. I need a one-word answer: "YES" or "NO." Sometimes it's like pulling teeth.

Pulling teeth would be easier.

Another example:
Cashier, “Are you busy? I need an override.
(This person is on the other side of the store.)
Me, “Yes, very busy. Have you called persons A, B or C yet?”
Cashier, “I called D but got no answer.”
Me, “The question was whether or not you called the people I mentioned?”
Cashier, “Fine, I’ll call them!”


Fuck. Me.

Some questions do not lend them themselves to a simple yes or no. Many people expect yes or no answers to complicated matters.

People that are very good troubleshooters and problem solvers typically ask (a series of) "yes or no" questions to solve complex problems of the person presenting them.

I get this A LOT at work and at home. Drives me nuts. These people aren't paying attention - they are answering a question they want to hear, not the question actually posed. If I had a nickel....

It'll be 52 years this August that I've been living with this. Usually at the end of the looong answer I ask ,"So was that a yes or a no".

One of the things that I’ve learned is that most people don’t listen very well.

People have been conditioned to listen so they can respond rather than listen so they can understand.

I’ve yet to meet a person who could not answer a simple yes or no question.

I have met quite a few people whose answer to a simple yes or no question I did not like.

Don't question a Women.
Ask to speak to the Man of the house, then protect yourself.

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
Some questions do not lend them themselves to a simple yes or no. Many people expect yes or no answers to complicated matters.

You trying to start trouble around here? "Yes" or "No".

Sometimes, it's done intentionally. The more emphatic you are on getting a "Yes/No" answer, the more long-winded a response you will get, just to be defiant. Classic passive/aggressive behavior.

"Thank you senator, for your question. First of all, I would like to recognize that..."

Yes or no.... Have you stopped beating your wife yet?

These people trigger my inner Al Swearingen.

JUST ANSWER THE QUESTION!

I’ve got a person in my work group (reports to me) who does this incessantly. I count the number of times I ask a yes/no question during a meeting, as in:

“I will ask you a fourth time… it’s a yes or no answer.”

After receiving yet another word salad that isn’t an answer, I usually end the meeting. “You’re wasting my time and most likely everyone else’s.”

He’s a productive employee, but won’t answer any question that weakens his argument. Other people in the meetings often thank me for shutting him down.

He has a law degree, but this isn’t a court room. “You can’t use the 5th amendment here.”

“I will ask you a fourth time… it’s a yes or no answer.”

"Thank you, Mr. mttaylor1066 for asking me the question.

In my time as a productive employee and member of your workgroup, let me say that as a productive member of your workgroup, it is my intent to be a productive member within this workgroup at all times, especially when I am being productive, as well as being a member, within the workgroup..."

^^^^^^^^
Kamala? That you, Kamala?

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
I don't need your life story. I need a one-word answer: "YES" or "NO." Sometimes it's like pulling teeth.

The verbal diarrhea response to a simple, straightforward yes or no question is annoying.

Equally annoying is the asshole who repeatedly replies back with a question to a simple, straightforward yes or no question. I can understand a clarifying question or two, but some people are just endlessly asking questions in order to not provide an answer.

Konata got it right. They aren’t hearing the question. They are waiting to talk not to listen. I worked with a guy like that. I wanted to stick him in a room with a yes/no sign. It is so annoying.

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