If a question asked doesn’t carry a disclaimer stating it's for information only, should one view the question as having something personally to do with the OP?

WTH…are you talking about?

Think “Someone is confused and bewildered” but don’t know whom it might be.

You pose an interesting point. I think it depends greatly on how the question is worded and if there is a trend of those types of questions from a certain user.

So my friend has this problem and….” No, they don’t, this question is about you.

That said one could ask questions they’re just curious about then again, if it’s something you’re so curious about as to ask a question about it, how does it not affect you personally?

@El_Cadejo That said one could ask questions they’re just curious about then again, if it’s something you’re so curious about as to ask a question about it, how does it not affect you personally?
It doesn’t affect me because I am detached from the situation the question is about. For instance, say someone asks why or what cause some people to get so furious driving in rush hour traffic. They may be asking because a friend, coworker, uncle, etc. always fly into a rage when driving in stop-and-go traffic. The OP might not have a job that requires them to drive in stop-and-go traffic therefore, having no concept what it is about it that makes some people so pissed, so they ask. Some people assume it is the OP having a problem with rush hour traffic or road rage when it has nothing to do with them, thus it has no effect on them because the person getting pissed are not getting pissed at them, and they are not being caught in traffic; it does not involve them personally.

I agree with @El_Cadejo. It depends.

There is time when a question is asked and then it receives responses like: “The fact that you ask this means…” although I’m not really sure if there is really a background story behind the question. I think sometimes people can misunderstand the nature of the question.

It may not be directly pertaining to a situation in the OP’s life, but every question and response, even the fantastical ones and the ones just for fun, will give some insight as to the personality of the poster.

Hey, some people ask question after question on the same type of topic. After a while, it becomes apparent that that person has some kind of personal issue with the topic. One question can totally be given the benefit of the doubt, but a dozen questions? A dozen dozen questions? Probably not.

Also, sometimes when stories about “a friend” or “an article I read” are embarrassing in nature, or when the OP seems to have too personal a stake in the story, then it sounds like that person is making up the “friend” in order to talk about themselves. This is so common a trope that it occurs in most sitcoms eventually.

@dappled_leaves One question can totally be given the benefit of the doubt, but a dozen questions? A dozen dozen questions? Probably not.
If a person post 2 dozen questions about sex in varying connotations, they have an obsession/frustration with sex?

For some reason ETPro’s incessant religion questions come to mind. I never did understand why he kept doing that.

^ Same name came up but uneding kinky sex questions.

I missed those. I usually don’t tap into NSFW questions. Glad I missed them!

I often used to come across instances of the “I have a friend who…” when I was working on a crisis intervention phone line in the seventies. It seems that no matter how anonymous the situation, some people still have a need for another layer of anonymity.