Have you ever read a question on Fluther and have not been able to figure out what the OP wanted to know?
Asked by
Kardamom (
33529
)
April 14th, 2017
Sometimes I read questions, sometimes multiple times, and simply can’t figure out what the OP wants to know. Sometimes I ask a question to get clarification, but sometimes that backfires and I get angry retorts back from the OP, or I get no further information.
I’m not trying to be a jerk, but sometimes I just don’t know what they’re asking, usually because the Q is poorly written (and doesn’t get sent back for revisions) or it is too vague.
Feel free to link some examples of Q’s that you thought were difficult to determine what the OP was really asking.
I honestly can’t think of one right now, but I know it’s happened multiple times. Sometimes I just shake my head.
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14 Answers
Huh? ~
Seriously, though, there are plenty of questions that are asked in confusing ways. Ideally, they get sent back to the asker for clarification, but that’s only going to happen if a moderator notices or if the question gets flagged. There was at least one jelly who seemed to ask convoluted questions on purpose. But most of the time it’s just people having trouble expressing themselves—which isn’t all that surprising when you consider the fact that they are usually asking about something they don’t know about. Getting the question right is the first step in getting an answer, but that first step can be a doozy.
I can think of a couple of members that have questions that . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
when posted the OP still didn’t know what the were asking.
Yes, and I have a vague memory of an avatar glorifying a nuclear holocaust.
Yes. Many times. But I won’t link to any example. I don’t want to make anyone feel bad.
But I start to notice this trend: when a question is confusing, it’s because the OP has very specific preference for the kind of answers they want, if we exclude those newbies with not-so-great grammar and that person @SavoirFaire and @Brian1946 are thinking of. Those kinds of people seem to either have the answer they want and just need confirmation or want some pity lurve. They get angry when you ask for clarification because they are thinking only in their viewpoint, and of course in their viewpoint they know more than you.
Sorry if I sound like a jerk, but it is my observation.
There is a question that was just asked today, a relationship question. It was confusing to me because it was poorly written. I responded that I’m having trouble understanding it. I just wrote that so the OP has not yet responded.
There is another Jelly who will write long story type posts with lots of quotes and it seems like an opportunity for story telling but not much of a question. I usually don’t have time to read posts like that.
I feel a bit bad for guessing who you’re all talking about
Yes, I’ve seen those. Either it’s the bad grammar/construction of the question, or it’s intentionally twisted and made to be confusing as much as possible (like the already mentioned Jelly).
I’m sorry, could you repeat the question please?
It happens with mind numbing routine.
@johnpowell, I don’t understand the confusion with that particular question. It looks pretty straight forward to me.
@johnpowell note to moderators: Please don’t delete this question. I have a feeling it can lead somewhere interesting.
I’m going to learn this for future use ~
There is a difference between those questions which are confusing due to the questioner’s unfamiliarity with English, and those questions which will never make sense in ANY language. The latter drive me up the wall, as I become even more agitated from the realization that my reaction isn’t rational.
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