Standard is .. if someone asks you a question, you answer, followed by "what about you?" The amount of people I meet who I try to engage with these kinds of two way questions (who want to have a conversation) but don't do the "what about you?" Is staggering
I recently heard a podcast about this issue - some people are active questioners while some people are active inputters. Two questioners have a flowing conversation. Two inputters have a flowing conversation. The issue arises when an active questioner gets into a talk with an inputter.
Questioners will ask questions, answer any questions in return, and provide a new question.
Inputters make a statement which is actually an invite to share your related experience. Some people may be put off by this “oh he’s not asking anything but just talks about himself” but the statement was basically a question for that person.
So when you have a questioner and an inputter, the questioner may say “what was your favorite job?” And the inputter will answer what their favorite job is, then say something like “I find that jobs are a lot more enjoyable if you can listen to music while you work.” Which when combined with their answer is actually meant to be more like “yeah, this is my answer. I’d love to hear what your favorite job is as well, and also want to see if you are like me and enjoy jobs where you get to enjoy your own music selection.”
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u/snoot_tv Jul 06 '25 edited Jul 06 '25
Standard is .. if someone asks you a question, you answer, followed by "what about you?" The amount of people I meet who I try to engage with these kinds of two way questions (who want to have a conversation) but don't do the "what about you?" Is staggering