What do you do if someone asks you the same question fifty different ways?

[redqueen]

Of course, fifty is an exaggeration... it's more like five, but still. I want to punch this guy so bad.

[Dr. Strange]

1. Who is it?

[redqueen]

2. My stinky co-worker.

He bathes in cologne. I want to tell him it's probably better to just shower every day... but that'd be rude.

[Dr. Strange]

5. Ah, that sucks.

Who was asking you all those questions?

[redqueen]

6. Dude.

x(

[BurtWorm]

3. What is one version of the question?

[redqueen]

8. How do I use this phone to dial a 408 number?

It went like this:

stinky: "Uh, how do I use this phone to dial a 408 number?"

me: "Just dial 9, then 1, then the number. Unless it's an internal number, then you just dial the extension."

stinky: "Well it's an (company name) number, so do I need to dial a 9?"

me: "No, just dial the extension."

stinky: "Well, it's on our VOIP system, but it's in another country. Should I still dial the 9?"

me: "Why don't you just try it and see?"

stinky: "So I should try it with the 9 first?"

me: "Might as well."

stinky: "So do I dial 9,1, or 1,9?"

me: "First you dial the 9. Then you dial the 1. Then you dial the area code. Then you dial the number."


This is the third conversation like this today. :banghead:

[BurtWorm]

15. Does he have a traumatic brain injury by any chance?

Seriously, it sounds kind of like conversations I've had with someone with TBI. You can think you're losing your own mind.

[redqueen]

16. Don't think so.

Could such a person function in a high level sales position?

[BurtWorm]

19. It depends how severe the damage is.

I work with a lot of people who've had severe injuries, and TBI often goes with the territory. But whereas some people's TBI is obvious--their compulsion for minute precision can drive anyone up a wall--others' are more subtle. You won't notice the person skipping over a whole bunch of details in a story, but suddenly you're not sure they're telling the same story anymore.

I'm not Bill Frist, so I wouldn't presume to diagnose this guy for you. I will say, he sounds annoying.

[Bucky]

22. So what was the right way to dial out?

Also, what can he do to get an outside line? That could also be helpful. Shouldn't you be helpful?

[Symarip]

4. "I want to punch this guy so bad."

Problem solved.

[redqueen]

12. He looks soft.

I think I can take him.

[eyepaddle]

7. I usually have a little fun with it and throw in nonsense answers

after two or three times.

Just ask him if he likes colored hats or something.

[Haole Girl]

9. Do we work in the same place?

:rofl:

[redqueen]

11. Hahahaha...

If so, you have my sympathy. :)

[Haole Girl]

18. To answer your question,

here are some of my coping mechanisms, when someone asks the same thing many times over:

1. If my explanation was unclear, which part was confusing to you?

2. I'm not sure how else I can explain this.

And, finally, when those may not work,

3. Are you hearing me? (yep, sometimes it takes that, unfortunately) :-(

[Iggo]

10. "Your dad told me your mom and your sister do it exactly the same."

That should shut him up.

[caitxrawks]

13. my husband does this.

"Babe, do you think we have enough money to do Such and Such?"

"Yeah, sure. You make the money."

"But are you sure you're sure?"

"Yeah, Babe."

"I'm just stressed. Do you think we have enough?"

"YES, DEAR."





-.-

[Inchworm]

14. I have "bosses" doing this

I am starting to view them as obstructionists. Each big question needs to go to a monthly board meeting for a "proper" answer.

It is so dang stupid if you ask me.

My question is basically, "Do you want more money coming in from donations?"

Four months later. The answer is still, "What do we need to do to go one step further? Why, explain."

s.t.u.p.i.d.

:hi:

[TZ]

17. I get asked the same question fifty times the same way

here at work, often. Makes me batty. We don't seem to communicate well sometimes...:banghead:

[RainDog]

20. something to think about n/t

[Bucky]

21. I suggest punching that guy so bad.

[pitohui]

23. you mean like a police officer?

i just keep answering the question the same way every time until he gets damn sick and bored and wanders off looking for easier meat

treat them the same as you would treat a parrot or an alzheimer's patient, with respect but not with any serious expectation that you can reach a deep understanding/discussion with them

if it's a co-worker, i won't presume to guess whether he has TBI or prodromal alzheimer's or who knows what, i just assume that stupid can't be cured and that i will have to continue to patiently repeat myself so it isn't any diff. from how i handle the cop/parrot/etc