I don’t like dishonest, indirect questions. I don’t like questions that are prompts and set ups. I don’t like it when people talk about one thing but are digging for another. Job interviews and dating is a common setting for fake, meaningless questions.
I appreciate questions that are direct and genuine. A relationship where the other party doesn’t ask any questions can be, well questionable. They probably aren’t interested in you as a human being, what you want and what you have to offer. They are likely digging for info that signals you might suit their agenda and needs. They could just ask questions about that but they don’t want to state what that really is and how you would fit into it. Questions reveal something about the person asking.
Some people avoid asking a direct question because they don’t want a direct answer. They don’t want to give the person they’re talking to the opportunity to tell their story and speak on their own behalf. Some people don’t ask questions because they don’t want to listen to what is being said. If they listened it wouldn’t be as easy to create their own narrative and project their preconceived notions onto an individual.
Honest, meaningful, open communication can be hard to come by. American culture in 2026 is based on scamming, selfishness, stinginess, pettiness and snobbery. A lot of people prefer to project a narrative onto another instead of seeking and accepting the truth and the terms of the other party. This is done to degrade others and bolster one’s own image and status.
Getting to know others and accepting them as individuals takes objectivity, respect and humility. Selfishness, prejudice and biases need to be laid aside if both sides are to be considered and you are seeking a mutually beneficial relationship. Very few people look for mutually beneficial relationships. They seek to gain as much as possible while giving as little as possible. It’s the American way.
Getting to know another requires trust and discernment regardless of the relationship. This statement applies to friendship, family, professional, neighborly and romantic connections. The traits for good communication are often lacking in this modern, petty, scammer society.
Shannon's Life in the Midwest 
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