Interrogatives. Interrogative or open-ended questions demand an answer and it's sometimes hard to reply without any thought, especially when combined with giving a personal preference, feeling, or opinion.

'Are you happy?' usually has a direct outcome - yes, no, or sometimes. 'What makes you happy?' is a different kind of question that might need a few moments of thought.

Let me think about that...

The respondent often buys thinking time by repeating the question and/or by using a few 'oohs', 'ums' and 'ahs'. If there's a quick and definite answer, it might be an indication that the question has been considered before, or is a sensitive one. Additional information from intonation and body language can help in clarifying the real meaning or feeling behind the answer.

Have I said too much?

Answering a personal question you are not prepared for can sometimes lead into deeper territory if suppressed feelings and thoughts are bubbling under the surface. The spoken word is a lot more spontaneous than the written word, and sometimes people give more information than intended, or become more intense or emotional when answering, something skilled interviewers are very much aware of.

Public figures, such as politicians and celebrities, get asked the same or similar questions all the time. They learn how to prepare, deflect, dismiss, or control their answers to maintain good public perception (or not in some cases).

Ooooh, that's a difficult one...

Questions around our own feelings and opinions, likes and dislikes, can be strangely tricky to answer. People don't always consider thought of 'the self' and spend time thinking about general perception in the outside world instead. Becoming inwardly aware, and taking the time to ask yourself a few questions from time to time can begin to explore what you really think about things.

I've never really given it much thought.

Consciously evaluating your thoughts and feelings through self-reflection can be an interesting experience, and helpful in developing conversation skills or a strategy for situations such as job interviews where these kind of open questions often occur. It can also help to resolve the 'don't knows' and 'not sures' in your own mind.

Candid. Wistful. Thought provoking.

The public's reaction to particular questions make for compelling viewing, and is a popular human interest theme with film makers. Come up with one question with personal connotations, and then present it to people on the street in a talking heads format.

You can sit back and watch as people around the world are subjected to this experience. It's an interesting insight and reflecting the questions with your own answers is a good way to start a train of thought.

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Matt Sheen MMXXI
mattsheen (at) webstar.tv

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