Why is it impossible for some people to answer hypothetical questions....?

Question

This is not just in regards to hypothetical religious questions, a woman had asked a question along the lines of,

"if you were homeless, what do you think you would want most."

an answer given said,

"I'd never be in that situation
I have always worked - sometimes 2 jobs to make sure I had a roof over my head"

That wasn't the question, while it is wonderful that the answerer has always worked and supported herself, why is it so hard for some people to step out of the neat little box that is their life and think about what someone in a different situation would feel or think?

My answer, was I was homeless and I wanted something to eat and something to drink. So yes I can understand the fear she may be feeling about that. It still doesn;t change the fact that she did not answer the question. My question was not phrased judgementally, so for the big long answer given by that chick, you are basically doing the same thing to me that you are claiming I did to her. Who's the hypocrite?

Answer 1

Not everyone is able to think in the abstract! Studies of left and right brain dominance
show some understand concepts, (left). Some people understand better when we "draw" a picture for them, (right)!

Answer 2

Judgmental much?

I don't think it is so much impossible so much as it is hard... As in it touches a soft spot.

I can see myself in there a little... which stings a bit to be called out... But not because I can't see things from another perspective, because I believe that in allowing yourself to see things from other perspectives there is always the chance that you can land yourself right into that same scenario. It is by relation that we learn... and by relation that we begin to become.

Birds of a feather flock together...

I'm sure that she must have a fear of it, and it showed in her strict denial and even total disregard for the question itself.

You never do know why people do and say what they do, but I can assure you there is almost ALWAYS a very good reason that isn't always readily apparent to the person outside looking in.

How do you know why? maybe you just can't relate to the fact that she may have been homeless as a child or be compassionate to the trigger your question caused? maybe she had a close family member who died on the streets (My uncle froze to death on the streets, he was an alcoholic and mentally ill). One never knows what things trigger soft spots in people or why.

Maybe YOU should try taking your own critique considering?

70% of hard working people in the USA today live hand to mouth and check to check... That is a very real fear to some. A fear that your question may have triggered their need to talk themselves out of in the here and now just to be able to deal with it.

We all use one another to relate and learn and teach... I believe that is more important than being able to detatch yourself and answer a question objectively.

maybe you should be a little more sensitive to that?

Answer 3

Because they have no interest in answering a given question directly, they only want to give you there opinions whether it relates or not.

Answer 4

But I consider it a legitimate answer, as, from their point of view, they would not allow themselves to spiral down into homelessness.

You should be prepared for answers like that