are FORCED TO BE NICE....you have to be..."some aquaintence asks you one of the rudest questions AT WORK???"..EX,,"DID YOU HAVE SEX WITH HIM??".now i have heard that asked of someone at work...i found it shocking and appalling!!! The poor girl was shocked!!! how do you answer that!!!????Now whether you did or did NOT...can you just answer...."wow!..that is a personal question!!!""""and try to walk away IF YOU CAN....or look away...it was horrifying!!!
2006-11-24 04:31:10 · 8 answers · asked by sweet 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
If that ever happens, smile, and ask: why do you want to know?
Then watch them struggle to come up with the reason for asking such an assinine question.
Most people ask embarrassing questions to deliberately discomfit someone, or put them down.
Toss the ball back, and watch what happens, its truly gratifying
2006-11-24 04:39:56 · answer #1 · answered by somebody cares 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
In all fairness, the poor girl may have been shocked but she could have been giving revealing information that would lead the asker to feel it was appropriate to ask such a question.
I do know there are quite a few nosey people out there and if the above wasn't the case the asker wasn't concerned about being "nice" when asking that sort of question in the first place.
You can be nice in return and get your point across that that wasn't an appropriate question in a polite manner.
You can smile and say, "I'm sorry, that's really none of your concern." Or, "I'd rather not answer such a personal question."
I work in a home for the aged and I have had one of the male residents flat out ask about my sex life. I very politely but firmly said, "That is an inappropriate personal question that I refuse to answer."
I have also snapped at a nosey co-worker while out on break. I was filling out papers for work that didn't have anything to do with her and she was asking way too many questions. I point blank told her it was none of her damn business and that I do not have to explain myself or my actions to her. She obviously left it alone.
2006-11-24 13:49:03 · answer #2 · answered by Ersabette 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't say a thing. Don't lose your cool. Don't blush nor squirm. Keep on working as if you are deaf. If they are at all aware, they will realize that you are ignoring the question. If they are totally clueless and ask it again, turn around very calmly, act a bit surprised and say "Oh, I'm sorry. I sort of heard something but didn't think anyone as nice as you usually are would ask such a thing." Then turn around and resume working. This way you aren't starting an argument, you haven't been equally as rude back so you have established that you are a lady.
2006-11-24 12:56:22 · answer #3 · answered by Wifeforlife 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I asked something like this months ago. Below is the link to the question I posed on yahoo answers and all the responses I got. I hope it helps you.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AoiRwdV1IzyYdqOIlpCKl._sy6IX?qid=20060725204940AAk0J7G
2006-11-24 12:38:38 · answer #4 · answered by Think.for.your.self 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can answer a question with a question that puts it back on them.
"Why would you want to know that?".
Let them fumble around for an answer to that.
Or, "I never answer personal questions from people I work with; please refrain from asking them in the future."
2006-11-24 12:47:17 · answer #5 · answered by Realty Shark 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've always liked Dear Abby's suggestion.
"If it were any of your business, you'd already know."
2006-11-24 12:49:33 · answer #6 · answered by blueprairie 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
"Is your life so boring that you need to know about mine?"
2006-11-24 17:20:52 · answer #7 · answered by sheeny 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just smile, say "Thanks for thinking of me" then change the subject or leave.
2006-11-24 12:33:26 · answer #8 · answered by maggiepirsq 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋