Why are we so hasty in our answers?

Question

I asked a hypothetical question on what you would do if your spouse were to be diagnosed as HIV+. I got several good answers; but a number of them assumed, mistakenly, that I was the HIV affected party.

This shows that we are a little too hasty in answering the question. So also in everyday life. Our words and actions are often uttered and performed in haste, and this gives rise to unnecessary and avoidable misunderstandings.

So the next time we get the urge to submit an answer, we must pause a little, reconsider the question, and only then proceed with the answer. If you agree, raise your hand.

Blunt, please don't misunderstand me. I'm not taking this personally. I'm only making a point that we should not be too hasty in jumping to conclusions.

Answer 1

Right on.
Most people go with the first thing that pops into their underdeveloped minds.
They are of the opinion that all they see is all there is to see.
They seek like minded people who confirm their views and avoid those who challenge them.
They use their minds to justify their intelligence and seldom ask questions to clarify their position.
This is the ordinary situation and less likely to interfere with the persons ego.
Fortunately there are people like yourself who communicate well and have the ability to alter other peoples opinions by example and not blame.
Sadly in being a lateral thinker one is not spared the ignorance of blindness and is vividly reminded on a constant basis that they are quite a minority in the ever moving world of information

Answer 2

Interesting. I agree here it is about points.

In real life though, I often utter responses in haste and often regret things I say, but I think the other party should also understand that hasty answers should be treated as such and ask answerer to clarify or go ahead restate the question if it was misunderstood.

For instance my friend parked the car. We got out of the car. He asked if he had enough space. The row was empty, so noticing he was within the lines I said "yes, plus no other car here so you are fine".

I should have left it at "yes". He somehow inferred I was either an idiot or insulting him by adding the part about the other cars. But i merely said first thing that came to mind, as generally my concern is whether I am too close to other cars, and since we parked first, no way to judge -- so the thought just popped out. To him .... irrelevant and insulting his intelligence "i can see that there are no other cars yada yada". Why would you say something like that blah blah

Since my answer was instantaneous I did not have time to think "god he is blind" "can't he see we are the only car in the row!" So I felt he should have just said "duh" and said, I meant am I within the lines and dropped it instead of getting all bent out of shape......

Answer 3

Very true, but then on the other hand we should not be so hasty to blame the answerer but jusy maybe the person didnt make all the details in the question perfectly clear either. People are always too eager to blame everyone else for their own shortcoming. Im not saying your incorrect but it works both ways. Most of the people answer the questions as they see them, not intending to offend someone. True, alot of people answering on here have absolutely no business answering, but our country gives them that right. Also the person asking the question also needs to learn how to weed out the majority of the answers they get, and should expect allkinds of answers as there are so many different people out here.

Answer 4

Well said. I also have been observing that. I think other than some just being interested in getting the two points, there are reactionaries in this forum in all sections. Sometimes I feel like giving up, but because there are decent individuals here from whom I can learn a lot, I just soldier on. But, hey, it's life. We don;t know what's the real purpose of such people on this planet.

Answer 5

Well, people do get their opinion with the little information provided and wothout knowing who you are or what's the story.

Don't take things too personal, this is the internet for heaven's sake.

Answer 6

Some people just want the 2 point. What good are these points anyway?

Answer 7

Dont ask questions if you dont want the answers you are getting.

Answer 8

I concur... put people have their limitations, they do the best they can, and sometimes their best is knee jerk response.

Answer 9

i agree, thank u for your input.