Do you find the "voice" you use to answer varies from question to question... depending on the asker?

Question

There are some people I consistently answer seriously.... others I answer with a ditzy tone... and still others with a humorous edge.

Do you find you do this? (examples??)

Answer 1

Of course. Not everyone gets my sense of humor, so I tone it down. With those that I know and have a past history of being nonsensical with, I can be as off the wall as I want and load my answers up with double meanings. Most people on this site accept the first meaning only, partly because they don't know me, and partly because they are way too literal. The question matters too. If it is a sincere question about something close to the heart I either respond in kind or don't respond at all. With some, (only a few on this site) I can go either way and be a Yahoo Answers switch hitter.

Answer 2

There is no question that our intonation and demeanor are reflexively adjusted, often without concious effort.

When approached by an individual who is manifesting behavior we cannot immediately determine as non threatening or ill tempered, we will respond in the most neutral manner so as not to incite and an unwanted response or arouse already developed prejudices or instability.

All the while we are reading and adjusting our choice of words and tone so as to effectuate the interaction without incident.

It is a skill to know what to say when and how to who in so far as to successfully arrive at the intended result.

Communication is everything!

It is why we are all here right now. It is not what you ask but how you ask it, and not what you answer in so much as how you answer it.

Two people can propose the exact same option and receive two completely different repsonses simply based on the way they phrase the matter and the demeanor with which they approach the subject.

Michael P. Whelan aka vegasmike433

Answer 3

You know, I really just go with being myself.
I have a goofy fun loving personality mixed with this eclectic warehouse of knowledge I drag around, so it really depends on the asker.
The question sets the tone and the playfulness of the response I give.
Absinth, Irish, and The Oracle, almost always ask thoughtful, insightful questions. They get thoughtful, insightful answers.
You always find a fun play on words with your questions that I enjoy. So, I play back because you set the mood!
Banshee and Sydney B. do much the same thing in there own way as well.
If I know someone really well, I have no problems with appropriate playfulness and playing along in fun.
Ms Mercurial, Decadence, and Marla Singer all ask more *ahem* playful questions...but I know them and adore them all so the playing is half the fun!
Cheers from a far away place!

Answer 4

I really depends on how I percieve the intelligence level of the asker to be. Anyone asking about an iPhone is not too bright if they plan on standing in a line for 48 hours or paying someone $200.00 to stand in line for them. This requires a snide answer, pointing out the fact that the askers IQ is somewhat less than a 2-digit number.

Answer 5

I haven't paid that much attention, honestly. Except, of course, when I answer the phone.....in which case I sound like I've just sucked out all the helium from the balloons at a small town carnival. If it happens to be my lady on the phone, I think the pitch rises to a level that only she, and the dogs, can hear.

Which brings us to the pets. I use a different tone of voice for each of the four. And they respond individually. The corresponding pet will come over, while the others look at me with a sometimes blank, sometimes jealous, sometimes bored expression.....until I speak in THEIR tone.....Animals are much smarter than we sometimes give them credit for.

Answer 6

Yes ma'am I do, I have a group of friends that get my humorous side and they expect that...*cough* Decadence and Roy and that bunch. I have been known to give seroius answers when the need arises. When I first came on here I was a lot more serious, these days I'm just in it for the fun though. I agree with debbi, that Chuck is something else, think we could talk him into writing a few classic novels?

Answer 7

Yes I do that , sometimes I get varied responses though because I throw a few curves when asking questions sometimes but for the most part I try to be lighthearted unless someone has a real problem that calls for a real answer.

Answer 8

No, it does not vary. I answer based on the a combination of the context of the question and the current mood i'm in. So, it could be sarcastic ( I know, what a shock. ) off the wall, strange, funny, serious... it all depends!

Answer 9

I answer the voices in my head in different fashions depending on who is talking to me. If it is Mr. Giggles, or Joan of Arc, or Doctor Bad.

Answer 10

I do.

Betcha never heard a dragon with a southern drawl before.

I'd rather not give examples for fear of embarrassing anyone, but yes, I know exactly what you're talking about.