Do you ever answer questions saying what you're told not to say?

Question

Some people put in things like "Don't say 'read the Bible' because I don't believe in it." Or sometimes they say "serious answers only," or otherwise try to limit the answers. Do you always comply with this, or do you sometimes challenge the limitation?

Answer 1

Although I usually try to comply, I sometimes feel compelled to bend the limitations when it would lead to better understand or a more accurate or realistic answer.

If asked for a serious answer, I will attempt to give one.

People who would ignore the details of a question while posting an answer are usually either rude or arrogant. Just because they can hide behind a cyber personality and can not be told directly to their face that they might be ignorant or biased or egotistical (and should either contribute something positive or shut up and go away), they might feel free to do as they wish.

Many of these do not even understand that their postings are often ignored by almost everyone. Their answers are considered background noise.

But there are also times when the best possible answer might bend or even break the rules set down. This is especially true if the Asker does not see any wider implications in their Question. Often the limits are too constricting for knowledge or wisdom to be shared.

Is it possible to answer a question like "What is a primary color that is not Red, Yellow or Blue?"? Perhaps not.

I believe that the spirit of the question is more important than the letter of it's law. People who post in Religion & Spirituality should understand this. But again, perhaps not.

Answer 2

Depends on the limitation. Some limitations are well and good. But other questions i have seen ask for your opinion on something, why you think A or B, but then they place a limit (for example: Why do you believe in God? The Bible is not an acceptable answer). They often place the limit, it seems to me, because they won't accept the answer as legitimate and they don't want anyone else to think it legitimate either. But c'mon! It's someone else's opinion. You can't legislate someone's limits to their opinion.

Those questions bug me, but i can't seem to recall ever challenging the limit, except maybe once. Usually if there's a limit i don't answer, because the person doesn't want me to say what i believe but rather what ***they*** want me to say anyway.

Answer 3

The only times I have has been when it was obvious that the asker has totally missed the point (like assuming that those who are not X-ian were Atheists (missing all other non-ian sprituality), been a deliberate troll (so will defend the group being attacked) or sssssoooooo biased it was obvious that the question has an agenda supported by the way the question was phrased.

OTOH maybe I've spent to much time studying Methodology before I graduated with a BA.

.

Answer 4

I usually challenge it without them knowing. Like when they say not to answer with Bible verses, I sometimes fill the whole answer with things from the Bible, but they don't know because they never read it. Maybe someday they'll understand...

Answer 5

I have challenged a few questions. Someone once asked a question about the Bible, and then said not to refer to the Bible when I answer. On things like that, I'll challenge them.

Answer 6

I challenge the limitation if there is no legitimate reason for it to be in place; ex. the questioner is exercising censorship or preaching to others.

Now if they are actually asking a question where they want answers from a particular demographic, then I will avoid answering.

Answer 7

Generally I do comply with what they want answered.
However, if they are looking for a biased answer, I do like to challenge it.
You can't expect to get the right answer if you want a one-sided answer...you have to take all aspects into account

Answer 8

I comply with this, because I understand that they are people REALLY looking for a serious answer and need real advice instead of negative words, but that is my take on it.

Answer 9

I would, but hardly anyone answered my questions tonight, and I'm not going to punch 1thousand.

Answer 10

Sometimes, when the questioner has tried to filter out undesired answers

e.g.
"If God didn't make humans, where did we come from. Oh, and don't say evolution because that's been disproved."

which is akin to saying

"Why do things fall down, but don't say it's gravity because it's not"