Working Up

by Dwayne Phillips

Why is it that people ask questions when they don’t want to hear the answers?

Let’s go in reverse order here.

Result: Dead silence.

My Answer: I want to work with good, smart people on difficult problems whose solution enhances national security.

Recruiter’s Question: What is it you like to do?

What has happened here? Just another case of, “I’m going to ask you a question, but I really don’t want you to answer it.”

This happens too often for me. I suppose I have this defect where I feel that if you ask me a question, you want an answer to it. I guess for the good of all mankind, my defect is rare. Mankind seems to function alright with this “hear my question, but don’t answer it” situation.

I guess this is a function of most people being uncomfortable with silence. Words must be flowing. I don’t know why they must be flowing, but again, I have this inherent but rare defect.

Here’s a suggestion: Say what you really feel. “I am uncomfortable with silence between the two of us. Please, talk to me a while. Anything will do. Anything.”