Asking questions for reasons other than wanting to know the answer has many functions.
Buttering up a superior: “Your paper was fascinating, can you tell me more about boringology?”
Requesting agreement: “Is this what we want for our children?”
Softening a challenge: “Might there be a mistake in equation 4?”
Softening a request: “Can I get a pint of lager, please?”
Challenge: “Are you stupid, or what?”
Bonding: “So, what do you do?”
Formality: “How is it going?”
Ceding the floor: “So we should be done by June, don’t you think so, Alice?”
If you don’t think that’s valuable, that casts doubt on your ability to judge social awareness in others.
Asking questions for reasons other than wanting to know the answer has many functions.
Buttering up a superior: “Your paper was fascinating, can you tell me more about boringology?”
Requesting agreement: “Is this what we want for our children?”
Softening a challenge: “Might there be a mistake in equation 4?”
Softening a request: “Can I get a pint of lager, please?”
Challenge: “Are you stupid, or what?”
Bonding: “So, what do you do?”
Formality: “How is it going?”
Ceding the floor: “So we should be done by June, don’t you think so, Alice?”
If you don’t think that’s valuable, that casts doubt on your ability to judge social awareness in others.