Rhetorical Questions and the Absence of Logic

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Ah, right. I actually knew this, I just didn't understand what you were getting at.

Oh... I always answer rhetorical questions. Woops.

I am still trying to understand. I think it's different depending on the person using the rhetorical question.






I think you misunderstand, or I was not clear enough.

I'm not disallowing rhetorical questions. No one has the power to do that. It's already a part of our language and culture. No one can just take that away, it's impossible. I am however, insisting upon allowing rhetorical questions to be answered, if there is an answer. I see how some people only answer them to be a "smart a**"? Or for humor's sake, they will answer in nonserious discussions. But I answer with a genuine desire to reach a common ground of understanding or to help ease someone's confusion, and I get nothing but harmful responses in return..
In my opinion, it is "egocentric" to expect to always have the "last word" and verbally attack or ignore anyone who might have something else to contribute to the discussion, or wants to help you. From my experience, this is all I have seen rhetorical questions used as. Hurtful. (When I said "you" I was speaking of people who react in the way I am describing, because using too many "they"s can be confusing and the antecedent is often lost in the jumble... as it probably already has somewhere in my post(s))

Maybe you can give some better examples of rhetorical questions being used in a more valid way. Maybe I have just never seen them used correctly. Maybe you can inform me.

Also, the world is logical. People are not. I am not insisting that they be logical, merely saying what would be logical for them to do. Or not to do, actually. Whether or not they wish to be logical or not (or maybe the term I am looking for is objective?) is totally up to them to decide.
If I have been unclear in any way, please ask for clarification.







I actually want an answer. Sorry, does it sound like a rhetorical question? (and that's not rhetorical either. LOL) I should have been more specific. I want to know if other people have the same kind of trouble with rhetorical questions and/or the people who ask them.

Exactly. If someone isn't looking for an answer to a question, then they shouldn't ask a question, rhetorical or not.

OK. You're wanting a little space regarding the way you react to rhetorical questions. I can see that. And I agree with you that often rhetorical questions are just another way of being mean spirited.



The world is neither logical nor illogical. Logic is a form of reasoning. As best we can tell, other than humans, even intelligent species do not reason with logic.

"What is it with attractive women they always seem to walk faster than everyone else" (an example of a rhetorical question that you don't really expect an answer but display a specific attribute about another group)

Another example - “You don't expect me to go along with that crazy scheme, do you?” (asking as if you are required to agree or disagree when in reality the person doesn't expect a response)

And another - "what's the matter with you" (a very direct rhetorical question that often tricks people but once again a NT nuance where the specific context mostly requires no response)

Hmm... thank you for the explanation. I think I've goofed up in more than one of those situations.