What are you thinking? Don't you hate that question?

Question

It seems like such an invasion of privacy if asked in the wrong way. I mean it's OK to ask for someone's opinion, but not to try to intrude into their thoughts. So what are you thinking about this question? Your experience with that?

Answer 1

Yeah I hate it!

Answer 2

Sometimes while my dad and I are driving in his truck and I'm just looking out the window he'll ask me that question. I always say 'nothing' or I make something up on the spot. I think he's just curious, sometimes when I'm thinking I have a worried expression on my face. But when he asks it too many times it gets annoying. Of course, my mind never stops thinking. But most times what I'm thinking about is private, and he doesn't have to know.

Answer 3

Agree.  It's a question asked by immature people.

Answer 4

it depends.  if someone walks into a room and finds me staring at a wall, obviously thinking, and asks me what i'm thinking, i would not be upset.  it's not like you HAVE to tell the people what you are thinking.  a simple "nothing" would suffice at that time.

if a person asks me what i am thinking, when they well know what is going through my head, and are just doing it to aggravate me, i tell them exactly i think, of them.

i hate more the "what are you doing" question.  usually, it's pretty obvious what someone is doing.  unless you are on the phone with them of course.

Answer 5

It's just something you can start to say to break the ice.

I've asked it to people who sit there looking vague and sort of shut you out by not communicating normally.

Secondly, if it looks like something is troubling a person, it's a way of reaching out to them if they find it hard to bring up what they are thinking.  I would probably ask them more questions other than just 'what are you thinking.'

I wouldn't do it though if it was just their nature (a naturally shy, reserved person), because that would be annoying for them to keep hearing that!

Answer 6

Oh I hated when people ask me that! I find it very intrusive, I think that they think they are trying to show that they are interested in me. But I don't like it. Sometimes I'm very quiet almost in a mediative state so even if you asked me what I was thinking I couldn't always tell you anyway!

Answer 7

I think it is annoying when you are asked that after something you didn't like happened and the person asking it knows what you're thinking (they know you are pissed but they asks anyway)

Answer 8

My mother usually asks me that question when I am quiet. It is deeply annoying, but one has to be patient!

Or else I would've killed her long ago :)... JOKING.

Answer 9

usually asked by an insecure person.........

annoying

Answer 10

The question I hate is: "what are you doing here?".

Answer 11

I think it okay to wonder but not to ask all the time. It's annoying.

I usually say the truth but it's still annoying. I'd probably tell the person to STFU if I got it too often.

Oh yea, I hate it when the person knows the answer already. What do you think I'm thinking?

Answer 12

I don't tend to have that big of a problem with that particular question whereas it truly does upset my Son.  He doesn't live at home and is grown and has a child of his own.  He told me that when people ask him that question he really feels as if they are "invading" his privacy.  He said that if he felt like telling him what he was thinking about he would tell them.  He said he instantly takes up "defense" and feels as if they are "intruding", exactly what you said.  For me it just means that the person is probably at a lack of words or thoughts and I just politely change the subject because my business is my business and I already know I don't want to share it unless I care to.  Good question!!!

Peace & Love :)

Answer 13

It's such a vague and "blah" question. Like, I have so many things going through my head all the time, if I really said what was on my mind we'd be here for 20 years.

It also seems like the person asking it just couldn't come up with anything better to say. And it sounds too scripted.

Although, it IS a better question than, "Why aren't your clothes off?"

Answer 14

i love how edward asks bella that in twilight so i love that question but i was werid thoughts like ill say something like wondering if duck would eat a banana hahaha