kicking puppies is bad

“What are you thinking?” is one of those questions that I hate. No one ever asks “What are you thinking?” when I am thinking something I want to share. If I wanted to share, I would have shared. Then they wouldn’t have to ask. But I didn’t share. That generally means I didn’t want to share.There are several reasons for not wanting to share my thoughts. I can control what I say and how I act. But I can’t always control what I think. Sometimes I am thinking mean things about the person I am talking to. In those cases I don’t want to share because it will hurt their feelings. Sometimes I am thinking mean things about someone else. In those cases, I don’t want to share because that is gossipy and mean. Sometimes I am thinking completely random things. And then I don’t want to share because most people are offended when I am having a conversation with them, but am distracted and/or bored and thinking about something else. They are especially offended when I am thinking about something mundane – and I usually am.

I always hate it when someone asks, “What are you thinking?”. Nothing good ever comes from asking that question. While I have occasionally asked it myself, I have almost always regretted those instances. In fact, the last time I asked that particular question, I got dumped. At least I get points for being perceptive and knowing the other person was thinking horrible things…

Anyways, earlier today I was chatting online with a friend of mine and his “status” suddenly changed to busy. He continued to message me, so I was curious about the change in his status. Our conversation continued as follows:

Me: Why does it say you are busy? Are you avoiding someone specific?
Friend: The same reason yours says you are busy and yes.
Me: Who?
Friend: If you take a trip in the way-back machine you might remember a girl that you suggested I not go out with because she was going to be trouble.
Me: The one who seemed obnoxious and asked stupid questions?
Friend: And wanted to talk to me constantly before we even met
Me: Is she the one who asked if you thought you would like her?
Friend: and she sent me text messages like “what’cha thinkin”…
Friend: Yes, she was.

Asking the dreaded, “What are you thinking?” question is bad enough in person. It is occasionally understandable in those cases. Hell, I admitted earlier to having asked it myself in the past. In person, it is generally prompted by some type of body language cue. If someone suddenly seems distant, or is suddenly smirking then it is human nature to want to know what caused the change. But to ask, “what’cha thinkin” via text message is a new level of weird, creepy and obnoxious.Or is that just me?