--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: So what were you doing there?” Here’s the…" description: "\"“So what were you doing there?” Here’s the frustrating thing about Nate, one of those things that happy memories conveniently glossed over. A lot of t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae5/genevieve-pearson-85652_happy-memories_so-what-were-you-doing-there-here-s-the_1125466.jpg" --- # So what were you doing there?” Here’s the frustrating… ![“So what were you doing there?” Here’s the frustrating thing about Nate, one of those things that happy memories conveniently glossed over. A lot of times, you had to ask him a question more than once to get a straight answer. He loved to answer questions you’d never asked, or to answer a question…” quote by Genevieve Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae5/genevieve-pearson-85652_happy-memories_so-what-were-you-doing-there-here-s-the_1125466.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae5/genevieve-pearson-85652_happy-memories_so-what-were-you-doing-there-here-s-the_1125466.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae5/genevieve-pearson-85652_happy-memories_so-what-were-you-doing-there-here-s-the_1125466.jpg) > ““So what were you doing there?” Here’s the frustrating thing about Nate, one of those things that happy memories conveniently glossed over.  A lot of times, you had to ask him a question more than once to get a straight answer.  He loved to answer questions you’d never asked, or to answer a question with another question. “Do I really have to answer that, Kyrie?” See? “Don’t you trust me?” See?!”” [Genevieve Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genevieve-pearson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character’s habit of answering questions with questions creates frustration and obscures clear communication. **In simple terms:** Avoid answering with questions. Key Takeaway Seek clarity in dialogue. Themes communication frustration clarity Mood irritated confused Type observational critical When to use this quote - team meetings - customer service - personal relationships - educational settings Key Concepts dialogue dynamics misunderstanding conversation style Questions to Reflect On - How often do you respond with a question instead of an answer? - What impact does that have on others? A Different Perspective Overuse of rhetorical questions can hinder problem solving and trust. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Answer Kyrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answer-kyrie-3066085/) [Asked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asked/) [Asked Answer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asked-answer-1282186/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Happy memories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy-memories/) [Question Straight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/question-straight-2531692/) [Thing Nate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-nate-3066086/) ## Related quotes > [It seems to me that the way to remove people's cynicism is, when asked a straight question, to give a straight answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-paxman/it-seems-to-me-that-the-way-to-remove-people-s-cynicism-is-when-asked/) [Jeremy Paxman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-paxman/) > [“You people did a good thing." "That's what we do," Nate said quietly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-r-a-decandido/you-people-did-a-good-thing-that-s-what-we-do-nate-said-quietly/) [Keith R.A. DeCandido](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-r-a-decandido/) > [Pretend I asked, now answer the question...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/pretend-i-asked-now-answer-the-question/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“Whenever anyone asked me how I'd done it, the answer was simple: I decided to be able to.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-heminsley/whenever-anyone-asked-me-how-i-d-done-it-the-answer-was-simple-i/) [Alexandra Heminsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-heminsley/) > [If you don't like the question that's asked, answer some other question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-baker/if-you-don-t-like-the-question-that-s-asked-answer-some-other-question/) [Howard Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-baker/) > [Never answer the question that is asked of you. 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I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-diamond/i-remember-my-parents-yelling-at-each-other-and-at-me-from-an-early/) [Jason Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-diamond/) > [I watched her and I watched the birds' shadows flit across her face, and I...wanted. I wanted more happy memories to hang up on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/i-watched-her-and-i-watched-the-birds-shadows-flit-across-her-face/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [If my happiness at this moment consists largely in reviewing happy memories and expectations, I am but dimly aware of this present. I shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/if-my-happiness-at-this-moment-consists-largely-in-reviewing-happy/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [I worry sometimes that we're apt to confuse forgiveness with forgetfulness. 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It was when a man asked me, 'Who are you?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/only-once-have-i-been-made-mute-it-was-when-a-man-asked-me-who-are-you/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [The only thing Steve Jobs has ever asked me in all the years we've been together and have been partners, the only thing he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/the-only-thing-steve-jobs-has-ever-asked-me-in-all-the-years-we-ve/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [“A girl likes to be asked, dumbass.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-stover/a-girl-likes-to-be-asked-dumbass/) [Matthew Stover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-stover/) > [I've been asked to school dances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finn-wolfhard/i-ve-been-asked-to-school-dances/) [Finn Wolfhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-wolfhard/) > [“Which to you have?' Mel asked, blocking the entry with his body. 'Talent or issues?' 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