What You Do That For?

I could have said “Why did you do that?” but it doesn’t have that special ring to it. I do realize that not everyone would phrase the question that way but if you do not speak in those terms I am suggesting that you try it next time you have an opportunity. It will change the conversation.  See “Why did you do that” offers the other party some benefit of having a sound mind and reasoning behind the decision. It is a question that leaves everyone involved on the same level playing field. On the other hand, “What you do that for” means that someone has done something stupid on some level and there is no understanding. It is a direct move towards dominance in a conversation and immediately places the other party in a position of providing targeted information instead of the complete truth.  That is usually because the person asking already knows why and on what level the action was stupid.

There have been many times in my life where I have asked “What you do that for” knowing full well that the answer would never be sufficient. If I am honest with myself I would say that I had usually already decided that the informational part of the conversation was over and the time had come for ignorance. The only reason I even said it was to prolong the other person’s feeling of being uncomfortable. It is rare but I have seen people who can’t recognize their own stupidity and never quite get to the place where they understand where the question is coming from. Even rarer is the time when the question is answered with a satisfactory answer. Basically, I’m saying that 8.5 out of 10 times when you feel the urge to ask the question, something has been done and the other person is at fault. Candidly, it is the adult equivalent of telling a child “You know better.”

Somehow, I can’t seem to put my finger on what draws me in or raises my curiosity when it comes to these moments---a lie (sorry). These moments make my mouth water for confrontation because when someone has done something obviously stupid the animalistic side of my personality pounces on injured prey. This may sound horrible but there is worldly joy to be found in letting someone know that something was done either in ignorant haste, ignored malice, or at the very worst against their own self-interest. It is a situation that launches my fighter planes to attack the monkey on that building. I might lose a couple jets in the battle but the monkey will fall in the end because I have guns (the dumb decision).

Since I can recognize the flaw in my character it has become my duty to purge the thorn from my flesh….since I am the ONLY one who behaves this way (hint, hint). If I am heading in the wrong direction, please pray for my speedy recovery to the proper route.  

Step #1- Try to understand what has happened when someone asks me “What you do that for”.

TTAII