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Do Tell: What Inappropriate Questions Do People Ask You?

Tue, 05/06/2008 - 4:00pm by DearSugar
3,799 Views - 133 comments

Have you ever been asked by either a friend or an acquaintance something that was just totally inappropriate and/or way too personal? I certainly have! Similarly to hearing words of wisdom that I loath, some people have no qualms asking questions that I feel cross the line. "Why are you still single?," "How much did that cost?" and "You don't look very happy, what's wrong?" are just a few that strike a nerve with me, but ladies, do tell, what questions do you find inappropriate or rude?

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133 Comments Add a Comment

  • apma's picture
    apma
    1

    When are you having more children? That one bugs me because I don't want anymore children. The one I have is good enough.

    16 weeks 3 days ago Report Comment
  • Lawrah's picture
    Lawrah
    2

    I'm with apma! My husband and I are asked frequently when we're having children. Not just by family, friends and co-workers but perfect strangers. We were at a hospital and a nurse asked us if we had any kids and why we didn't already have them.

    16 weeks 3 days ago Report Comment
  • Lyv's picture
    Lyv
    3

    It only happened twice, but I hated being asked if I eat well. It felt like they were saying, "LOL YOU'RE SO OBVIOUSLY FAT & UNHEALTHY."

    16 weeks 3 days ago Report Comment
  • rachelcal's picture
    rachelcal
    4

    how much did your car cost?
    are you okay, whats wrong?

    it annoys the hell out of me to get asked something like that. if i don't look like i'm okay, than i'm usually not. and it doesn't matter how much the stuff you own costs, i'm not that kind of girl and everyone knows that, but somehow i always get asked that question

    ugh

    16 weeks 3 days ago Report Comment
  • gossipqueen's picture
    gossipqueen
    5

    When are you having babies? Give your mother a grandchild already?? Dogs are not kids!

    some people!

    16 weeks 3 days ago Report Comment
  • navigator93's picture
    navigator93
    6

    The babies question *rolleyes*. May husband and I are closing in on a year in marriage and apparently 'we are due' for kids already!

    16 weeks 3 days ago Report Comment
  • wiciltd's picture
    wiciltd
    8

    Because I am fat, i get people asking me about my diet etc and then offering me food tips or telling me I should eat less.. When I probably eat less food then most people..

    because my tatas are huge and very obvious I get asked if I am ever going to get them reduced, or what size they are .. I also get asked if i ever tried losing weight to get them to go down.. I think it's because they're there people think they can talk about them..

    We live in a society where people feed off other peoples dirty laundry.. It's only natural we don't really respect boundaries and privacy

    16 weeks 3 days ago Report Comment
  • lindholmka's picture
    lindholmka
    9

    I can't stand it when people ask me "Do you go tanning?" YEA!! I go tanning...this is how I stay tan all freaking year LONG!!! idiots...

    16 weeks 3 days ago Report Comment
  • chicaparati17's picture
    chicaparati17
    10

    WHEN ARE YOU HAVING KIDS???
    IRAQ: HOW DO YOU MAKE IT WITH YOUR HUSBAND GONE....I COULDNT DO IT
    ARENT YOU AFRAID HE WILL GET KILLED?? WHEN IS HE GETTING OUT?
    Yes, I make it because life goes on...I cant crawl away and die! YES I am afraid he will be killed..what spouse isnt..you dumbasses! AND GUESS WHAT..he actually LOVES this country and what he does...so **gasps** he doesnt want to get out right now!
    **by the way hubby is home now these questions were asked during his two deployments** Smiling

    16 weeks 3 days ago Report Comment
  • javsmav's picture
    javsmav
    11

    It's inappropriate to ask someone if something is wrong when they look sad? hmm, I guess I'm the rude one. If my friends look unhappy, I want to let them know I'm there for them.

    16 weeks 3 days ago Report Comment
  • lindholmka's picture
    lindholmka
    12

    I also can't stand it when I go a day with out putting my usual make up routine on (like if' I'm just going out to run a couple errands)sometimes people ask "Are you sick?" or "Are you feeling alright?" lol Why don't you just tell me I look like sh*t already?!?! ugh...sometimes people make me so angry! LOL

    16 weeks 3 days ago Report Comment
  • lindholmka's picture
    lindholmka
    13

    Javs - I think what they mean is sometimes it's better to be left alone if you are pissed off or upset about something or having a bad day, and the last thing you need is someone in your face asking whats wrong? or are you grumpy? why are you mad? Sometimes...you just don't wanna talk about things right away.

    Or maybe the issue is there is nothing wrong at all and people are in your face asking you whats wrong. Thats annoying too...

    16 weeks 3 days ago Report Comment
  • FinnLover's picture
    FinnLover
    14

    "Did you gain weight?" which basically means I've gotten fat. Thanks. Or people keep asking my Finnish husband who hates languages if he has learned French yet. It makes him feel so bad because I think he never will. Sad

    16 weeks 3 days ago Report Comment
  • Swen's picture
    Swen
    15

    I hate when people ask my GPA. I see it as a completely personal thing. I don't even ask my best friends that. It's ok to say "How was your semester?" or something to that effect, but people literally ask point blank for your grades. I don't see how people think this is an appropriate question for small talk.

    Oh, and "Do you have your period/Are you PMSing?"

    16 weeks 3 days ago Report Comment
  • babygiraffelegs's picture
    babygiraffelegs
    16

    javsmav - I agree - when I ask, I am giving the person an option - asking means the person can either brush it off, or talk to me about it. Saying right out that there is something wrong forces the person to talk about it, which may not be something that they want to do. I find it strange that people are offended by that!!! What is the world coming to that people cannot care about somebody else?!?

    For me though, the annoying questions are:
    1) "you're so skinny, do you eat??" I'm skinny because I'm young and I eat well and exercise regularly. Duh!
    2) After my sister got married - "when is it your turn?" I'm 23 for cryin out loud! Although I'm actually getting engaged this year..

    16 weeks 3 days ago Report Comment
  • aimeeb's picture
    aimeeb
    17

    I ask my friends if they're okay if they look sad but I surely don't press the issue. I don't get why it's so wrong?

    I have to say I hate being asked when I'm getting married. Seriously stop asking.

    I also hate being asked why I don't live with my boyfriend, some people should mind their own business.

    16 weeks 3 days ago Report Comment
  • lemuse20's picture
    lemuse20
    18

    lind, I hate that question too! Except it's like "Did you sleep good last night?" Does it freakin look like it?
    & I hate the questions "So what have you been eating?" and "How much more weight are you going to lose?"

    16 weeks 3 days ago Report Comment
  • BeautyXRush's picture
    BeautyXRush
    19

    I wont even say what I got asked. It was far too personal. Let's just say my bisexual guy friend asked this "too personal" question. That kind of narrows the options down for you all. We are no longer friends, not because of his sexual orientation, he was just creepy.

    Anyways, I also hate when people ask "are you okay?" they arent my psychologist so I don't say anything lol.

    16 weeks 2 days ago Report Comment
  • shernic82's picture
    shernic82
    20

    I have definitely been there! Last summer one of my best friends was doing an internship in Detroit, so a few of us took a road trip up to spend the weekend. We went out one night with a couple of the friends she'd made, and one of the girls was so in my business it wasn't even funny. I wasn't in the best mood that night and ended up sitting with the guy who went with us while everyone else danced. He and I were really hitting it off, so she came over and started asking me completely personal, inappropriate questions like "Why are you being so anti-social?" and then started questioning me about my past relationships! The worst thing was, the guy and I continually tried to go off on our own, because we were pretty into each other, but she would follow us and ask me MORE inappropriate questions!

    16 weeks 2 days ago Report Comment
  • shernic82's picture
    shernic82
    21

    Oh, and once in college someone asked me if I was a lesbian simply because I was a theatre major. Talk about inappropriate!

    16 weeks 2 days ago Report Comment
  • Hootie's picture
    Hootie
    22

    I hate when people aske me:

    Did you lose more weight?
    Are you eating enough?

    Sheesh people!
    I'm just have a small frame!
    I can't help it that I don't have hips or A$$!
    I'm very healthy, I'm just slender.

    I don't go up to heavy people and ask:

    Did you gain more weight?
    Are you eating too much?

    People are so rude.
    Oh, well...
    I'm healthy and I'm happy with the way I look.
    (My doctor says I'm in excellent shape)
    It would be nice to have more booty though!

    16 weeks 2 days ago Report Comment
  • krys786's picture
    krys786
    23

    I thought it was inappropriate the other day for a professor to ask me if I regret never being single during college and instead staying with my boyfriend of 4 years...I don't know, just a little too personal.

    Also, I hate when people say "Are you tired??" GRRRR...that's more annoying than inappropriate though!

    16 weeks 2 days ago Report Comment
  • purpleorchid027's picture
    purpleorchid027
    26

    I was asked recently if I was pregnant!! I'm not. I weigh 105 pounds. I carry a little weight in my belly but not that much! To make it even worse, I was drinking an alcoholic drink at the time I was asked this by a woman.

    16 weeks 2 days ago Report Comment
  • BeautyXRush's picture
    BeautyXRush
    27

    Ok, one other question I was asked a week ago by my classmate. He is 35 years old. He asked "are you anorexic or bulemic?" I was just so shocked he asked that. Okay, so I dont eat at school. It's unhealthy and overpriced, but seriously who asks that. It was pretty funny, but it was awkward in class because of that question.

    16 weeks 2 days ago Report Comment
  • puddlesplasher's picture
    puddlesplasher
    28

    Okay, the questions I get are on the OTHER end of the baby spectrum. . . I have FOUR kids that are close in age (now 6(next month),7,8 &9). Now, I am 35 but have been told I look younger than that. So first, I get the comment that I don't look old enough to have four children. (seriously - I'm not even sure what that's supposed to mean - of course I am - I don't look like I'm 15 or anything.) Then when they find out the differences in their ages I get "Did you plan that?" or even worse, "You DO know how that keeps happening, don't you? Ha-ha." or "You're not going to have any more, ARE you?" Seriously - none of your business. Thank you very much.

    16 weeks 2 days ago Report Comment
  • burntpineapple's picture
    burntpineapple
    29

    "You look tired."

    Don't think I don't realize that this is just a nice way of saying "You look like sh*t." If I am tired... congratulations. You caught me. I look tired. Thank you so very much. I wasn't aware that all I wanted to do at that very moment was to climb back in my warm bed and sleep for 4 more hours because SOMEONE IN THIS sh*tHOLE WORLD SCHEDULED CLASSES AT 7 f*ckING AM.

    ... Erm, sorry.

    But really. I'm not going to feel or look any less tired if you don't take the time out of your life to remind me. So do me a favor, and find something else to talk about besides how ugly I am.

    Grr.

    16 weeks 2 days ago Report Comment
  • brookrene's picture
    brookrene
    30

    When are you having kids? It's not necessarily unappropriate, just annoying. My answer...ummm, never if i can help it.

    16 weeks 2 days ago Report Comment
  • luvhouse07's picture
    luvhouse07
    31

    Are you anorexic? Do you eat AT ALL?

    Of course I eat! I'd be dead if I didn't eat!!

    16 weeks 2 days ago Report Comment
  • adrianac7's picture
    adrianac7
    32

    "How much to you make?"

    That made me super uncomfortable and even as I dodged the question she had the nerve to ask again!

    16 weeks 2 days ago Report Comment
  • jJuliet's picture
    jJuliet
    33

    I hate when people ask for my scores on standardized tests just so they can compare themselves to me. I always feel like I have to justify my answer based on how well the other person did, and it's always awkward.

    Also, I hate it when bus drivers or random people I sit next to on the bus feel the need to share their very strong political or religious opinions with me. Even if I disagree, I just have to smile and nod because I don't feel like debating some random person on a bus.

    16 weeks 2 days ago Report Comment
  • unicornsrule84's picture
    unicornsrule84
    34

    I have really naturally curly hair, outrageously so, and people always ask me if I wake up really early and curl it myself. Like I would ever waste the time to do that every morning! Also, people always ask me if they can touch my hair. Eww! I would never touch your hair, paws off of mine!

    16 weeks 2 days ago Report Comment
  • Sun_Sun's picture
    Sun_Sun
    35

    ugh so many
    1- most inappropriate-- older ladies winking at me and nudging me about my sex life!!! wtf??!!
    2- r u pregnant yet? no. why not?
    3- the other day this chick i saw like 9 months ago saw me and i've gained like 5 lbs. honestly u can only tell when im naked....and just before we ate, shes like woooow u've gained weight. thats just stupid and rude
    4-personal family situations.....whats with ur mom and dad? are they divorced? do u guys talk? does he talk to ur sister? why isnt ur sis in law married yet?
    NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!!

    Oh and the "u look really tired" when i have no make up on is just annoying

    16 weeks 2 days ago Report Comment
  • Beastiegirl5's picture
    Beastiegirl5
    36

    I get the baby/marriage question a lot- I'm 28, and got out of a 4 year relationship last year. Give me time to breathe!

    My driver's license has a picture of me when I dyed my hair dark brown. Now it is light brown with blonde highlights. When I get carded, people (mostly men) ask, "So, what's your real haircolor?"

    I also get the "Are you still losing weight?" or "You look skinny- are you sick?" a lot. I'm on meds for my migraines, and so they made me lose some weight, but I'm 5'5 and holding steady at 120 pounds. So it makes me wonder if I looked really bad before (I have lost about 20 or so pounds, but it was over a year) or if people just don't think before they speak...

    16 weeks 2 days ago Report Comment
  • lickety split's picture
    lickety split
    37

    "what's wrong with her"!? for my daughter who has autism. heard that more times than i can count also "can't you shut her up?" this was asked by a doctor in his waiting room (yes i know it was rhetorical). gave me a chance to say "sick person, doctors office, see a connection?"

    16 weeks 2 days ago Report Comment
  • PJ PJ PJ's picture
    PJ PJ PJ
    38

    So, here it is from the other side of the pregnant questions...
    (We've been trying to get pregnant for several years.)

    My all time favorite & most often asked by relatives...Don't you know how babies are made?

    Do you need a few pointers, because you're clearly not doing it right?....This one was to my husband from our new neighbor who was inquiring why we didn't have any kids, to which we vaguely replied that we were currently trying.

    I wish I had a really good response to the first one.

    16 weeks 2 days ago Report Comment
  • MisterPinkNoTip's picture
    MisterPinkNoTip
    39

    luvhouse07, I get that all the time too. It's so annoying. People constantly ask "do you eat a lot?" or "are you trying to lose weight?" I seriously want to punch them. Also, about a year ago I had jaw surgery and could only drink things after they'd been severely mutilated in the blender. I'm already thin, and I obviously lost weight after the surgery. When I started feeling better, I went to the bookstore, and while I was standing at the checkout counter, a considerably robust (I'm being nice here) lady came up to me and said rather rudely "do you eat?" I ignored her, and she got up in my face and said that she was worried about me and asked how much I weighed! I told her nicely but firmly that it wasn't her business and I asked her to leave me alone. When she did not and continued to harass me, I had to call store security.
    She also asked me if I was worried about all the health risks of being so thin, which made me very very mad. I was sooooo tempted to ask her if she was at all concerned about high cholesterol, heart disease, or diabetes, due to her substantial stature, but I refrained. It was awful, especially because she created a scene and I was really not feeling well. Also, what was very strange was that the store employee who was ringing up my purchase just stood there shocked and didn't say anything. I seriously couldn't believe I had to call security on this woman.

    16 weeks 2 days ago Report Comment
  • jkatie's picture
    jkatie
    40

    yesterday my boyfriend and i went apartment searching and the first thing we were asked when we walked into one place what "whats wrong you to look down" .... okay sorry lady but i wont be renting from you..

    16 weeks 2 days ago Report Comment
  • Bookish's picture
    Bookish
    41

    "How old were you when you had your kids? You look so young, you must have been just a baby!"

    Uh, no.

    16 weeks 2 days ago Report Comment
  • Ruthiroo's picture
    Ruthiroo
    42

    I HATE it when people ask inappropiate questions about my children, that happened to come to us thru the blessing of adoption.

    *did you get them as babies*

    *are they sisters*-- yes they are biological sisters, but wouldn't they still be sisters if they weren't biologically related but adopted into the same family????

    *so which one of you can't make babies* both of us, no one ever shared the recipie, do you have one we can borrow?? That question really bugs me the most.

    Or when people ask me how I lost so much weight (80lbs). ---well I ate less and moved more.

    I could go on and on but those are some highlights.

    16 weeks 2 days ago Report Comment
  • girlgreen's picture
    girlgreen
    43

    "what's your ethnicity/nationality?"

    i find it very offensive and i show it on my face, and then they will say something like "you look exotic, that's all", like that makes it better!

    16 weeks 2 days ago Report Comment