A better way to ask “Why?” - by Akwaaba Tung
akwaabatung.substack.com · 270 words · saved by 1 readers
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“Why” has this reputation of being “the best” question to ask. “Gets you to the core of one’s reasoning”, people say. Yes, it might. But time and time again, I’ve seen “Why” bring out the worst of people, not their reasoning. Asked with the wrong tone, “Why” can sound a lot like an aggressive challenge. “I think that we should eat out.” - “Why?” “I’ve always dreamed of being a YouTuber.” - “Why?” The underlying message might come across as “Why would you have that thought? That’s so stupid.” When people FEEL like they (or their ideas) are being attacked, they turn on “defensive mode”.…
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