Letter to CEO

   With a lot of people i interact with (a lot being relative) I've noticed a shift in how people answer questions.

   At least in my mind it seems like I used to ask a question (not sure how long ago it would be but say a few years back) and would get a direct answer to the question that would match the way I asked it.  But if I didn't quite ask the "right" question then an explanation of that would follow.

   Could sum it up as:

• Question: Is it A or B?  Answer: A.
• Question: Is it A or B?  Answer: A, but here's why you probably meant to ask A or C.
• Question: Is it A or B?  Answer: Neither, it's C.
• Question: Is it A or B?  Answer: Trying to help you figure it out on your own, here's a better explanation of A and B.

   But for some reason now whether it's my family or friends or anyone, when I ask a question more often I get an answer that doesn't directly answer the question and sometimes it doesn't even indirectly answer the question.

   And it's real easy to overlook that happening.

   I keep getting the feeling that something's wrong with an answer I'll get so I go back and re-read an email or text because of it.

   Could sum it us as:

• Question: Is it A or B?  Answer: Why did you ask A or B?
• Question: Is it A or B?  Answer: What's your point?
• Question: Is it A or B?  Answer: Neither one pertains to me.
• Question: Is it A or B?  Answer: I'll [some action] about [pick a letter]

   What bothers me is I'm seeing this happen indiscriminately in people I run into or already know.  I'm seeing it gradually occur more and more almost everywhere.

   And I don't mean when it happens and there's a misunderstanding or the people know each other well enough to get the answer anyway, that's normal.

   Have you noticed anything similar (if so how can it be addressed)?