When someone ignores a question?
Realize they are dodging you because they aren't comfortable answering the question. Perhaps they don't want to lie, or maybe they considered the question too personal. Mention your question one more time & demand a answer. Do not engage any longer if you are being ignored after that.
A person who avoids answering questions could be called evasive, non-responsive, or uncooperative. Sometimes, they may also be referred to as elusive or elusive. Fabian Bożyszkowski.
Ask them why they keep ignoring the question you're asking. Tell them how it makes you feel. Make sure they hear you and don't change the subject and make sure that they answer. If they tell you they don't want to or the question makes them uncomfortable then maybe rethink the question you are asking them.
Ask about underlying issues
A softer approach is to assume that the person is unable to answer the question for some deeper reason. By taking a counselling or therapeutic position, you can empathize with their problem and try to find out more about why they are feel unable to answer the question.
You don't have to answer a question that you don't want to. But just not answering is rude. However, I'll also add that if this is a question that the asker constantly asks, already knows you're uncomfortable with or knows you don't want to answer then they're already being rude by asking so staying silent is fine.
In the end, everyone gave up getting a straight answer from her. And narcissists often do this if they perceive the question as potentially damaging to their fragile ego. This is why I find it's better to ask about interpersonal relationships because it's a sneakier way of getting valuable insight.
Question dodging is intentionally avoiding the answering of a question. That might happen when the person questioned either does not know the answer or when the person being interrogated wants to avoid giving a direct response.
Ignoring someone or something can be a form of passive-aggressive behavior, a way to exert power or control, or a means of avoiding conflict. It can also be a coping mechanism for dealing with difficult emotions or situations.
Text anxiety, ADHD, or digital burnout are also possible reasons that someone might feel too overwhelmed or anxious to reply to your text right away. This person could also be giving you the “silent treatment,” trying to avoid conflict, or ghosting you.
You can either assume they don't like the question, don't have an answer or don't want to answer and move on, or ask it again and ask why they didn't answer? Your choice of response depends on your relationship with that person.
Why do people deflect from answering questions?
People deflect because they don't want to feel bad about themselves or look bad in front of others. They don't want people to think they've made a mistake or are at fault in any way. They want to be liked and looked up to. They don't want to admit—even to themselves—that they may have done something wrong.
You can give a straightforward refusal or to act as if no question was asked and continuing the conversation by talking about something else, or come up with straight lies. “I'm not going to answer that.” “I have no idea what you are talking about.” “I've never heard anything about that so I can't comment.”
Narcissists often deflect instead of giving direct answers to questions because they may feel threatened by the question, fear being exposed or criticized, or want to maintain a sense of control. Deflecting allows them to avoid taking responsibility or facing uncomfortable truths.
They want you to feel a sense of obligation or sympathy that they think will make them more likely to get what they want. The simplest example of this kind of emotional manipulation is the silent treatment, when someone punishes you by ignoring you.
Findings from his in-depth analysis revealed that the silent treatment is 'tremendously' damaging to a relationship. It decreases relationship satisfaction for both partners, diminishes feelings of intimacy, and reduces the capacity to communicate in a way that's healthy and meaningful.
Ignoring someone can have a powerful impact since it sends the message that you do not want to engage with the person. It can be used to let the person know that their words or actions are not acceptable to you and won't be tolerated.
Analyzing their data, they found that they could reliably identify narcissists simply using the question: “To what extent do you agree with this statement: 'I am a narcissist. ' (Note: The word 'narcissist' means egotistical, self-focused and vain.)”
One of the main reasons why a narcissist ignores you is that they want to control you. More likely, they want to regain control of you. A narcissist uses ignoring people as a way to punish them. Especially if they feel like you are pulling away.
Narcissists need control, which is often the reason why they ignore people. They do not like to feel vulnerable or exposed and will use their power to forgive someone for maintaining that control. Unfortunately, narcissists also lack empathy, so it can be challenging to understand how their behaviour affects others.
The deflection you are referring to is known as "red herring." This is a rhetorical strategy where someone responds to an argument or question by changing the subject to divert attention from the original issue. It's often used to avoid addressing the main point or to distract from an uncomfortable topic. Alex Robinson.
When someone gets defensive about a question?
When someone gets overly defensive in response to normal questions, it often indicates they're hiding something or feeling guilty. Defensiveness is usually a sign that the person feels threatened in some way. It may be that they're afraid of being caught in a lie or having a secret exposed.
Someone who is inquisitive asks a lot of questions and is genuinely curious about things.
Being ignored can make a person feel unimportant, invisible, and disconnected, leading to emotional pain and a sense of rejection. On the other hand, being blocked can feel like a more direct and deliberate form of rejection, potentially causing feelings of exclusion and loss.
Ignoring someone can be seen as immature, depending on the context and the reasons behind it. In some situations, ignoring someone may be a way to avoid conflict or to protect oneself from a toxic interaction.
Don't try to communicate with the person if they're ignoring you. Sometimes, you just need a break from them and it might be what they need, too. There's no need to make a scene or dramatically announce that you're giving them space—just go somewhere else and catch a break.
