I recently inherited enough money that will allow me to not work again. I still want to do things - volunteer, help others, keep busy, etc. How do I explain this to others and answer questions that people ask?
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posted by anonymous
on Apr 10, 2013 -
54 answers
I'm scheduled for a technical interview after the weekend for a front-end development position. I'd like to spend some intensive time beforehand reading relevant blogs and books to prime the ol' noodle and supplement my existing knowledge. Could you recommend some resources? Are there questions you would ask an applicant in this situation, or that you have been asked?
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posted by jsturgill
on Mar 22, 2013 -
10 answers
I've heard that men don't like questions. I'm a woman and would like to have better relationships with the men in my life. Give me some examples of ways to rephrase questions into statements, directives or imperatives.
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posted by geekgirl397
on Mar 15, 2013 -
40 answers
I read the
esr article, and thought that was pretty good advice about asking questions. Then I realized I don't get enough advice about asking questions.
So are there any considered texts, resources, etc about asking really good questions? Any direct advice? Edificatory anecdotes?
posted by curuinor
on Feb 20, 2013 -
4 answers
Tomorrow I'm leading a session for college freshmen on the importance of asking questions. The canned curriculum we've been given introduces the session with me reading a story (!) to the students. Unfortunately, the moral of the story seems to be why NOT to ask questions.
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posted by orrnyereg
on Feb 11, 2013 -
10 answers
Have you gone to therapy or counseling after a rape? What outcome were you looking for? Did it help?
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posted by anonymous
on Jan 18, 2013 -
9 answers
I have been struggling to figure something out. There are certain types of questions I have trouble with, and I would like to understand what types of questions these are, why am I so uncomfortable with them, and what can I do to make dealing with them less unpleasant.
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posted by matrushka
on Dec 29, 2012 -
58 answers
Where can I find a bunch of thought-provoking questions or prompts for starting conversations? I'm looking for the rabbit-hole questions you can spend a lot of time discussing with someone, as well as questions that help you get to know someone better. Are there books, games, or web resources like this?
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posted by theantikitty
on Nov 9, 2012 -
11 answers
What's your favorite web place for open-ended questions about almost anything? I'm basically looking for a great, engaged, smart community - like Metafilter - but with the ability to ask and answer more open-ended questions and to engage posters in conversations.
posted by st starseed
on Sep 17, 2012 -
5 answers
What is it like living in Hounslow or out Heathrow Airport way? Is it possible to find a three-bedroom house to rent that would allow pets? Are there lots of coffee shops?
posted by parmanparman
on Jul 29, 2012 -
5 answers
There was a study a few years back where they had two people meet and discuss a list of questions. The control pairs got a basic set of superficial interview questions (what's your name, do you have siblings, where are you from) and the other got a specially designed set of questions that increasingly went into meaningful, personal topics. At the end, pairs in the test group tended to report a deep bond with their partner and went on to become friends after the study. Can you find me the study and/or the questions?
posted by sdis
on Jun 4, 2012 -
5 answers
Fellow lawyers: If all goes well, I hope to be extended an offer to go in house at a bank, after 7 years at big firms. Is there anything I should know, or any advice you can give?
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posted by 5845(f)(1)(D)
on May 31, 2012 -
15 answers
Help me learn how to help people come to their own conclusions and learn from their previous experiences in a friendly manner. (Warning: super long explanation inside)
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posted by nataliedanger
on Mar 31, 2012 -
24 answers
So in a week I'm starting a gig writing questions for a tv quiz show! Where are your favourite online (or offline!) repositories or trivia and amazing facts?
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posted by yellowbinder
on Feb 24, 2012 -
20 answers
In a bid to prolong bed-time, my four-year-old just asked me, "What is electricity made of?' I told her to close her eyes and go to sleep, which has bought me 9-10 hours till she wakes me up and asks me the same question again. What's the most accurate answer I can give her that she will understand and not be bored by?
posted by Hogshead
on Jan 22, 2012 -
22 answers
Help me do a better job of phone screening candidates for largely-technical/programming positions.
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posted by ish__
on Jan 21, 2012 -
8 answers
I run a monthly Pub Quiz and I have a website, running on Wordpress which I use for announcing upcoming quizzes, publishing results and past questions / answers. At the moment I publish the questions and answers (50 per month) as separate blog posts with a category of Question or Answer tagged with the month and year. Is there a smarter, more intuitive way of doing it?
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posted by jontyjago
on Nov 7, 2011 -
5 answers
Matchmaking Judo: Help me design the best (and shortest) matchmaking questionnaire in the history of the world. I'm assembling a short list of questions that two strangers can quickly answer to determine if they might be a good match.
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posted by the jam
on Sep 6, 2011 -
34 answers
Why do some people refuse to answer direct questions, and instead will respond with a question of their own? How can I understand this communication pattern to stop being enraged by it? and how do I get my questions answered?
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posted by rainydayfilms
on Aug 18, 2011 -
28 answers
I want to talk to strangers, but not make smalltalk. What are interesting questions that I can ask random strangers, questions that, with just the right mix of playfulness, sincerity, etc., might actually be possible to ask without freaking out myself or the other person? Adapting an example I came across in a random book: "Excuse me, Iknowthisisweirdbut, what's the most important thing you know?"
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posted by zeek321
on May 1, 2011 -
34 answers
What questions do I need to ask the doctor to help my mother make an informed decision about chemotherapy?
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posted by worstkidever
on Mar 2, 2011 -
8 answers
Best place online to find free/cheap Massachusetts DMV's permit test questions and answers for practice?
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posted by mooselini
on Feb 17, 2011 -
3 answers
I landed a second interview with a manufacturing company that I'd really like to work for. I am meeting with three potential direct reports who will be interviewing me (I'm applying to be their boss). What are some good questions to ask to help win them over?
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posted by ieatwords
on Jan 27, 2011 -
7 answers
Many of my friends work in digital media and advertising and I've often helped them brainstorm. But lately I'm receiving more and more requests from strangers who know me from my writing or various websites and want to get together to discuss whatever "big project" they are working on.
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posted by pinafore
on Dec 29, 2010 -
8 answers
Before putting an offer in on a house, we want to spend some time this week sitting in the neighborhood and talking with neighbors to see what the area is like and start creating some rapport. What questions should we ask the neighbors?
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posted by rhapsodie
on Dec 7, 2010 -
12 answers
Are there are any sites which feature a variety of curious science or technology posts. structured as puzzling questions which are followed by answers? Inspired by
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posted by schmichael
on Dec 6, 2010 -
6 answers
Meta-ask: How can I learn to ask better questions? Specifically: how I can learn to ask natural, un-contrived questions in job interviews?
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posted by devotion+doubt
on Aug 17, 2010 -
28 answers
RelationshipFilter: How can I look at the relationship more objectively? When I read the huge long journal entry I just wrote about my relationship, I realize he comes off as kind of a jerk. And he is kinda. But how do I know if I'm being a selfish bitch? How have you learned to draw these lines?
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posted by inmyhead
on Jul 20, 2010 -
18 answers
I have an ongoing opportunity to interview musicians, but I've been fearful of being the most boring interviewer ever, or at least failing to pull the musician out of Dull Interview Mode and into Chatting Naturally About Interesting Things Mode. With that, I'm looking for tips and ideas for interviewing people, and/or examples of really good interviews.
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posted by filthy light thief
on Jul 8, 2010 -
23 answers
I understand that marriage and children aren't necessarily what I will want or need in my life, and yet I fear being unfulfilled down the line without those things. I know I'm not alone. How do women handle that internal conflict?
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posted by blackcatcuriouser
on Jul 6, 2010 -
42 answers
Is it possible to find a good "renaissance man/jack of all trades" Legal adviser for my real-world questions/grown-up decision making?
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posted by WhereAmI
on May 7, 2010 -
7 answers
There seem to be some questions that most people think about; things like, "What should I be doing with my life," "If I ran the world what would I do," and "What have I done that I'm most proud of." My question is, do these type of questions have a name? A sociological / psychological / philosophical category? Are there lists of them?
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posted by MrPants5000
on Apr 28, 2010 -
10 answers
Why do people claim not to know, when they can actually produce pretty good answers (or at least estimates), and how do I get them to do that on the first try?
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posted by d. z. wang
on Apr 18, 2010 -
38 answers
I'm looking for advice and/or reading materials to learn more about making the transition from computer engineering to sales engineering or marketing.
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posted by j
on Mar 4, 2010 -
4 answers
I'm applying for a programming job. I've had two steps of interviewing so far. What are they going to ask in the 3rd step?
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posted by beerbajay
on Nov 26, 2009 -
11 answers
I want to show my students Randy Pausch's "Last Lecture" video. I would also like to have them answer some questions about it, but I'm stuck. Some help?
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posted by CrazyLemonade
on Oct 14, 2009 -
10 answers