"What are you doing"

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Does anyone else absolutely HATE that question? The other day, my mom's friend came over. I had put some rice dream ice cream into a blender. ("hey, what are you doing?" "I'm making a shake.") Then, I added water. ("Why are you doing that?" "Because I don't want it to be too sweet.") Then, I think I added a banana. ("What are you doing?" "Giving it flavor.")

IT was QUITE annoying. I mean, honestly, can't I go about having a conversation with people without having to tell them what I'm doing at that very moment again and again and again? I mean, unless I'm hiding behind a bush or something (in which case I obviously DON'T want them to know what I'm doing), isn't it patently obvious what it is that I am doing? Sheesh!

The way I look at it, if people really found you interesting, they'd say more interesting things that 'what are you doing'. Seems like people say that to make obligatory conversation and get out as quick as possible.

Yet it's not impossible to go from 'what are you doing' to real conversation. It's just improbable.

I love driving people crazy with that

Person 1 looks at someone making a milkshake. "What are you doing?"
Person 2. "Flying a kite."

I usually just roll my eyes, ignore them, or say, "What does it LOOK like I'm doing? "

That shuts 'em up.

Really? I get the "Smartass" lecture.

Ah yes, the classic small talk opener that actually means "I am bored and looking for something to do. Therefore I will make you entertain me"

Actually, I get the "why are you doing" question more often. Take a class in a foreign language? Have an answer ready that is better than "I want to". Join up for a belly dancing course? Have a better answer than "I want to". Build a dollhouse/collect miniatures? again, "I want to" just doesn't cut it. You can't just want to do something. You have to have a back story eg. "I am <doing whatever> because it was the wish of my sweet old granny just before she passed".

I suppose I could give the classic answer of "because it was there"? Honestly though, I try things because they look interesting, I really don't have a reason to do so, or perhaps that is the reason (although people just can't accept this as valid).

back on topic, Sometimes you can get away answering "what are you doing" with "its a secret", with an accompanying eye brow wiggle or wink just to get you out of the sniffy reply back "well, I was just asking...".

That's exactly what I do, though the response is usually "The mambo."

The obvious response:

"What are you doing?"

"Existing."

The nothing response:

"What are you doing?"

"Nothing."

The hostile response:

"What are you doing?"

"None of your damn business!"

The overkill response:

"What are you doing?"

"Placing dairy products into this apparatus to create a thick beverage that I intend to derive enjoyment from by consuming slowly so that I may savor the flavor with my taste receptors. What are you doing?"

The immature response:

"What are you doing?"

"Your mom"

FTW!


I usually respond with 'nothing', which is my default response to every pointless question greeting (what's up, what's going on...) even when I am doing 'something'. Even so, I can't help but be annoyed when asked this question when what I am doing is obvious. The only time it makes sense to me is when I'm asked over the phone.