Dare to Ask has a few questions for you
By Phillip Milano
Hey folks, it's that time again: Yep, here are some reader questions we'd
like you to answer. See instructions below. This event only happens on the first
Wednesday in June (starting now), or on any other Wednesday that we feel like
doing it. And for print-only readers: Think of this as a little non-cyber gift
for you, since you get a chance to read (and reply to) some of the questions you
wouldn't normally see because, well, they're online!
Question
Why do some women laugh whenever they respond to a question? Like "what time
is it?" They answer, "Ha, ha, ha! It's 3:30!" I find this behavior baffling.
Caroline, Jacksonville
Question
Why do old people like to talk about their golf game so much?
Ben, Clay County
Question
I've always wondered, do African-Americans sunburn, and if so, how might it
be possible to tell?
Jeff S., 31, white, Bremerton, Wash.
Question
What I just experienced at the grocery store infuriated me. Three women - a
teenager, an elderly woman and a middle-aged woman - were shopping together.
They checked out at self-service with the teenager riding a motorized cart for
handicapped customers. After checking out, they replaced the cart, the teenager
jumped off and all three walked out of the store laughing their butts off all
the way to their car, as if to say, "We sure fooled them." It was the only
motorized cart there. I can understand teenage immaturity, but what about the
others? What can managers and customers do?
Shirley, 50, St. Louis, Mo.
Question
Is a beard on a Muslim man a form of modesty, like a Muslim woman's head
scarf?
Rebecca, 17, white, Jacksonville
Question
Why is there so much attention paid to campaigns to feed the hungry? Who can
be hungry in America when you can get a hamburger for less than a dollar?
Mike E., 63, Sarasota
Question
Are bears (usually more hairy, heavyset and masculine gay men) common in most
gay communities?
G.M., 17, gay male, Mahtomedi, Minn.
Question
To white people: Would you invite a black person to your home? Have you ever?
Frederick, Jacksonville
Question
I work in a hospital with many nurses of Filipino descent. At times they
treat me as a friend and confidante, sharing intimate details of their lives. At
other times, they completely ignore me. And nearly always, they stop talking to
me when a fellow Filipino enters the room and direct all conversation to that
person. Other nurses who share my ethnicity (Caucasian) have similar
experiences. I'm confused.
Denise D., Honolulu
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Phillip Milano, author of I Can't Believe You Asked That! (Perigee),
moderates cross-cultural dialogue at Y? The National Forum on People's
Differences. Visit www.yforum.com to submit questions and answers. Send general
column comments to phillip.milano@jacksonville.com. You can also hear his
podcasts or watch his
TV spots.