Questions. They’re an inevitable part of life on the planet.

Why is the sky blue? What is gravity? Why are television ads so much louder than the shows?

But curiosity can become caustic when some questions – the personal ones – appear from out of nowhere, aiming straight for their target like a speeding bullet.

Marina was about to pay for a purchase in a department store recently when the salesgirl became suddenly distracted.

“WHERE did you get that ring? I’ve been looking for one EXACTLY like it! HOW much did you pay for it?” she fired out.

Marina looked at the ring on her finger, a souvenir from an overseas trip.

“Uh, it was a gift…” she blurted, and feeling somewhat cornered, left as quickly as possible.

The little white lie was the best approach in this case.

Any other answer would have certainly put Marina into quite a predicament – the presumption box.
Presumption of wealth or poverty until proven otherwise.

Questions regarding money are never to be trod around in carelessly – especially in current financial times where the great divide between the rich and the poor is ever-widening.

Similarly, “How much rent do you pay?” or just what the Joneses got for their old home are equally tricky territory to stumble into.

We live in a society which has taught us to ask and we shall receive. Sometimes we do. Sometimes we don’t.

The advent of Google coupled with the omnipresence of ‘journalism’ in its many shapes and sizes has further nurtured neighbourly nosiness as a national pastime.

Personally, I prefer to handle unwanted personal questions with a standard, flat-packed, one-size-fits-all response: “Why would you like to know?”

It forces stickybeaks to turn the question mark upon themselves. If their answer is convincing enough, I may provide what they’re after.

If not, opt for the little white lie or a politely assertive ‘no comment.’

After all, in today’s world, if you don’t mind your own business, someone else will.