Who Asked? Meme, Usage, & Similar Phrases

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Creatively respond to this subtle dig
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If anyone ever said “Who asked?” after you shared something, they were likely trying to make you feel bad about whatever you said. “Who asked?” is a rude, sarcastic way to shut someone down and can be hard to respond to in the moment. Luckily, we’ve compiled all the information you need on this phrase, plus how to make a quick comeback.

Who Asked?

Saying “Who asked?” is similar to telling someone to shut up; it implies that no one present wanted to hear what the speaker had to say. If someone responds to you with “Who asked?” either ignore them and move on or say something like “Who asked you to interrupt me?”

Section 1 of 4:

What does “who asked” mean?

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  1. While not as openly harsh as “shut up,” “Who asked?” is a rude way to tell someone you don’t care about what they have to say. Depending on the context, “Who asked?” can also mean “Mind your own business,” or “I didn’t want your opinion.”
    • “I’ve been having such a good time reading this new book, I feel like it’s a lot better than the first one in the series, and I’m excited to see where it goes!”
      “Weird, I was looking around to see who asked, but I couldn’t find anyone.”
    • “I really think you need to start drinking less coffee.”
      “I’m sorry, who asked?”
    • “Why are you going on a date with that guy, you have a boyfriend.”
      “Um, who asked?”
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Section 2 of 4:

How to Respond to “Who Asked”

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  1. When someone puts you down, divert the energy of the insult by ignoring the person, questioning their comment, or sincerely telling them how you feel about it. [1] If someone was genuinely trying to hurt your feelings, tell them what’s up with one of these responses:
    • Maybe no one, but it’s worth saying.
    • Did I ask you to interrupt me?
    • The point I’m raising is mine, not yours. If you have an issue, no one asked you to be here.
    • Does it matter? I’m allowed to voice my opinions.
    • So if you didn’t ask about something, is it not important?
    • What do you mean by that? I’m just having a conversation.
  2. If you know the person well and want to keep the conversation moving, you can use a quick comeback, but, generally, it’s better to assert your right to speak without escalating the situation. [2] If the situation is playful, you can be a little more snarky, but if someone’s being a bully, stand up to them without insulting them.
    • Does it matter? I’m still right.
    • Consider it a freebie.
    • No one asked you to listen.
    • I’m just trying to keep the conversation interesting.
    • No one, but you’re welcome.
    • No one asked, but maybe you’d learn something if you’d listen.
    • Funny, I didn’t realize I needed your permission to speak.
    • Who made you the arbiter of what can and cannot be said?
    • That’s weird, I thought we were having a conversation.
    • Well you answered.
    • No one, I was just feeling generous.
    • No one, I just couldn’t resist correcting you.
    • No one, but it was painful watching you struggle.
    • No one, but I couldn’t let you go on like that.
  3. If your friends are giving you a hard time and you have a playful dynamic between you, you can be funnier with your answer. When you engage with someone who is putting you down, however, you can run the risk of hurting their feelings, as well. [3]
    • Your curiosity is flattering
    • Clearly not you, but here we are.
    • Common sense did.
    • You’re right, no one did. But you seem interested, anyway.
    • Just thought you needed some guidance.
    • It was a public service.
    • My sense of duty to society.
    • My responsibility to the truth.
    • No one, but someone had to.
    • I’m just here to improve the conversation.
    • No one, but clearly someone needed to.
    • No one, but I did hear a cry for help.
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Section 3 of 4:

“Who Asked You” and “Who’s Asking”

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  1. Saying “Who asked you?” unlike “Who asked?” shows that another person’s opinion on something that affects your life isn’t welcome. It’s still a rude comment, but it is more situationally dependent than “Who asked?”
    • “I don’t think you can afford a new pet right now.”
      “Who asked you?”
    • “You should turn left here if you want to be on time.”
      “I’m sorry, who asked you?”
    • “Break up with him!”
      “Who asked you!?”
  2. The phrase “Who’s asking?” is most commonly used over the phone when you don’t know who the caller is. If someone says “Hey, is Jona there?” and you don’t know who they are, you can say “Yes, may I know who’s asking?”
    • “Who’s asking?” can also come off as defensive or suspicious when it’s used with an impatient or sharp tone of voice.
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Section 4 of 4:

Who Asked Meme

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  1. Reaction images or GIFs are used similarly to emoticons to express how the poster is feeling at a certain moment. [4] Starting in 2019, the text “who asked,” or “nobody asked” was superimposed over these images to show that nobody cares.
    • “I never write for feedback or applause, I don’t compete with other writers. I write to explore the technical issues other writers refuse to contemplate, like a monk in a cloister.”
      “Nobody asked.”
  2. “Cool story, bro” is another sarcastic phrase that was popularly used on the internet to shut people down or insult the quality of what they had to say. It was often used when a post was too long to read, boring, or irrelevant to other parts of the conversation. [5]
    • “I just finished my fan theory essay on Clone Wars , I think I’m going to turn it into a YouTube video!”
      “Cool story, bro. Can you pay attention to the game?”
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/defining-memories/202310/responding-effectively-to-subtle-put-downs
      2. ↑ https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20160328-the-secret-to-a-quick-witted-comeback
      3. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/defining-memories/202310/responding-effectively-to-subtle-put-downs
      4. ↑ https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/reaction-images
      5. ↑ https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/cool-story-bro

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