If this is a question…

Karen asked:

If this is the question, then answer it.

Answer by Ira Allen

You might usefully rephrase that as follows: ‘If this is the question, how would you answer it?’ That way, at least it’s a question. A question with an unclear referent still (is ‘this’ the question itself, or some other object in the world or in your mind?), but a question nonetheless. Assuming the aim of asking it is to be clever, you will probably be best served by at least presenting an answerable question. Thus rephrased, I’m inclined to ask by way of response, ‘Why do you imagine I’ve answered as I have?’