Andy

Don’t you want to …

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One of the most annoying things in this world is when people either say, “don’t you want to …” or actually implying a similar thing, suggesting there is a right way to live one’s life, and that any other way is foolish. Often I see this phrase most frequently used in advertising, sometimes that explicitly but also sometimes very subtlety in other, quite obnoxious ways.

1. Expressing an Expectation

In many cases, the speaker already assumes the answer is “yes.” They aren’t asking if you want to; they are subtly telling you that you should want to. 

  • Example: “Don’t you want to go to the party?” implies the speaker thinks it’s a good idea and expects you to agree.
  • How to respond: Treat it like a regular “Do you want to” question. Answer “Yes” if you do, or “No” if you don’t.

2. Disguising Opinions or Advice

Sometimes this phrase is used to offer unsolicited advice or a nosy opinion without being direct. 

  • Example: “Don’t you want to wear a jacket?” is often a polite way of saying “I think you should wear a jacket because it’s cold.”
  • Example: “Don’t you want to settle down and have a family?” can be a way of pushing traditional societal expectations. 

3. Seeking Validation or Engagement

The phrase can also be a way for someone to prompt you to ask them more questions about a topic they want to discuss. 

  • Example: “Don’t you want to ask about my vacation?” implies the speaker is waiting for your permission to share details they are excited about.

4. Guilt-Tripping or Judgment

In some contexts, it can feel like a judgment on your parenting or personal choices. 

  • Example: Being asked “Don’t you want to hold your baby?” while you are busy preparing formula can feel like an implication that you are being uninvolved or lazy.

    High Temperature in Albany in February, 2011-2026

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    Date 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026
    Feb 1 59 28 41 27 54 40 39 18 40 25 36 29 37 32 17
    Feb 2 40 27 41 12 46 35 34 32 37 27 42 36 42 25 26
    Feb 3 39 29 32 18 57 30 29 45 47 30 42 33 40 40 26
    Feb 4 39 26 30 32 57 32 34 56 45 37 26 18 41 37 27
    Feb 5 34 29 27 30 41 37 34 57 41 38 19 41 39 24 27
    Feb 6 49 35 22 23 42 33 30 37 33 36 25 41 39 34 29
    Feb 7 44 26 27 27 46 35 27 47 35 26 36 40 44 37 24
    Feb 8 33 31 24 21 36 44 26 45 24 23 37 46 51 31 8
    Feb 9 43 26 26 24 32 31 30 31 33 24 41 48 56 33 23
    Feb 10 42 28 23 30 37 23 43 33 41 25 43 51 60 31 31
    Feb 11 37 39 20 27 27 34 37 33 39 26 51 38 45 30 35
    Feb 12 23 38 22 33 24 31 38 21 41 16 51 47 41 27 32
    Feb 13 40 39 29 10 20 33 30 38 40 21 27 52 42 39 30
    Feb 14 39 40 34 21 8 36 45 37 36 28 18 50 35 29 35
    Feb 15 43 48 33 17 20 39 53 50 28 23 29 64 38 28 34
    Feb 16 38 33 24 11 56 33 47 34 38 34 41 57 38 35 36
    Feb 17 46 25 27 21 37 34 36 31 38 24 55 55 35 25 39
    Feb 18 42 27 29 27 30 52 40 26 41 24 58 40 34 21 38
    Feb 19 41 43 39 20 37 52 44 24 41 28 29 47 34 22 37
    Feb 20 40 32 44 13 62 43 63 28 31 28 33 56 39 25 37
    Feb 21 40 25 41 24 47 44 73 44 33 30 53 46 44 23 36
    Feb 22 54 36 51 34 40 57 40 39 44 30 56 38 43 36 34
    Feb 23 46 37 46 26 38 69 37 38 53 38 57 35 48 35 32
    Feb 24 38 40 33 19 44 74 46 42 62 45 28 38 37 45 30
    Feb 25 40 41 25 29 58 70 42 38 48 44 30 21 38 48 27
    Feb 26 35 45 23 20 33 38 51 24 41 39 30 39 59 44 —
    Feb 27 49 43 26 21 39 55 56 15 42 44 37 35 66 44 —
    Feb 28 41 44 18 26 57 62 60 28 35 41 24 36 59 40 —
    Feb 29 32 — — — 51 — — — 30 — — — 31 — —
    Andy Arthur, 2/18/26
    NWS Observations, Albany Airport.

    Lake George

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    There are no views to the south of Black Mountain as the Firetower is currently closed with radio equipment on top of it. Yet, the views to the North are northing short of spectacular, looking all the way to Ticonderoga and Mount Defiance, with Lake Champlain just beyond it.

    Sunday March 7, 2010 — Black Mountain

    Land Use – Area Around Malone

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    While it's been a few years since I've been up around Malone, I was surprised to see how much of the land immediately around the village of Malone is good soils used for crop production, mostly silage and hay-ledge for dairy. Get north and west of Malone, you have more wetlands and forested areas whose shallow sandy soils have been depleted both due to historical agriculture practices and timber cutting for the iron-smelting industry at the turn of the history.