> Why would you presume you know what I want?

I'm in the same boat as k__ above. Some have been indoctrinated into an "asking is wrong" culture.

On my job, if you ask:

* You're given a rude response. * You're treated like an idiot. * You're told you're wasting the other person's time.

and many other less than ideal responses.

Given these reactions enough, one can get tired of it (or angry, or ashamed depending on your personality), and just begin to avoid the situation entirely by guessing.

Then of course when you guess wrong, see the above points.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't.