Why do people feign ignorance?

[MsPeachh]

As the title states really. I walk in to my father’s house this morning and I say to him “the car is covered in bird poo” and he replies “what car?” Given that he doesn’t own a car and I had literally just drove there, it was quite obvious I was talking about my car. But for some reason he feels the need to make me state the obvious. He does this kind of thing all the time (since I was a child!) and it is infuriating. If you ask him to do even the most simple thing he will give you this puzzled look and reply “what?!” and makes out that he can’t follow even the most simple scenarios so you have to waste time explaining it all again. Now I am an adult I just find it increasingly rude and it is almost belittling.

Anyone got an explanation for this extremely annoying behaviour to prevent me from completely losing the plot?!

First response was the correct one

You come across as a bit of a judgemental prick!
How do you know he is feigning ignorance?
Why do you think your opening sentence was important enough for your dad to totally understand you was talking about your car?

Nannyred - have you read any of the updates, the full thread?

It's just slower processing. It can be part of many learning disorders and is generally not really picked up on on it's own. It's not being stupid or not listening or deliberately not responding.

Some people struggle to convert sounds from speech into meaningful words and sentences. Their hearing is fine. They can't help it. Communicating in more simple, short, plain sentences and without distractions can help.

I sometime say pardon or ask a question to clarify - or something as I hear the words but sometimes haven't unscrambled them before I my mouth has said something.

DD2 reception teacher said she has hard because you had to wait for the answer longer than normal – she did though and she said the answer was always worth it. DD2's recently started asking same question again and again as is she hasn’t bothered listening to the answer – she learning quickly not to as the answer will turn to a negative sometimes – then half the time it turns out she had heard the first dozen answers.

I think it depends on if it’s just female relatives he does it to – if so then he’s being twat.

Omg my uncle does this, has done it all my life!
I think it's his way with kids I don't know but it's so annoying

Me: I went to the park yesterday?
Him: what?
Me: I went to the park
Him: when?
Me: yesterday
Him: what?
Me: i went to the park yesterday
Him: i know, you just told me

Or

Him: do you want a drink?
Me: yes please:
Him: apple or orange?
Me: apple please
Him: orange?
Me: no apple
Him: orange it is

It's funny (maybe) once or twice but exasperating when it's constant

"The OP has said he has always done this in close relationships, it infuriates her and is causing conflict."

That doesn't mean it's intentional. It just means it's more likely to happen when he's relaxed, being himself, with people he loves and trusts. He might be able to garner high levels of concentration and fully focus for a short time or in certain situations, but switches off at home.

my DS started doing this a few years ago. I found changing my answers did the trick.

for example...

him......"whats for dinner?"
beans on toast.
"beans on toast?"
no, jacket potatoes.
"but you just said beans on toast"
then if you heard me why are you repeating it and asking?

it annoyed him so much he eventually stopped.