Why don't they ask questions?

...I like talkin’ about you, you, you, you usually, but occasionally
I wanna talk about me!

Toby Keith, I Wanna Talk About Me lyrics Official site

For 5M this is a problem with men, for Toby Keith it's a problem with women. So why don't they ask questions. Here are some possible answers:

1. They think they know all the answers anyway: In their mind, they've got you figured out already. You look and sound just like their fantasy of you.
2. You're so hot: It really doesn't matter whether you grew up a Catholic or a Protestant or your parents died when you were young because all they care about they can already see.
3. You make them so nervous their brain freezes: Either they clam up unless you ask questions or they just start babbling away.

4. They're a narcissist: There are some excellent, highly detailed articles out there on NPD. Very detailed information from someone who lived with one here and an excellent 31-item list here. Interestingly, although Narcissists are only supposed to be 1% of the population, the authors of Help I'm in Love with a Narcissist say narcissism is the "major relationship issue of our times".
   4D's simple test: Wear mirror-shades [a narcissist won't ask you to take them off, Unless it's a bad hair day.]
5. They have Attention Deficit Disorder: When you start talking the Deficit part kicks in. Lots out there on ADD (or ADHD, same thing). Interesting article on the communication difficulties of ADD kids and how to help them here.
   4D's Simple Test: Ask. [ADD people all seem to know they've got it and are happy to talk about it.]

What can we do about these non-questioning people?

There are a lot of websites out there that are ready to help an interested person become a better listener. Some are focussed on listening as a study skill, others for counselling or therapy and others for relationship-building. I didn't provide links to any, because we don't need those. We need a site that tells us how to make someone be a better listener.

I came across an English teaching site that had an article on using questions to carry on a mutual conversation. It raised these Points to Remember:

1. In English, questions can be used to get specific information. They are also used to carry on a conversation.
2. Sometimes a simple question can keep the conversation going and/or indicate an interest in continuing it.
3. Both speakers should be prepared to ask each other questions. If one speaker has to ask all the questions, she or he may feel the other speaker is not interested in a conversation.
4. Short answers to questions sometimes are perceived as an unwillingness on the part of the speaker to share information.

Possible solutions:

1. If asked a question, don't give a short answer, instead give some detail, perhaps with a teaser. (Example: Q: How are you? A: Fine, now that I've finished dealing with the police. How are you?)
2. Don't help them talk about themselves. Stop asking questions. Don't even nod or say uh, huh. See what happens.