[dangerface]

People think every one shares the same definition for words like a dictionary, but people don't learn words from the dictionary they learn them from context of other peoples speech.

The fact that context is communication seems to be lost on most people and in an effort to be efficient assume every one else is using and understands their definition.

The examples you give could all be caused by this. They could be trying to establish context or gain understanding of definitions. As in they are talking in an attempt to understand you rather than answer the question.

Is clear communication answering in the least words possible or covering all possible interpretations of understanding? Annoyingly its both.