If someone asked the question: How do I fish, without a fishing pole? Use a spear, is a reasonable response. Use a net, is also a reasonable response. Even using your hands is a reasonable response. "With a fishing pole" is not a reasonable response, because they clearly qualified the question with an intended format, that you either didn't read and are now making yourself look even sillier by back-pedaling, or you meant to say that suppress family ties was the only way you knew how and are making yourself look even sillier by trying to justify your lack of communication skills, when you could have followed my original comment with "meant to say 'suppress was the only way I knew how' but I was lazy." or better yet, just said nothing at all.
Me: How do I comb my hair, without a comb?
You: With a comb....No really guys, I'm not taking what he asked literally, I'm connecting with them so I can feel what they really want...and they don't want a brush....they want a comb.