What are your subtler motives for asking a question?

I’m looking for the subtler motives aside from needing information or wanting to start a head-butting kind of discussion or just wanting to have fun. Besides the overt purpose of the question, do you have any less obvious goals? If so, how do you craft your questions to achieve your goals?

Perhaps I’m seeking to dig into a place where there is no there there. Maybe I’m reading too much into people’s behavior around here. Perhaps people won’t want to disclose their hidden agendas. Perhaps people don’t even know they have them. But if you do, and you are aware of them, please do share. Thanks.