Why are you still single?

If that question makes you cringe, you're not alone.

A male AJC blogger complains about it here. In his example, the inquiry didn't come from a prying relative or nosy hairdresser: It came from a potential girlfriend.

Whether you're single or married, pregnant or childless, it's impossible to escape unwelcome personal questions.

They surface frequently during family gatherings. Case in point: This woman's fear she'll spend her brother's wedding answering the dreaded "When are you going to get married?"

But it's not just Grandma. Our peers are just as prone to delve into our private lives with an awkward inquiry.

Are you seeing anyone? Why hasn't he proposed yet? When are you going to have kids?

Some of my friends approach these questions with a rehearsed answer. Others stammer incoherently every time.

What's your strategy? Have you perfected the art of responding to a too-personal question?