Regarding your distinction, I'm still confused. In a very literal sense, what is the difference between "questions" and "questioning" in your mind? i.e. what are some examples of how they manifest differently in a real world conversation?
It's just a subtle difference in implication that depends on exact wording. Don't read too much into what I'm saying there.
It's hard to argue that asking questions isn't neutral, but being questioning implies doubt and it says so in the dictionary to back me up, it's not really more complex than that.
> Can you clarify what you mean by distinguishing between "questions" and "questioning"
"questioning" more directly implies doubt to me.