public AskType getAskStatus() {
        if (isShared()) {
            // Redefine the ask status since the item belongs to a shared group
            return ASK_NONE;
        }
        else {
            return askStatus;
        }
    }
<p>Obtain the current ask status of the item.</p>

@return The ask status of the item
xmppserver/src/main/java/org/jivesoftware/openfire/roster/RosterItem.java