Comments on: ‘no such thing as a stupid question’

By: Andi

Andi — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 06:05:13 +0000

Is there really no such thing as a stupid question? The answer is simple, no. Stupid questions don’t exist, but there is such a thing as an inquisitive idiot.

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 00:41:07 +0000

In the world we live people do get annoyed and get impatient with questions they think
are stupid. It’s just life. It’s better to think through your question and see if it’s stupid before you open your mouth. The other person may gladly remind you that it was a stupid question by their look or words. I wish we could all ask stupid questions without being made fun of or looked down for it, but that’s life. As a person who has asked plenty of stupid questions I have to work at not asking them before I open my mouth.
You’ll be happier if you do think first before speaking and so will the other person.

By: numerodix

numerodix — Sat, 03 May 2008 11:21:37 +0000

Well, that’s not all. Some people are just shy and don’t want to ask any sort of questions. But that aside, the willingness to ask a question is a result of an internal assessment of how clever the question is. If the inquisitor thinks it’s a stupid question, and he happens to be the kind of person who doesn’t like to take these risks, then he won’t ask it. On the other hand, if he thinks it’s a clever question, he’ll be more inclined.

There is more to be said for how we assess these questions ourselves, obviously we do have some idea, but we can never be sure of it (unless it’s a sarcastic question you already know the answer to, say). Typically when you think you have a clever question then your own assessment is much more reliable than a case where you’re not sure whether it’s stupid or not.

By: erik

erik — Sat, 03 May 2008 11:04:52 +0000

Excellent read.

So what it comes down to is courage? The decisive factor that will persuade you to ask a question or to leave it is how much you care to come across as not-stupid or not-senseless? Since you have no way of knowing whether your question will be classified as stupid or senseless before you ask it, you calculate the risk of inflicting damage upon your own reputation or image by asking the question you have in mind. If you perceive it as an acceptable risk, you ask the question, if not, you don’t?