Is there such a thing as a stupid question?

Skuld · Post by **Skuld** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 10:41 pm

Well it's a simple question to which I have my opinionated answer, but I'm curious as to what you all thing. Is there such a thing as a stupid question?

CM · Post by CM » Thu Jan 27, 2005 11:06 pm

Not at all. There are only stupid answers. (no this is not spam)

Skuld · Post by **Skuld** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 11:12 pm

I was expecting at least one copy of that exact answer.

CodyCarson · Post by **CodyCarson** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 11:33 pm

yeah there is. Like asking a girl {That isn't a S**t} for head on the first date. LOL

dragon wench · Post by **dragon wench** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 11:39 pm

Yes

IMO, a stupid question is one where the querant enquires something they could quite easily figure out for themselves. Gaming forums are usually a good source of such questions

Xandax · Post by **Xandax** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 11:48 pm

Naturally there are stupid questions. There are silly ones as well

The "there are no stupid bla bla bla" is totally incorrect, but then again - is most often also used in some sort of educational situations, but even then there are stupid questions.

Skuld · Post by **Skuld** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 12:19 am

Well this poll stems out of a conversation I had with the girlfriend about a former roommate and friend of her's whom I had the "pleasure" of being in a class with. On multiple ocassions throughout the class she'd ask questions which were completely irrelevent or questions regarding something the prof. was obviously making her way towards and hadn't gotten to yet because she's gotta answer all these stupid questions. By the end of the semester you could hear the majority of the class move in their seats and sigh when she raised her hand. So needless to say my gf said there's no such thing as a stupid question, I expressed my views(regardless of how offensive they may be) as I'm prone to doing, and she's now temporarily not talking to me. I just wanted to see the breakdown of how many people actually believe in the existence of stupid questions, and how many people are just too darn nice to tell someone they've asked a stupid question and reply with the stereotypical reponse given by CM. No offense.

Xandax · Post by **Xandax** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 12:33 am

Well - of course there are stupid and irrelevant questions.

I remember a small similar incident when I was at my last school, and we learned about brainstorming

rolleyes: ) - and our teacher said that you must not be critical of "new ideas" in a brainstorming phase, where I immideatly interjected that it was impossible to not be critical of new ideas, because some ideas was stupid or irrelevant.
He then tried to convice me of the "text-book" answer and I replied that in a brainstorming session, for instance suggesting Santa Claus or aliens would come and solve the problem - was not really a valid idea and thus one should be critical. Needless to say that I won that argument.

Anyways - to make the short story longer, if people argue that there are no stupid questions, then simply pose a hypothetical absurd question - like my aliens would fix my problem-idea for a brainstorming.
Then people would likely just say that you are silly, but hey - other people can be silly withouth even trying and thus post stupid and irrelevant questions.

For instance - another short example from my latest education, where we were learning about some programming technique, and the teacher drew some connections between classes (programming buildingblocks (ed.)) on the blackboard in red to better illustrate the connection - and one of the women in my class raised her hand and asked if she should draw it in red on her paper as well....... Stupid question.

Aegis · Post by **Aegis** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 12:36 am

I say yes, there are stupid questions. I am bombarded by them every day. It's often a result of a lethargic mentality, created by watching too much T.V., and being to used to a life of convience in which everything is handed to you. I primarily blame my generation for the stupid questions out there, because mine is the generation that has grown up with these creature comforts, and more often than not, proven to be too lazy to find anything out for themselves. Essentially, they are too accustomed to the 30 second blog mentatilty that stems from our current western culture.

dragon wench · Post by **dragon wench** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 1:04 am

This reminds me of an incident in my first year Anthopology class.....

One woman in the class was prone to asking really dense questions no matter the subject at hand. On this particular occasion we were having a more political discussion. Now the prof, as is not unusual of anthro profs, was distinctly left of centre in his views.

After a time the one woman raises her hand and states... "I think you are brainwashing us with all of this commie stuff."

The prof lowered his glasses slightly, stared at her for several moments and finally said, "In your case there is nothing to be washed."

She dropped the class.

Brynn · Post by **Brynn** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 1:21 am

Definitely!

Some people have cellphones only to leave it behind when they go somewhere. Usually, their first question when they come back is "Did someone call?"

Well, what does it take to have a look at the display? No, they MUST know if there was a call or not BEFORE reaching the table (yes, usually there's a significant distance between the door and the desk, takes at least 5secs to get there

)

Macleod1701 · Post by **Macleod1701** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 5:54 am

Well a good example is

"Would you like to invite my mother round for dinner?"

The words that I'm sure many men dread to hear, now that is a very stupid question

Rob-hin · Post by **Rob-hin** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 6:49 am

Like DW and Xandax mention, if you want to hear stupid questions, go to school.

You shouldn't be afraid to ask a question, but GODS, think for yourself one in a while. Some people drive me nuts asking and asking and asking the same stupid questions. Even when the answer has been given a minute ago, pay attention dagnabbit!

Macleod1701 · Post by **Macleod1701** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 9:03 am

I did hear about a supermarket or similar robbery taking place where the burglars demanded the cash from the cashier who handed it over and then asked in her most 'polite to the customer' tone -

"Would you like some help packing that?"

If that isn't a stupid question then what is!

CM · Post by CM » Fri Jan 28, 2005 9:24 am

Just to point out you are all missing the point. Stupid is subjective. A question on the independence of India and Pakistan would seem stupid to me, because i have that knowledge. But if you ask such a question, it is not stupid because you don't know.

Same applies to all. Its all abou the knowledge we have and perspective we see things from.

Macleod1701 · Post by **Macleod1701** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 9:27 am

I'm not missing the point at all questions that arise from lack of knowledge and the desire to learn more are never stupid. Those that are asked due to a lack of common sense or ignorance, (different from lack of knowledge) can be!

CM · Post by CM » Fri Jan 28, 2005 9:31 am

Again common sense and ignorance are subjective. It would be common sense for someone to know the location of most of the worlds counrties roughly. It is a needed skill. Or some general make up a religion.

Take 1 + 1 = 2. Many people see different things when that is written. Some see numbers, some see an equation some see common sense.

Shai Hulud · Post by **Shai Hulud** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 9:44 am

I help people in finance, you would not believe the questions I have heard. Here is an honest question I was asked:

Question: "Are you lying to me or am I just stupid?"
My response: "Ma'am I am not lying."

Well what else could be said in the situation. So, yes there are stupid questions.

Rob-hin · Post by **Rob-hin** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 10:06 am

[QUOTE=CM]Again common sense and ignorance are subjective. It would be common sense for someone to know the location of most of the worlds counrties roughly. It is a needed skill. Or some general make up a religion.

Take 1 + 1 = 2. Many people see different things when that is written. Some see numbers, some see an equation some see common sense.[/QUOTE]

I disagree. The questions that I think are stupid are those to which you should know the answer. But people who ask those questions are:
A - not capable of thinking for themselves or are to lazy to do so, or
B - were not paying attention one way or another.

Eachter way, IMO those questions comeing from those causes are stupid.

Questions comeing from lack of common sence or simple lack of knowledge is different. They can still be stupid but they can also be viable if the lack of knowledge or common thinking isn't extreme.

Magrus · Post by **Magrus** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 11:01 am

I too believe it can be quite subjective for most situations, then again, there are some that just boggle the mind and cannot be described as anything but stupid IMO.

I'm a bright guy, but I am completely hopeless with any sort of mechanical type work or thinking. Those people with three or four different remotes for their little home entertainment system, yeah, this leaves me with absolutely no hope of ever using it. Asking them how to operate the thing makes the stare at me and call me stupid for not knowing. Now, when they ask me why it is a strange girl is irritated by them grabbing and staring, well...

@DW, I love the story about your anthro class, I think I'd get along with that teacher.

An example of a stupid question IMO from school "Whens class gonna be over?!". Well, when was it over with yesterday? The day before that? The week before that? It's one thing when first starting a new schedule type for classes, but really, after three or four years with the same schedule and blurting such a question out, I got quite irritated hearing it daily.

I also hate asking a logical simple question, and the person who is being paid to KNOW this simple question and answer it, stares blankly at you and stammers "What??". Getting nailed with stupid questions is irritating, but seeking help and finding stupid people who cannot answer your intelligent questions when it's their job is one of the most frustrating things I've ever experienced.

For example, I had money in my bank account, it said it on the little computer the banker had. Yet I couldn't access it. I asked the banker "Why can't I get MY money if it happens to be in MY account?". She replied "I dunno, thats a good question" and continued to look at me. Well?? Feel like telling me why you can't give me my money Miss Banker person, who gets paid to give me my money? Of course it's a good question, and for that I expect a good answer. I had the extreme urge to see if a good solid stiff arm to the forehead would knock an answer loose. Whats worse, she was the manager on duty, there was no going above her head for help.