"Stupid questions"

What are your opinions on "stupid questions"?
My impression is that most people consider questions with an "obvious answer" to be stupid questions, and that they could easily find the answer within a couple minutes - and sure, it might seem a bit funny if someone asks a question that has a very obvious answer.
However, the problem I see with all this is that this creates an uncertainly on what questions are "smart enough" - for example, if you are present during a lecture and you are uncertain about something, then how can you be sure that your question won't turn out to have an "obvious answer", and make you look stupid to everyone else?
This sort of uncertainty often makes people hesitate to ask questions at all, which I find highly detrimental in all sorts of ways.
Personally, I think that whenever someone asks a serious, polite question, then that person should at least be treated with the same respect and get a clear answer - and I think it is much better to ask questions and get answers, since this is how you learn new things.
But this is just my personal opinion.

What are your thoughts on this?

In order for us not think a stupid question is funny, and therefore eliminate some potential uncertainty about asking a question, we would either have to lower our expectations of intelligence and common sense to a very low level for everybody to the point where no question no longer seemed stupid, or we would have to no longer think stupid things are funny.

I agree that whenever someone asks a serious, polite question, then that person should at least be treated with the same respect and get a clear answer. But, because of the above, it would still be hard to snicker behind their back, though, as it would be a very natural thing to do.

Having some courage would solve the same dilemma of being afraid of looking stupid.

As Despair Inc puts it, "There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive ignoramuses". (Note: not name-calling, just reciting.) The human mind is like a garden: it starts off empty, but overtime you put things in it. In mine opinion, the courage alone to ask a question should be admired, because at least you're seeking self-enrichment. The Chinese have a saying: "He who asks a question is a fool for five minutes, but he who never asks is a fool forever". [Shrugs] Then again, he who just uses Google is never a fool. [Shrugs] Then again, Google can't answer everything.

If I am asked a question, I simply answer to the best of mine ability--no bias, no sugarcoating. If I have a question for the instructor, I simply ask, then class goes on. I am the type of person whom simply doesn't care what others think of me--and as a result am impossible to embarrass.

Personally, I only get annoyed when people ask me questions to which I know full well they know the answer. That, monsieur, is a "Pointless Question". I get this crap a lot from girls at college. For instance, this petite, baby-faced brunette once asked me, "What time do you have?" as I checked mine watch. Biting down a sarcastic remark, I simply shrugged mine shoulders and kept walking without even glancing at her. (You're in the same bloody class as me, which starts in the next few minutes, WHICH is why both of us are here. There is a clock right on the wall, AND I know for a fact you have a fancy mobile. So why ask me for the time when you can just check it on your damn phone? Logic!). In this icy, butt-hurt voice, she replied, "Oh". (Go make a Kickstarter for lovesick vaccine).

"Personal Questions"...those I hate.

Ranting aside...if it is for prosperity's sake, you should never be afraid to ask a question. Most of the time, people won't judge you--at least not to your face. The worst that can happen is someone will giggle--and odds are they themselves didn't know. Never let insecurities stunt your education.

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What are your opinions on "stupid questions"?

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I would say that there cant even be any stupid questions, because if there was no reason for the question to araise, then there would be no question to begin with. So called "stupid questions" can only be percieved as stupid for the person who fail to see in what context the question arised from in it's whole.

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this petite, baby-faced brunette once asked me, "What time do you have?" as I checked mine watch. Biting down a sarcastic remark, I simply shrugged mine shoulders and kept walking without even glancing at her.

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But what if that was just a nervous spontanous question from her to you. Just to find any reason to speak with you outside class, because she might have a cruch on you? So would it stil be a meaningless question if that was the case? That's the question.:-?

I don't consider any sincere question a stupid one. I guess technically, questions are asked because of ignorance about something, so it could be called a 'stupid question' in that regard, but for the most part it seems pretty rude and insulting to call someone's question stupid. It bothers me when people say things like "go to google" or "how do you not know that" and it seems like their just trying to stroke their ego or feel superior. Everyone is different and we all have to learn things at a certain point. Calling someone's questions stupid might cause them to avoid asking questions in the future.

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Originally Posted by Michael

I don't consider any sincere question a stupid one. I guess technically, questions are asked because of ignorance about something, so it could be called a 'stupid question' in that regard, but for the most part it seems pretty rude and insulting to call someone's question stupid. It bothers me when people say things like "go to google" or "how do you not know that" and it seems like their just trying to stroke their ego or feel superior. Everyone is different and we all have to learn things at a certain point. Calling someone's questions stupid might cause them to avoid asking questions in the future.

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Yes, that's how I usually think of it as well.
Actually, I guess that a question could come off as a bit strange if the answer should already be obvious to that person, like for example a person who has a driver's license and yet one day asks how to drive, haha.
But that isn't really technically a "stupid" question, but rather a pointless one. :cheeky:

Of course, this is assuming that the person hasn't suddenly somehow forgotten all about driving and sincerely tries to remember how to do it, but in that case (s)he shouldn't have a driver's license at that point anyway.

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Originally Posted by DreamyBear

1). I would say that there cant even be any stupid questions, because if there was no reason for the question to araise, then there would be no question to begin with. So called "stupid questions" can only be percieved as stupid for the person who fail to see in what context the question arised from in it's whole.



2). But what if that was just a nervous spontanous question from her to you. Just to find any reason to speak with you outside class, because she might have a cruch on you? So would it stil be a meaningless question if that was the case? That's the question.:-?

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1). Well said.

2). Excellent argument, and I suspected that was the case. However...I don't find romance to be an investment.

My opinion regarding "stupid questions" is in the grey area for me.

When how I am choosing to reply to these kinds of questions depends on what is asked and whether or not I like the person determines how I would answer them...My time back on Sonic News Network and SonicFanon...my god...the kind of things people asked on the forum was just so...painful to watch... :boggle: Sometimes I would be the dick and answer them in a very smart aleck way...

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Originally Posted by DreamyBear

I would say that there cant even be any stupid questions, because if there was no reason for the question to araise, then there would be no question to begin with. So called "stupid questions" can only be percieved as stupid for the person who fail to see in what context the question arised from in it's whole.

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The only thing that I could possibly think of as a "stupid question" is a question where the answer is completely obvious for anyone with a functioning brain.
For example, if you try to get a certain job and show up on interviews, and then are told "you have got the job!" and sign a contract and everything, then it would be pretty weird to ask "do I work here now?" - especially if you have already worked there for a while.
However, nobody would ask a question like that and be serious about it, so it will not be an "honest" question.

Apart from those situations where the answer is by definition particularly crystal clear and obvious, I think that people should keep their opinions about other people's questions for themselves.
People who ask questions aren't interested in finding out if their question is "smart enough", they are only interested in getting an answer.
Telling someone that they ask a "stupid question" is completely pointless, and it only leads to arguments.
Instead, I would advise people to say something like "why are you asking me that?".

By the way, I remember seeing somee dude on YouTube calling one particular question "stupid";
something about how a thermos could know the difference between hot and cold.
But I think that's a completely valid question, because it's actually asking how a thermos works, which is essentially a form of physics question (thermodynamics).
And no matter if it counts as "stupid" or not, I would still not wanna tell the asker that it is "stupid".

A French author said "Celui qui pose une question est bête cinq minutes, celui qui n'en pose pas l'est toute sa vie" which means "The one who asks question is stupid for 5 minutes but the one who never does is all life long".

If someone's asking me a question only to see if I know the answer that's not necessarily stupid.

Now, here's a definition I think can definitely be called stupid (in a sad way):

If someone asks questions or a series of questions in an attempt to cause problems for his or her self or for anyone else.