There Are No Stupid Questions, But We’ll Try Anyway
October 21st, 2008
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“There is no such thing as a stupid question. However, if there were such a thing, that would most certainly have been it.”
- Unknown
Is there such a thing as a stupid question? Tim Brownson doesn’t think so, and I’m leaning towards that myself. There might be annoying questions, like if you happen to be blessed with a 5-year-old who constantly asks things like “If oranges were blue, would we still call it orange juice?” But then you stop and think about it, and you realize that it’s a darn good question, probably better than any you’ve asked in a while.
The closest thing to a stupid question I can think of is when someone in my high school Spanish class asked “What does spoon mean?” But that wasn’t a stupid question, just a stupid way of phrasing the question that was supposed to be “How do you say spoon in Spanish?”
In Tim’s book Don’t Ask Stupid Questions – There Are No Stupid Questions, he says that our life is heavily influenced by the questions we ask, especially those we ask of ourselves. So what questions are you asking?
You have an inner voice, right? Does it ask questions? It probably screams at you and maybe tells you that you can’t do anything right, or nothing’s ever going to work out. But when it’s in a calmer mood, it’s asks questions, doesn’t it? If not, it really should, unless you already know everything. Sometimes the question is a lot more important than the answer.
In this book, Tim tones down his hilarious humor a bit and reveals more of the life coach side of him. OK, he also talks about ducks, whether curiosity did indeed kill the cat, and Mexican guys who can run 100 miles without stopping, but I mean the book has a lot more than just entertainment value. It’s very insightful, and each chapter ends with a great question to ask yourself. Don’t just read it–think about the questions!
It’s available as a $14.99 hardcover or a $9.99 ebook. I read the hardcover, and I was impressed that he managed to put out something that looks that nice. I just may have to kidnap his publisher to use for myself.
However, I’m still not 100% convinced that there are no stupid questions, so I’d like to ask everyone to leave the stupidest question you can think of in the comments. Then go check out Don’t Ask Stupid Questions – There Are No Stupid Questions.
October 21st, 2008 at 10:46 pm
Actually, because the color orange was named after the fruit and not vice versa, if oranges were blue, we would call blue orange, and thus we would still call orange juice orange juice.
Wesley´s last blog post..Religion In The 21st Century
October 22nd, 2008 at 3:39 am
The more I try to think of a stupid question, the more I realise the questions are just full of curiosity. Hence… not stupid.
The best questions in the world are questions we don’t know the answer to. Most of those revolve around evolution and the beginning of time (if evolution is your thing). “How did humans form?” “How did we adapt to live here?” etc. It’s in trying to answer those questions that I suddenly realise why people first started forming religions and the beliefs that come with them.
Jamie
Jamie Harrop´s last blog post..A Connection Forces Me to Subscribe to Your Blog
October 22nd, 2008 at 5:44 am
“If there are no stupid questions, then what kind of questions do stupid people ask? Do they get smart just in time to ask questions?”
– Scott Adams
I completely agree that our lives are shaped by our questions, and that most of the questions regarded as ‘stupid’ are,in fact, essential questions that everybody is overlooking. But I just had to throw that quote in…
Luciano Passuello´s last blog post..How to be Great: Rising Above the Talent Myth
October 22nd, 2008 at 6:14 am
I would have to disagree. There are stupid questions. A good example would be anyone over the age of 15 asking who the current president is. Though, maybe that would just be the person that’s stupid, not the question.
Chad @ sentient money´s last blog post..Baltic Dry Index (yes, I know it sounds boring)
October 22nd, 2008 at 12:31 pm
There are tons of stupid questions, just as Bill Engvall. Here’s one:
To a man changing a tire: “Got a flat tire?”
Dot´s last blog post..Weird Tip Tuesday – Smelly Feet
October 22nd, 2008 at 3:34 pm
I think it’s dummer not to ask a question for fear of appearing stupid, and then go on wondering about the answer to the question, then it is to just get the question out there. I guess it’s the difference between being stupid for a minute–while you’re asking the question–or being stupid in perpetuity because you weren’t brave enough to ask for the answer.
Marelisa´s last blog post..Eradicating Poverty Through Human Ingenuity – Blog Action Day 2008
October 22nd, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Hey, did you read the book? What did you think of it?
~Graham
Graham Strong´s last blog post..The Art of Perception (Part II): If You Hear Hooves…
October 22nd, 2008 at 7:11 pm
I got tired of teaching when the students stopped discussing the material and asking questions. I am inclined to think that not asking questions is what is stupid.
My brother in law took $100 in 1s to his last lecture/seminar last spring – he offered the students $1 for every question they asked him before the final exam. When he was down to $10 he offered that for the last questioner – who was a young woman who said, “since you are out of money, can we all leave now?” the class all left without hearing the answer. He teaches Political Science and Asian History.
He is ready to retire again after 38 years….the students are not fun and don’t stimulate new ideas….
If you can laugh, entertain and teach we might be able to teach folks how to question again?
Patricia´s last blog post..The Ants Go Marching 10 by 10
October 22nd, 2008 at 8:56 pm
I’d agree with Marelisa. Too often, we do not want to appear stupid in front of others and therefore, would rather pretend that we know when in fact we don’t. The people who ultimately lose are ourselves.
I also would like to believe that there are no stupid questions. People have different internal maps, backgrounds, use of language, etc. and can be asking for a question for all kinds of reasons.If we respond that that is a “stupid” question, we are also judging others. Observation is okay, judgement is what we want to refrain from doing.
Evelyn Lim´s last blog post..Can You Read My Mind?
October 22nd, 2008 at 10:53 pm
I’m with Marelisa and Evelyn on this one. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. What may appear stupid to one person may be a sincere question for others.
Stacey / Create a Balance´s last blog post..Introducing My Authentic Self
October 22nd, 2008 at 10:54 pm
@ Wesley, sounds good. But how did you find out the color is named after the fruit?
@ Jamie, and that reminds me that a teacher once said, “The only stupid question is one you already know the answer to.” But aren’t lawyers trained to only ask questions in court if they already know the answer?
@ Luciano, I love that quote! It’s going on my funny quotes page.
@ Chad, that’s the thing. “Stupid” questions are often stupid people asking good questions. But in your example, I think that would be ignorance more than stupidity.
@ Dot, but did he ask that question because he really didn’t know why he was changing the tire, or was he asking the question as a way of starting a conversation?
@ Marelisa, good point. Stupid for a minute vs. stupid forever. But now, let’s put this idea up against “‘Tis better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.” I guess it’s better to be silent if you can look up the answer later. But if you have to ask, you have to ask!
@ Graham, what about you?
@ Patricia, I’d love to have been in your brother in law’s class!
@ Evelyn and Stacey, pretending to know when you really don’t is bound to get you in trouble! I agree that we have to remember that people from a different background might ask questions that seem obvious to us.
October 23rd, 2008 at 12:45 am
[...] when I thought there are no stupid questions, someone proved me [...]
October 23rd, 2008 at 12:45 am
1. Why are pokka dots called poke a dot? What are we supposed to do?
2. What relationship does a grapefruit have to a grape anyway?
3. How many worms can I eat without getting weezy?
and lastly…
WHO CARES?
Harmony´s last blog post..3 Creative Tips To Promoting Your Business With Little Money
October 23rd, 2008 at 12:52 am
@ Harmony,
1. Only poke dots when they’re not on someone’s clothes.
2. That’s interesting, because the last time I checked, a grape was a fruit. If someone asks for a grapefruit, I guess we have to ask, “Did you say ‘grape fruit’ or ‘grapefruit?’”
3. Please consult a doctor before beginning any dietary change.
Great questions!
October 23rd, 2008 at 1:16 am
Hi Hunter – I was looking forward to stupid questions in your comment section, but as most have admitted, there really isn’t such a thing as a stupid question. Well, maybe the one about the guy changing the tire that Dot left. That sounds like one of those “here’s your sign” questions.
When I started blogging I thought I might be asking stupid questions to other bloggers so I never did. Now, I wish I had as it would have saved me tons of time researching.
Barbara Swafford´s last blog post..A.S.K. Darren Rowse – How Does A Problogger Deal With Comments
October 23rd, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Here’s a stupid question that some of you might have: “Should I buy a copy of Don’t Ask Stupid Questions?” The only possible answer is “Yes Yes Yes and you should have bought it months ago”
Seriously, I (like Hunter) have the hard copy edition and have read it over and over again. It’s great to dip into (the chapters are short), and Tim’s writing style is an absolute joy. He really does speak like he writes too (hire him as your life coach if you want to find out… or there’s some video posts on his blog).
Don’t Ask Stupid Questions is one of a very few books I’d call “life changing”. As you can possibly tell, I’m positively evangelical about it. It really is that fantastic!
Ali
Ali Hale (from Alpha Student)´s last blog post..Stay in touch with friends back home
October 23rd, 2008 at 10:01 pm
@ Barbara, I remember all the blogging questions I used to have, and there’s sure a lot to learn, isn’t there? I guess you found your answers on your own, but like you said, asking can save a lot of time.
@ Ali, wow, that’s quite an endorsement! I saw you commented on that PTB post about the duck from his book, and said it was your favorite chapter. I guess by now you must be asking some really great questions!