Stupid Questions
For years I subscribed to the idea that there were no stupid questions.
I realized a week or so ago, watching something rather inconsequential, when a character made a reference to another character (a child) having asked him a stupid question—that I do believe in stupid questions, but that most, if not all, are forgivable.
Let’s rephrase for brevity. Stupid questions get asked. They happen when someone has not thought through the most basic logical implications of what they are saying. The thing is, they are forgivable: a child’s rationality is not fully developed; a man may be too worried or stressed or otherwise distracted about something to think things through. But everyone asks stupid questions, just like everyone makes faux pas. With whatever amount of grace they are handled is a reflection on the recipient, not the questioner.
2 Responses to “Stupid Questions”
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WallyJ like a vertabrae Says:
November 19th, 2005 at 21:49:47I think there is one question that may circumvent any rule for allowability of stupid questions, and that’s Marie Antoniette asking “Why don’t they just eat cake?”
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Michael Says:
November 19th, 2005 at 23:49:04I don’t know if it was a question; but I would say it was perfectly acceptable—and it was also perfectly acceptable for them to take her head
November 19th, 2005 at 21:49:47
I think there is one question that may circumvent any rule for allowability of stupid questions, and that’s Marie Antoniette asking “Why don’t they just eat cake?”
November 19th, 2005 at 23:49:04
I don’t know if it was a question; but I would say it was perfectly acceptable—and it was also perfectly acceptable for them to take her head