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.

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.