Yes, There Is Such a Thing as Dumb-*ss Questions!

The popular adage is that there are no stupid questions - I disagree. When you are in a learning environment or learning mode, it is appropriate to ask questions. But being lazy, unprepared, and disrespectful are the foundation of dumb-*ss questions. Dumb-*ss questions originate from know-it-alls, biased and bigoted people, and garden-variety idiots. Here's how to avoid asking dumb-*ss questions.

What are good questions?

First, let's define a good question.

If you are in a formal learning environment (class, seminar, or instructional setting) with a specific objective to impart knowledge, that is the environment to clarify your understanding by asking questions. Often, when studying a brand new subject, I struggle to see the big picture and how all the individual pieces fit together. A question that bridges what I do understand to what I don't is often the catalyst for the "eureka moment."

When learning something, questions facilitate your deeper and more thorough understanding of the subject.

Second, you may not be in a formal learning setting, but your goal is to learn.

For example, when I meet someone whose profession or hobby I'm not familiar with, I ask a lot of questions. My curiosity and desire to learn put me in a "learning mode," where I grow my knowledge base by incorporating new information. In those cases, I take a proactive role to learn because I know what I don't know.

When you are in a learning mode, your questions help you to gather new information.

What are dumb-*ss questions?

Being in a learning environment isn't carte blanche permission to ask dumb questions.

The questions you ask when learning reveal a lot about who you are and what you know. Questions demonstrate your level of effort, motivation, and intelligence. If you ask a dumb-*ss question, others see it and judge your level of ignorance.

Don't let dumb-*ss questions ruin your reputation.

What do dumb-*ss questions reveal about you?

When you ask a dumb-*ss question in a classroom setting, it often exposes that you are:

• not paying attention. If your question relates to something the teacher has just explained, you're busted! Everyone knows that you missed the key point by not listening.
• lazy. When you don't understand because you didn't do the work, it is painfully obvious to everyone else who did. You expose yourself by demonstrating a lack of effort.
• indeed ignorant. Ignorance is exposed by not understanding the prerequisite or foundational basis the new knowledge relies on. You remain ignorant if you don't learn the underpinning knowledge and the main course material.
• stupid. Stupidity is demonstrated when you don't provide context and make a statement instead of raising a question. "I don't understand ___." is a statement of stupidity. It exposes that you don't know what you don't know.

The statements above may seem harsh and judgemental.

But, people ARE harsh and judgemental. What you know, or don't know, is a basis for others to determine your effort, motivation, and intelligence. You build or destroy your reputation through your conduct and the questions you ask.

The questions you ask reveal what you know and how serious you are about learning.

Calling out intelligent people for being stupid

Intelligent people are not immune from asking dumb-*ss questions.

You've probably had an experience with the classic "know-it-all": someone who attempts to show how smart they are all the time. They are successful at fooling people that know less than them. They have the answer to every question - until they don't.

When they don't have the answer, they run to someone else who knows more than them. They will ask dumb-*ss questions because they don't know as much as they pretend. The dumb-*ss question undermines their credibility and illustrates that they don't have a foundational basis for their professed knowledge.

To an ignorant bystander, "know-it-alls" seem to be smart; but to an expert, their lack of knowledge is demonstrated when they ask dumb-*ss questions.

Your biases, bigotry, or lack of understanding are exposed through dumb-*ss questions.

You expose your core beliefs by the way you ask a question. It is obvious when you slant a question to favor a particular answer. It is glaringly obvious if your bias is due to ignorance of the facts or subject matter.

How you word your question exposes your biases or lack of knowledge.

My observations and experiences

As a life-long learner, I know learning occurs only when you are actively engaged.

The key to learning is knowing what you don't know. To be humble about your existing knowledge and, in particular, areas you don't understand, opens the door to learning from others. Understanding your knowledge gaps helps to frame questions that can fill the void.

To optimize my education, I am acutely conscious of and focused on asking questions that supplement my existing knowledge.

I enjoy sharing my knowledge with others. Teaching others is one of the most satisfying things I do. I feel good when I can help someone improve their understanding of a subject.

But I've had good experiences and bad ones.

Since I have a background in technology, I often get asked questions about computer hardware, software, cell phones, or the internet. I will go out of my way to help someone who genuinely wants to learn and is willing to invest the effort. Leveraging my knowledge to help solve a technical problem is very satisfying.

When someone doesn't have a clue, but sincerely wants to learn, I am very patient.

I will repeatedly describe, demonstrate, and have them apply the instructions until they understand. I know how ridiculous UX designs have become because developers and companies prioritize beauty, speed, and profit over common sense and usability. The abstract nature of technology is made worse by the design concepts currently in vogue.

I will easily spend hours explaining a simple thing over and over to someone who is trying to understand.

I am less patient with someone who claims to know it all.

I can identify know-it-alls easily. They are confident that they have a full grasp of the situation and can easily solve the problem. They make statements rather than ask questions. They jump to conclusions based on opinions or beliefs rather than facts. Any questions they ask are slanted toward a diagnosis they have already made.

It makes me wonder why a know-it-all would ask someone else for help.

I get it all the time. Mr. Know-It-All says, "My [random software package] is no longer working. The user interface is hung because the bit modulator was overwritten by the quantum separator which overcharged the database."

I ask, "So... how did you come to that conclusion?"

"I read it on [random internet site]."

I respond, "I see. Looks like you have the situation well in hand."

My practice is to extricate myself from any further involvement. Mr. Know-It-All exposes the limit of his knowledge, an inability to understand proper investigative and debugging techniques, and a penchant for believing his opinions are facts. Nothing good ever comes from helping know-it-alls.

When you contradict them and identify the solution, they will argue that you are wrong, because they think they know more.

It is best for all parties concerned to leave them to solve the problem themselves.

Is my approach to know-it-alls mean? Or is it meta-education (teaching them how to learn)?

If the know-it-all comes back with more humility and admits that he doesn't know how to solve the problem, I can help them learn.

Conclusion

The type of questions you ask, and how you ask them, reveal a lot about yourself.

They reveal your effort, motivation, and intelligence. You will be judged by your desire and approach to learning. You cannot hide a lack of comprehension or inept discussion.

You're in trouble if you believe what Alina Habba (hbp's lawyer) says, "I can fake being smart." This concept ONLY works if you deal with people dumber than you. You can't "fake being smart" to someone who is intelligent.

This is true for questions, also; you can't fake a good question. People recognize dumb-*ss questions - even if they don't call you out.

For the sake of your knowledge base, learning efforts, and reputation, please don't ask dumb-*ss questions!

Be Cynical,

TCG