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stupid questions
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Subject: stupid questions From: GUEST,she who sells seashells by the seashore Date: 05 Feb 01 - 02:09 PM Jimmy C states, "there are no stupid questions." Is it true? Are there no stupid questions? |
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Subject: RE: stupid questions From: Sarah2 Date: 05 Feb 01 - 02:19 PM Questions indicate a willingness to learn, I'd think. They confess ignorance, not stupidity. Two different things. Stupid people are often unwilling to learn, so they remain ignorant, true; but they also remain stupid. However, there are a lot of stupid answers out there...Alex got one in the second posting of his thread on Calypso/Raggae music. My humble opinion. Sarah |
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Subject: RE: stupid questions From: mousethief Date: 05 Feb 01 - 02:19 PM No question which is asked sincerely, in order to learn the answer, is stupid. JMHO. Alex |
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Subject: RE: stupid questions From: Mrrzy Date: 05 Feb 01 - 02:23 PM In my classes, the stupid questions are of 2 types: 1) The ones you should have asked, but didn't, and |
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Subject: RE: stupid questions From: Gary T Date: 05 Feb 01 - 03:03 PM I think there are stupid questions. They are ones that the asker knows, should know, or could easily, with a bit of thought, figure out the answer to. Nevertheless, often questions which APPEAR to be stupid are not so. They sometimes reflect the asker's giving the matter enough thought to realize that certain assumptions don't necessarily apply. |
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Subject: RE: stupid questions From: mousethief Date: 05 Feb 01 - 03:10 PM The problem, in my experience, is that the person who decides that my question is a "stupid question" is in possession of knowledge which I am not, and who can't imagine a time before they learned that knowledge, and therefore think it's more like "common sense" or "universal knowledge" and not what it really is, viz., something they learned at some point along the way. It behooves us all, I think, to treat other people's questions as serious, honest questions until we have reason to think otherwise. And serious, honest questions are never stupid. Alex |
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Subject: RE: stupid questions From: bloozcat Date: 05 Feb 01 - 03:11 PM I dunno I seem to be fulla' stupid questions ..does that make me stupid then ?....ha ha |
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Subject: RE: stupid questions From: Wesley S Date: 05 Feb 01 - 03:12 PM One day when I was working retail I was standing at the cash register ringing up a customers purchase. I was wearing a name tag. Someone asked "Do you work here?" If that wasn't a stupid question then it came pretty darn close. |
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Subject: RE: stupid questions From: Matt_R Date: 05 Feb 01 - 03:14 PM Remember, there are no stupid questions, only stupid people. |
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Subject: RE: stupid questions From: catspaw49 Date: 05 Feb 01 - 03:18 PM What's the point here? -Stupid Question- ANSWER: YES Spaw |
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Subject: RE: stupid questions From: GUEST,I remember Mbo Date: 05 Feb 01 - 03:23 PM Matt_R, You are so right about stupid people. Remember that Mbo guy who posted the suicide lyrics and then disappeared from here for a while. We were all worried about sick about him. Then he showed up again under a different name. The joke was sure on us. We were all pretty stupid people to have worried about him. He was just playing us all for fools and we all fell for it. |
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Subject: RE: stupid questions From: CarolC Date: 05 Feb 01 - 03:32 PM Here's a stupid question for GUEST, I remember Mbo. Why did you submit that post anonymously? Carol |
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Subject: RE: stupid questions From: Gary T Date: 05 Feb 01 - 03:45 PM Wesley, that's an example of what I would call a stupid question. Now in saying that, I assume that the asker had been in retail stores before and had the chance to observe that people who ring up sales and wear name tags do indeed work there. If the person had never been in a store before, then Alex's remarks about supposed "universal knowledge" would apply. Alex, I agree with your observations about "common sense." I have known folks who seem to think that if they know something, anyone who doesn't know it must be stupid. I would disagree about serious, honest never being stupid. I think a question can be serious, honest, and stupid. I don't claim it's common, just possible. This seems to have started on the thread where Alex asked "What's the diff btwn calypso and reggae?" (which was NOT a stupid question). In response to an asinine reply, Alex said "ask a simple question and get an obnoxious flame." Then shesellsetc. escalated that to "You asked a stupid question, you got a stupid flame" (which struck me as rather ridiculous, in that it was not a stupid question). One of the posts had the old saw "There is no such thing as a stupid question." My opinion is that this phrase was coined to bolster the confidence of people who hesitate to asked needed questions for fear of being thought stupid. I'd much rather they feel comfortable asking--as one of my bosses used to say, it's easier to answer a stupid question than to fix a stupid mistake--but I don't believe it's a true statement. |
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Subject: RE: stupid questions From: poor lonesome boy Date: 05 Feb 01 - 03:46 PM speaking of stupid, what's with this thread? |
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Subject: RE: stupid questions From: CarolC Date: 05 Feb 01 - 03:51 PM Hey big joe. How've you been? Still haven't found your folks yet. Carol |
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Subject: RE: stupid questions From: GUEST,I remember Mbo Date: 05 Feb 01 - 03:54 PM CarolC, You asked why I posted anonymously. It's because I wouldn't want anyone to think that my regular Mudcat identity (which like most Mudcat identities is also anonymous) is stupid enough to be responding to threads like this. |
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Subject: RE: stupid questions From: mousethief Date: 05 Feb 01 - 03:56 PM I remember: Are you saying you're stupid, but don't want people to know you're stupid? |
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Subject: RE: stupid questions From: CarolC Date: 05 Feb 01 - 04:02 PM Wow, GUEST, IRM. That was a good answer. Carol |
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Subject: RE: stupid questions From: GUEST,Bruce O. Date: 05 Feb 01 - 04:12 PM Questions are only stupid when the questioner doesn't bother to think about the subject before asking the question. We're born with a number instincts, but knowledge is zero, and that's where everyone starts from, and no one ever gets to the point of 'know-it-all' (except to their egos). Questions, even though they may sound stupid to others that have a bigger knowledge pool, are an essential part of gaining knowledge. |
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Subject: RE: stupid questions From: poor lonesome boy Date: 05 Feb 01 - 04:21 PM hey Carol. How's the Sunshine Town treatin' ya? Never mind my folks, stop in on my grandma and give her a hug for me. Tell what's-his-name that you're visiting to lay off the sarcasm. There are two Ls in Marshall. I got cut off. One typo on a post I thought nobody would read and BOOM, they hit you. *S* |
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Subject: RE: stupid questions From: GUEST,Ickle dorritt Date: 05 Feb 01 - 04:24 PM stupid question -are the seashore shells she sells, seashore shells? |
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Subject: RE: stupid questions From: CarolC Date: 05 Feb 01 - 04:28 PM It's a great town, big joe. Don't mind flattop. Sarcasm is what he does best. He got a kick out of the way you spelled Orillia on both of your posts. He was just having fun with you. He actually was disappointed that you didn't come back to tell us which Marshalls we needed to be looking for. Carol |
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Subject: RE: stupid questions From: Jim Dixon Date: 05 Feb 01 - 05:06 PM Stupid or not, this question has been asked (and answered) before. See these threads:
BS: Stupidest Question Asked! |
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Subject: RE: stupid questions From: Burke Date: 05 Feb 01 - 05:24 PM Yes there are stupid questions. The problem is that the next one might not be stupid. Someone who has felt supid based on past answers might not ask some future question. People in positions to answer questions: parents, teachers, supervisors, doctors, librarians need to remember to treat even the stupid ones as valid so that the ones that aren't stupid get asked. It's like a mantra they need to keep reciting. Creating a mental habit of treating all questions as valid can make that first response less off putting than it might otherwise be. |
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Subject: RE: stupid questions From: Little Hawk Date: 05 Feb 01 - 05:28 PM Okay, I'll bite. Here's one: WHEN, OH WHEN, IS SPAW GOING TO STOP POSTING WEIRD AND UNSUBSTANTIATED CLAIMS ABOUT HIS MONSTROUS PHYSICAL ENDOWMENTS AND GROSS PERSONAL HABITS? When is he going to adopt the good manners and tasteful behaviour that are considered essential in order to properly post to Mudcat? Actually, that was two, wasn't it? - LH |
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Subject: RE: stupid questions From: mousethief Date: 05 Feb 01 - 05:35 PM Geez, LH, those are easy.
1. Your guess is as good as mine, and Burke, you have hit the nail on the head, at least as far as I am concerned. Whenever we are tempted to be sarcastic and nasty about a question someone has asked, we need to stop and put a sock in it. Sometimes people are lazy, sometimes people ask real doozies. But if they are honestly seeking the answer, we must needs be polite and helpful, and just answer it for them. Part of what the distinction between stupid questions and not-stupid questions is used for, is to create an "inner ring" that excludes certain people, based on their knowledge, how long they've been around, who they know or are related to, or whatever. This, IMHO, is (almost always) evil. Alex |
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Subject: RE: stupid questions From: GUEST,Sergio Alguim Date: 05 Feb 01 - 07:22 PM I agree with Gary T. I also think there are stupid questions: - Who is the president in USA now ? (I know it, and if I think 10 seconds more, I will remember it) - What religion is the pope representing ? (I know it, and if I think 10 seconds more, I will remember it) - How is the weather today ? (If I look out of the window next to me, then I can see it myself, instead of asking someone) and so on .......... Such questions are stupid, I think, if the persons that ask easily could have found the answers by thinking 10 seconds or look out of the window. But of course, for some people these questions are not stupid. A poor guy in India may not know who is the president in USA, and a person in the jungle may not know what religion the pope represents. And a blind guy may not know how the weather is. But the questions are stupid for those people who speaks before they are thinking, if they easily could have known or remembered the answers, by easy thinking or examining, and for those who are listening to the questions. I think the questions can be stupid for someone, and not stupid for others. And "the others" are not necessarily stupid people, but they are sometimes just not knowing the answers. |
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Subject: RE: stupid questions From: GUEST,petr Date: 05 Feb 01 - 07:32 PM when you bring chocolates for your girlfriend and she says. Are those for me? (no theyre for your brother or your dad or some other guy) When someone wakes you up to ask you "are you asleep?" When you fall down an elevator shaft and someone asks you "are you alright?" (theres great song by the Canote brothers from Seattle that I just quoted) cheers petr |
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Subject: RE: stupid questions From: GUEST,Clinton Date: 05 Feb 01 - 08:27 PM Define "stupid." |
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Subject: RE: stupid questions From: GUEST,Sergio Alguim Date: 05 Feb 01 - 09:19 PM To Clinton: If you are Bill: The word "stupid" means to say like: "These allegations are false" if they are really true. |
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Subject: RE: stupid questions From: Pseudolus Date: 06 Feb 01 - 10:24 AM Near my house we have an overpass that 15 years or so back needed serious maintenance. The maintenance took nearly a year to complete and during that time the inconvenience of having to go another route was huge. When it was complete, the city decided to have a parade to commemorate the re-opening of the bridge/overpass. Marching bands, local civis groups, local theatre groups were all asked to participate. I was there with the cast of a show I was doing at the time. It was a real party and everybody had a great time. As we're marching across the bridge, a woman walking next to me said, "This is fun, do they do this every year??" Now I'm a big believer that there are no stupid questions but on that day, I had to make an exception.... :) Frank |
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Subject: RE: stupid questions From: harpgirl Date: 06 Feb 01 - 10:53 AM Kendall here...when I was with the Fish & Wildlife service, an old woman called my office and asked "I want to know what this floridated water is going to do to my parakeet" absolutely true..I had to reject three smart ass answers before replying. Another time, a mid western tourist asked me how far offshore the boats had to go to catch Finnan Haddie!! Children will often ask questions to which they know the answers, but, they are actually seeking attention. I dont think that makes them stupid. |
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Subject: RE: stupid questions From: CarolC Date: 06 Feb 01 - 10:58 AM What's Finnan Haddie? |
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Subject: RE: stupid questions From: Dave Wynn Date: 06 Feb 01 - 11:20 AM Finnan Haddie=Smoked Haddock (white fish made yellow and flavoursome with oak smoke....) The "stupid question" thing is mainly a matter of everyday courtesy. If someone asks a foolish (or stupid) question it is impolite and discourteous to tell them so. If they ask it twice is another matter. Spot. |
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Subject: RE: stupid questions From: annamill Date: 06 Feb 01 - 12:24 PM Finnan Haddie, absolutely deliciocious!! (sp on purpose) I broil it with a piquant sauce. Butter, herbs, lemon. Umm Umm Good! Expensive though. Love, annamill |
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Subject: RE: stupid questions From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 06 Feb 01 - 12:47 PM Who is the president in USA now ?
That's not a stupid question. It's quite controversial isn't it? Might mean who's in the White House? But maybe it might mean who got elected last November?
And sometime squesdtions aren't wuersdtions at all. Maybe the person who asked Wesley if he worked in the shop was suggesting tha he wasn't working hard enough for his liking. Like the old crack "How many people work here?" - "Oh, about half of them!" |
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Subject: RE: stupid questions From: MartinRyan Date: 06 Feb 01 - 12:55 PM A few weeks ago, the phone in the office I share with two others, rang. I picked it up and said "Hello!" - being a reasonably polite guy. "Eeeh... Is that Dr. Kelly's voicemail?" sez the caller! Regards |
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Subject: RE: stupid questions From: Blackcatter Date: 06 Feb 01 - 12:55 PM greetings all sometimes, stupid questions have a lot to do with the asker being in an unusual situation where they are receiving a lot of new information and where things are set up differently than normal for them. Hence visitors to Walt Disney World asking the following questions to employees: What time is the 3 o'clock parade? Are those birds real? Is the rain real? It this t-shirt $15 dollars in American money? Where did I park my car? Since you work at Disney, where do you go on vacation? Do you all live here? Where are the Sea World t-shirts? And the one I love and I swear was actually put to me by a middle aged American man: Tell me, is Mickey Mouse a cat or a dog? pax yall
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Subject: RE: stupid questions From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 06 Feb 01 - 01:30 PM Tell me, is Mickey Mouse a cat or a dog?
I think that is very perceptive of someone. I think it's time he was outed. Her's no mouse. I think he's a surgically altered poodle myself. |
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Subject: RE: stupid questions From: Lepus Rex Date: 06 Feb 01 - 01:30 PM Don't these dickless cretins ('Peter MacIntosh,' swssbts) read threads like the 'Evil Guest' one? I really wish our IP would be there on each of our posts, even if it meant I'd get DoSed once in a while... ---Lepus Rex |
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Subject: RE: stupid questions From: Lepus Rex Date: 06 Feb 01 - 01:33 PM Oh yeah, and 'Guest, I remember Mbo,' too. Hate to hurt anyone's feelings by leaving them out... ---Lepus Rex |
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Subject: RE: stupid questions From: Ebbie Date: 06 Feb 01 - 02:49 PM McGrath, glad to see your new spell checker is working. :) We- as does probably every tourist destination- get a lot of questions from visitors and we share them with glee. Like, Why don't they clean the glacier for the season? (A local artist did a poster showing a vacuum cleaner busily buzzing across the glacier front) or Do you take American money? (This is Alaska) or What's the exchange rate? (This is Alaska) or Why is the water in your bay so low?(That's the ocean, and tidally affected)or... The questions may be 'stupid' as in 'without thought' but I'm aware of my own propensity to ask witless questions in an unfamiliar area. If it exists at all, a stupid question is very entertaining. Ebbie |
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Subject: RE: stupid questions From: harpgirl Date: 06 Feb 01 - 04:02 PM Finnan Haddie is smoked haddock in this part of the world. |
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Subject: RE: stupid questions From: mousethief Date: 06 Feb 01 - 04:44 PM I suppose the "haddie" part means haddock. Does the "finnan" part mean "smoked"? (Is this a stupid question?) Alex |
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Subject: RE: stupid questions From: Lepus Rex Date: 06 Feb 01 - 04:49 PM VERY stupid. And racist. ---Lepus Rex ;) |
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Subject: RE: stupid questions From: mousethief Date: 06 Feb 01 - 04:52 PM I admit it! I killed him! I'm so sorry but he was driving me crazy with that BAM! BAM! BAM! every night! Wait. Sorry. Wrong thread. |
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Subject: RE: stupid questions From: Spud Murphy Date: 06 Feb 01 - 07:05 PM hi y'all doon t'day? Boy, that's a STUPID question!!!!! Spud |
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Subject: RE: stupid questions From: Blackcatter Date: 06 Feb 01 - 10:26 PM what would a Feinian Haddie be? by the way, I love the Alaskan visitor questions! My favorite questions: A person asked me once near the Big Thunder Mtn. Railroad: "Could you tell me where the Magic Kingdom is?" I tried to explain that she was IN the Magic Kingdom, but she would have nothing of it. I could not persuade her, so I gave up and told her to turn around, walk through Adventureland to the center, go through Main Street USA until she got to the entrance, take the boat or the Monorail to the parking lot, get into her car and drive out to Interstate 4. Make a U-turn at the next interchange and follow the directions for the Magic Kingdom. It next day I found out from my supervisor that she followed my directions and then when she discovered I have lead her on, she complained and insisted that I be fired. My luck the stupidest Disney guest ever was good at remembering names. I was not fired - she easily proved herself to be an idiot to the people she complained to so all I got was a reprimand. pax yall |
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Subject: RE: stupid questions From: rangeroger Date: 06 Feb 01 - 10:48 PM In my area of Idaho,the northern panhandle, one of the big tourist questions is "At what altitude do the deer turn to elk?" rr |
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Subject: RE: stupid questions From: Matt_R Date: 06 Feb 01 - 11:07 PM This Christmas, I was setting up the Nativity scene outside, and my neighbor came over and asked me "Are those the Wise Men?" And I said "No, it's ZZ Top on a Farm Aid Concert!" Here's your sign. |
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