Q&complAints #651 : Stupidest Question

What is the stupidest question ever asked?

Post your answer in the LEAVE A COMMENT section below. I’m not the boss of you, though. Don’t write anything for all I care! It’s stupid for me to even ask that of you.
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. . .here are my thoughts.

What is the stupidest question ever asked?

“Can I ask you a question?”

In the most literal of senses, this is the question.  Realistically, though, it’s used as an attention-getter—nothing more than a preface to the real query.  I trust you see the logistical problem, the tautology, the circular reasoning.  A question has literally been asked in the questioning of whether a question can be asked.  The real quandary one’s burdened with is how to answer if they’d prefer a follow-up question of unknown depth and complexity not be asked of them.  They can’t readily respond “No,” since it’s just been proven that a question can, in fact, be asked.  The conversation inevitably proceeds like so: 

“You just did.”

“Okay, can I ask you one more?”

“You just did.”

“Okay, fine … this one and one more.”

“Technically, that wasn’t a question.”

“You know what—fuck you!  I don’t remember what I was gonna say anyway.”

“I think you mean ask.

It’s much better to just lead with a statement of intent: “Let me ask you a question.”  Even better, simply ask the ultimate question.  We live in a free country (for now, at least)—stop asking for permission.


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