7 ways to celebrate “Ask a stupid question day
Knowledge can be a subtle curse. When we learn about the world, we also learn all the reasons why the world cannot be changed….We become numb to the possibilities of something new. ~ Jonah Lehrer, author of How We Decide
Did you know September 28th is recognized as “Ask a stupid question day?” My parents would probably find this amusing as it falls on their anniversary when they were officially asked whether they freely entered a marital union by answering, “I do.” I suspect by the time they got to the altar, they felt it was a stupid question.
Although the day officially occurs at the end of the month, encouraging questions, stupid or not, can happen anytime. It doesn’t hurt to remember you can ask stupid questions of yourself, too. The idea is to create an atmosphere where asking questions of any sort is normalized.
Table of Contents
The origins of Stupid Question Day.
Curiosity and asking stupid questions.
Are there really no stupid questions?.
Stupid versus basic questions.
7 ways to celebrate Stupid Question Day.
1) Obviously, you can ask a stupid question yourself.
2) Take the day to ask questions you’ve been holding back.
6) Engage in different discussions.
The origins of Stupid Question Day
Good teachers encourage questions to help students think critically. “Ask a stupid question day” was created in the United States by K-12 teachers in the 1980s to help kids participate in classroom work instead of holding their questions back, fearing ridicule. Teachers in India and Britain have also been known to celebrate the day. The best way to use it in the classroom is to give an example aloud of a stupid question you would like to know the answer to yourself and encourage some lighthearted discussion of possible answers.
Curiosity and asking stupid questions
Stupid questions may be simple, humorous, curious, or profound. It is a chance to be inquisitive about the world around and inside us. Easily answered questions like “What time does the convenience store on the corner close?” is not the kind of question we are talking about here. You can get that answer with a quick Google search.
A stupid question might be, “Does the convenience store have milk?” but that might lead to a discussion of what kind, why it is available, whether it is preferred by customers of a certain ethnic group and not another, or what to do about lactose intolerance. Or “Do you know whether beer is gluten-free?” Maybe not so stupid, either: Most beers, ales, stouts, and lagers contain varying amounts of gluten, and there are gluten-free options.
Curiosity is a fundamental human trait if it’s not quashed. Children are often praised for their unfiltered curiosity and their willingness to ask questions that adults might consider “stupid.” If you have kids, you may have experienced the “Why is the sky blue?” question and remember the incessant asking of “why” questions by a toddler. Kids are not self-conscious, just interested in learning.
As we grow older and become more self-conscious, our fearless curiosity can dwindle as we worry that we should already know the answer. Stupid Question Day serves as a reminder to rekindle that childlike wonder and remember asking questions is a sign of intellectual curiosity, not ignorance.
Are there really no stupid questions?
Asking a stupid question doesn’t mean we’re unintelligent, less knowledgeable, or even idiotic. There are stupid questions that really belong in the category of thoughtlessness because people don’t always pause to think before they speak. Or, the question is asked to find agreement for a particular position, whether related to politics or research topics. What you do not want to do is ask an interviewer questions about a company or organization easily answered by looking at their website, such as “Do you have offices in London?” You should have done this research ahead of any interview, whether informational or for an advertised position.
Stop barriers to curiosity
It’s also surprising how often you think to yourself, “That’s a stupid question, so I won’t ask it,” then someone else does, and there is a round of head nodding as others begin to consider the question. In educational and professional settings, people may hesitate to ask questions for fear of appearing unintelligent or uninformed, leading to misunderstandings, missed opportunities, and collaborative breakdowns. Stupid Question Day helps us remember to challenge such barriers to participation. When a stupid question is posed, and there is no simple answer, it may mean there is a deeper question going unanswered.
For instance, I was recently part of a group trying to decide whether to renew property insurance in a flood-prone area. The initial answer was, “Of course.” Then one member asked, “For how long?” This opened a discussion on how many coastal insurance companies were discontinuing flood insurance due to climate change and sea level rise. Maybe the policy we had wasn’t the right one anymore. Maybe we were making a mistake in attempting to insure an irreplaceable historic building, given the continuing cost increases. Forcing a group to stop and consider an action or idea more deeply can act as a counterbalance to groupthink.
The academic world applauds knowledge and expertise. Feeling like you should know the answer can lead to thoughts of “I’m an imposter” or a sense of “I don’t belong here.” Graduate student seminars can be extraordinarily dull if you and your peers are so fearful of looking stupid. No one wants to offer an opinion to the professor on the day’s reading assignment. Even simply asking, “What do you think the author meant by….” can open a conversation. You never know where the conversation can lead. The most successful academic from my graduate school years was the person who always asked the stupid question.
Generate innovation
Stupid questions are crucial to innovation. After asking himself, “Why not use wheels on luggage to make traveling easier?” Bernard Sadow is credited with this invention by simply attaching some casters and a strap in 1972. As an aside, adoption was, however, hindered by gender stereotypes. Suitcases with wheels or rolling porters had already been available for decades. Men resisted rolling luggage because carrying suitcases was masculine. Wheeled luggage was a sign of weakness.
Finding depth of knowledge
Inquiring minds asked, “Why does the toast always fall jam-side down?” and the answer comes from physics. Because toast tends to rotate about 1 ½ if dropped from a table, and there is greater weight on the jelly side, so your jelly connects with the floor. It turns out to be a very interesting question related to concepts around the center of gravity. The concept, without all the equations, has been in our culture for a few centuries as an expression of pessimism and loss.
Lynn Margulis, now a highly lauded evolutionary biologist, was initially ridiculed. Published in 1967, her theory that cell organelles were once independent bacteria was largely ignored for over a decade. Her endosymbiosis idea was only accepted once other researchers substantiated the theory through genetic experiments. James Lovelock, another scientist out of step with mainstream science in the 20th century, collaborated with Margulis on the Gaia hypothesis positing the earth is a self-regulating system of living organisms interacting with an inorganic environment. This has also been supported by various experiments as humanity experiences an ever-evolving biosphere.
Enhancing creativity
Stupid questions enhance creativity. “Walk in stupid every morning” is the tagline greeting visitors at the entrance to the creative advertising agency Wieden + Kennedy. At the door, you will see a mannequin in a business suit with a blender for a head carrying a suitcase with this catchphrase on it. Dan Weiden, one of the founders, is credited with creating the Nike slogan, “Just do it.” On the company website, Weiden is quoted as saying, “… The minute you think you know, the minute you go – oh, yeah, we’ve been here before, no sense reinventing the wheel – you stop learning, stop questioning, and start believing in your own wisdom, you’re dead.” A Zen practitioner might see this as entering with “beginner’s mind.”
Fostering a growth mindset
Growth mindset, a term coined by psychologist Carol Dweck, is at the heart of Ask a Stupid Question Day. Someone with a growth mindset believes in their ability and intelligence to learn new things. Those with a growth mindset are more likely to embrace challenges, learn from failures, and seek out new information. Encouraging “stupid” questions promotes a growth mindset over its opposite, a fixed mindset.
We understand there is more to learn, and it’s OK to answer, “I don’t know.” It is acceptable that even the most knowledgeable individuals have gaps in their understanding. When we ask questions without fear of judgment, we open ourselves up to new perspectives and opportunities for personal and professional growth.
Stupid versus basic questions
Maybe it would be better to reframe “stupid” as “basic.” After all, Albert Einstein supposedly began crafting his theory of relativity by wondering, “What would happen if I chased a beam of light?” Or, further back, Isaac Newton asking, “Why does an apple always fall to the ground?” Elemental questions can sound silly, beginning as they often do with “That’s odd” or “I wonder why…” Even the simplest queries can lead to profound insights. Curiosity is the driving force that lends itself to greater exploration. Curiosity, after all, is the name of the largest Mars rover still actively exploring the red planet after more nearly ten years on the surface.
7 ways to celebrate Stupid Question Day
So, how can you celebrate Stupid Question Day? Here are seven ideas:
Perhaps the question would be better framed as basic. I’d love to know why rainbows make us happy. I certainly know enough science of how light and water create a 7-color prismatic arc. But why happiness? Maybe someone has already investigated and can tell me. My uneducated stupid answer would be that a rainbow can signal a storm ending.
Whether it’s at work, in your studies, or in your personal life, don’t be afraid to inquire about things you don’t fully understand. Well-read people in my non-fiction book club regularly come saying, “I didn’t understand what was meant by…” Or, “I’ve read those research results, but that’s not what I thought it meant.” Kicking around other viewpoints and interpretations can open your own mind.
Encourage others to ask questions by fostering an environment where curiosity is welcomed. If you have a check-in time at a meeting or a wrap-up reflection time, letting people know no question is too silly or trivial in the moment can keep communications open and clear, staving off time and trouble later.
Take a moment to reflect on your learning journey. Consider the questions you’ve asked in the past and how they’ve contributed to your growth mindset. we can challenge ourselves to ask questions stretching our imagination and understanding.
Encourage others to celebrate the day and share some of their own learnings that came from asking stupid questions. I only recently discovered “Ask a stupid question day” myself. Others might be interested in this celebration, too. Not to mention giving people permission to ask seemingly inane questions.
Initiate discussions centered around questions. This could be with friends, family, or colleagues. You might be surprised at the insights that emerge. This could be a great place to ask, “Why are we doing things this way?” If the answer is “Because we’ve always done it this way,” it may be time to rethink what you are doing.
Use the day to explore a new topic or skill. Don’t hesitate to ask questions as you delve into unfamiliar territory. Maybe it’s time to begin investigating ChatGPT and how you can use it in your work. Or just begin generally playing around with generative AI prompts. It may shift your perspective when you understand more about the pleasures and pitfalls of the new machine learning models.
To sum up, Stupid Question Day is both lighthearted and meaningful. By celebrating this quirky holiday, we are reminded of the importance of curiosity, inquiry, and the value of embracing questions without reluctance. Let’s support our inner child by boldly asking “stupid” questions in September and beyond. You never know where the answers to those questions may lead.
Still curious? Ask Hillary on a 20-minute complimentary call.
Tags: academia, academic, communication, confidence
