I've heard many used the phrase "There are no stupid questions?" to encourage everyone to ask questions.
As motivating as it may be. I find a crucial flaw in this statement. Logically, it is already at fault because by encouraging others to ask questions, one has compromised the TRUTH which ultimately leads to the fact that the word "stupid" shouldn't even exist. Hence becoming an example of a hypocritical expression.
I would rather say: (When Dealing with questions of honest intent) There are stupid questions, but there are no stupid people.
If you have the will to ask, you are already not stupid. Unless you intend to be stupid, by not asking. Many would decide not to ask because they felt that it is impolite, immoral or even believing that their questions are so superior that no one could answer, hence pride. Therefore there's no desire to seek the truth, or at least not in the priority order. For if the desire to seek the truth is not in priority order, it could easily make one less brave, less humble, less honest.
Then how about the impolite, immoral aspect due to asking questions? I would say it is there only if you want it to be. If your intention of asking questions is because it's out of jealousy, wanting to shame someone, then it is immoral. However the desire to know the truth overcomes this.
Consequently, it is an intention to be stupid by not asking questions one has in mind for those reasons.
So some would ask what if by asking, it would actually shame someone (unintentionally)?
I believe if the questions is asked in an honest and direct and right attitude, it is NEVER wrong. It can be asked with persistence but not forcefully. An if someone is to be hurt by this, after all the right attitude of asking, it is the right of that someone to examine himself as to why he is hurt by this. We can also help him examine that. But if we stop seeking after the truth just because we pre-suppose that "ALL hurts are BAD and ALL hurts must be ABSOLUTELY avoided" then we have compromised the truth by human emotions. And that itself, is a sin.
Summary: There are stupid questions, but there are no stupid people. So ask, ask, ask. But ask with the right attitude yet still ask. Even knowing that some questions could be stupid, ask to know the truth. This is not stupid. My definition of "ask" here is more than just a sentence with a question mark, it is the desire to know, to seek after the truth.
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