Have you ever felt stupid for asking a question?

United States
December 30, 2009 11:24am CST
I have felt stupid for asking a question before. I know that I shouldn't because they say no question is a dumb question if you do not know the answer. That is what I believe. I hate when people look at you when you ask a question they know the answer to and they think it is a dumb question and the give you a hard time about it. It makes you feel totally dumb and I absolutely hate it. All you are asking for is a simple answer. People can be so mean and rude for you asking the simplest things. I would not make fun of anyone for asking a simple question. If I knew the answer I would tell them and not thunk anything of it.
3 people like this
24 responses
@kathy714 (128)
• China
31 Dec 09
I think it is impolite to mock at somebody for asking a simple question. There is definitely something you know and something you don't know. Don't judge everybody based on yourself. Asking questions is a good way to learn. So just ignore the people who mock at you.
@kathy714 (128)
• China
31 Dec 09
But I don't mean you should ask everything without thinking. If you can work it out without big difficulties by yourself, why not try it first. We rely on ourselves most of the time.
• United States
30 Dec 09
I agree how will we ever know the answer if we don't ask the question. And for those who make or made fun of us for asking I am sure one day they will have a question and they will feel stupid for answering and I am sure they will get the same treatment because I believe what goes around comes around!
• Mexico
31 Dec 09
Hi ja hernandez rivas: Actually that's exactly what I think. People that try to make you look stupid because you ask a question are not really intelligent persons, they just act as they know it all are not able in most of the cases to made a rational speech. Thanks for your answer. I Hope you are having a nice day. Merry Christmas/ Happy Holidays and Happy New Year. Take Care. -Alvaro.
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
1 Jan 10
Yes. I have felt that way several times in my life. I do not think any question is a dumb question though but some people look at you like you are ignorant sometimes when you ask something they think you should already know.
@jessi0887 (2788)
• United States
31 Dec 09
I was in fourth grade or fifth but they were having gym class and were doing the whole body education thing. Basically they were explaining the whole monthly menstrual thing. Considering my mother never told me nothing about it I was soo curious to what this information was they were throwing out at me. I dont exactly remember how i asked a question but even to this day its so embarrassing to even talk about. Every girl in that room the same age as me turned and looked at me as if i were an idiot. I felt like the only girl whose mother didn't explain it prior. So my daughter will know ahead of time.:)
@Savedeath (255)
• China
31 Dec 09
Hi tuck. I don't like asking questions,i always think that if they can solve the question then why can't i.so when i had a hard item i will try my best to figure it out but sometimes it really tooke me lots of time,and the worse was it was just a very simple problem which i haven't taken notice.although i don't like asking,if others asked me i would be very glad to help them.that's not a big deal.
• United States
8 Jan 10
I feel stupid fo asking a bunch of questions. If there is no answer then i do feel stupid but if there is an answer then i dont feel so bad. i don't really care if people think its a stupid question or not at least I'm asking them something.
@drakesuyat (1063)
• Philippines
31 Dec 09
my friend and i went into a seminar about routers. when its time for the question and answer, we started talking to each other and didn't listen on the question by other guests their. when suddenly, a question pops into my mind and i immediately raised my hand and luckily i got called and began to ask my question in front. surprisingly everyone on the floor laughed upon hearing it and i hear most of them shouting, "that's already been asked"! i really felt so stupid and was so embarrassed that i decided to go home instead. happy new year tuckersheri
• China
31 Dec 09
i also have such experience but i can't remember the exactly question what i asked now.that may the worest one i ever asked and both of the one who i asked and me have been embrassed about that and that man may think how stupid i was and he may repeat the question like a joke still.
• United States
31 Dec 09
I felt that way a lot when I was in college...I just graduated last December and I'm 43 years old! So yes....I felt like an idiot sometimes when I asked a question in class, but I usually found out later that there were a lot of other people who had the same question, they were just to shy or afraid to ask it. Never be afraid to ask a question! The people who don't ask are the ones who are missing out and won't get the right information. Never feel as if a question is stupid. People who know the answer to your question should be willing to help and most of the time...those who look at you as if you are stupid...aren't so smart themselves.
• Malaysia
31 Dec 09
Ah yes... I think this kind of reactions what makes some of us are afraid, shy or hate to ask questions. I only don't like it when some people are not paying attention and pretend not to know and ask about the same things many times just to get the attention or sometimes they pretend to know the answers by nodding their heads or giving the 'yes' expressions, and when we ask if they understand what we are saying, they say 'yes'. However, after some time, they will ask questions of what we have just said, so, to me, that's kind of 'stupid' and quite annoying actually.
@Fulltank (2882)
• Philippines
31 Dec 09
The only time I felt stupid when asking a question is when the person whom I ask doesn't know the answer. Or I felt, he would not tell the truth. Not only did I fell stupid but rather felt sorry for my self why I ask the question itself.
• Indonesia
31 Dec 09
Yeah, I'd like you, ask something stupid, which seems the answer is very easy, even someone else besides you have the answer, but we still ask on the forums that could be heard a lot of people. I experienced something like that, when I was in college, when a student friend asked something, and is answered by the lecturer in front, but then again I ask the same question, so the whole class laughed at me, the lecturer even answer that question once again in a mocking tone. Felt so ashamed when it was. But I ignored it! Embarrassed to ask, astray on the road, right?
@bhawanee (174)
• India
31 Dec 09
It shows your positive approach and always keep up with this attitude. Sometimes what happens is people forget some simple answers and they ask us, in fact i had the same experience like i was holding handkerchief in my hand and i was asking my son Where is the Handkerchief? My son thought that i was making fun of him and told me search for myself but later on he said that i was holding. So never feel annoyed for simple questions. Wish you a Happy New Year.
@wizteen (502)
• India
31 Dec 09
yes i have felt stupid on asking silly questions sometimes. i dont wanna mention what dumb questions i asked though.lol
@shaggin (71573)
• United States
30 Dec 09
I agree with you on this 100%. I think some people are so rude when they know the answer to something and you dont and give you rude looks or say something rude. They think they are better then you when they act that way. If we didnt want to learn the answer we wouldnt have asked. I agree with the thinking that no question is a dumb question to an extent. Sometimes kids ask questions that they already know just to hear themselves speak. That annoys me then I just tell them you know the answer you tell me. If they really dont know then of course I tell them but I want to make them think not sit there and have me answer nonsence questions. I feel stupid a lot when I ask questions because my husband always tells me are you really that stupid? You should have learned that in such and such a grade. Yeah comments like that dont help they just ruin my self esteem worse and ruin our marriage.
• United States
30 Dec 09
I just did in fact in another discussion I should know the answer and probably DO know the answer but my brain just cant come up with the answer right now so I had to ask the question I am sure that once I hear the answer I will feel even dumber for having to ask in the first place but oh well LOL
• United States
30 Dec 09
Hi Tuckersheri, Yeah I have felt stupid asking plenty of the questions I do. I totally agree with you on the part they should just give you the answer without making never want to ask a question again.
• Mexico
30 Dec 09
Hi tuckersheri: I agree with you and i am in the same position you have been passed. It's so horrible to see how a person has this kind of attitude that really din't help you at all. It's not obligatory that youknow everything and even the simple things can be forget in a moment so it's not ok that someone think you are stupid because you ask something you need to find an answer for. That's the reason why, even if I know I need to find an answer I'm not sure like you if i have to do it or someone will laugh after i ask and makes in some cases that i don't ask what i want to ask. Thanks for asking us this question, which is in fact a very intelligent question. Hope you are having a nice day. Merry Christmas/ Happy Holidays and Happy New Year. Take Care. -Alvaro.
@Sketch1 (33)
• Australia
31 Dec 09
Haha. I ask simple questions all the time but I guess I am kinda used to being looked at like I am stupid. It doesn't bother me anymore, I just like to know the answer. Often I just laugh or smile nicely and no nasty comments follow because they don't know if I am being serious or not. A smile is contagious, and if both people involved are mature enough it can seriously help any awkwardness.
• Canada
30 Dec 09
Yes I have felt stupid for asking a question, one day in class i asked a question on some information that i simply forgot and when i asked it every one were looking me like what an idiot, i just wanted to disapear. That has only ever happend to me once.