I disagree. I say there are silly questions. I also disagree with the old saying that there are no stupid questions. In any classroom environment, “will this be on the test?” is indeed a stupid question. Not only is it stupid because one should expect that everything discussed in class will likely end up on a test at some point during the entirety of the course. But it is also stupid because it will get you pummelled by your classmates, since by simply asking it, you have virtually guaranteed that it will be on the test — and probably on more than one test.
I prefer the alternate sayings — “Ask a silly/stupid question, get a silly/stupid answer.”
Same here; much like the fairly well known assessment (attributed to Pauli) “that’s not even wrong!” concerning a particularly botched physics paper, I think it’s perfectly possible for a question to be stupid – if nothing else, by being inconsistent with itself, an earlier answer or simply common knowledge and elementary logic. A “good question” exists as one that reveals insight into the nature of the problem it refers to – by contrast, a “stupid question” is one that betrays a startling lack of it…
But consider that earlier answers, common knowledge, and elementary logic should occasionally be questioned. Over the years, there have been numerous discoveries that proved wrong things that were already “known”. Take a look in a set of encyclopediae from the 1800s, and you’ll find a lot of “facts” that we know now to be complete rubbish.
I didn’t say a non-stupid question should worship common knowledge on some sort of pedestal, as immutable truth, never to be questioned. But if setting out to challenge it, it definitely should prove in-depth understanding of it as currently accepted, as well as propose a rationale able to fit available facts better than the existing orthodoxy.
It’s the difference between Einstein going “Huh, Newton got it _almost_ right…” and the average Youtube retard going “wake up sheeple, the moon landings are a lie, the radiation would have killed everyone (and I have an over-unity generator made with three magnets and a paperclip that totally almost works)!!!”.
The essence of a stupid question is “logic and known facts are optional”. They’re not. (Logic, sanity and) Science: it works, bitches.
Stealing from “CustomersSuck”: “Anyone who thinks there are no stupid questions has never worked in customer service” (Or, I will add, in tech support.)
But no one on Earth could be smart enough to have discovered slood. When she’s high on brains she’s smart enough to invent perpetual motion, but still not enough to discover slood.
In a world of mad science, she may not be smart enough to invent slood, but U.N.I.T.Y. is just nuts enough to trip over it accidentally. Or find it oozing from her arm, whichever.
Depending on the freshness of the parts that she sews on, there may well be some blood left over in them. Hard to say how long it takes to get it all out.
With the Colma arc done and extraction planned,
So there isn’t much left to understand.
Just a living hat and a big old puddle of ooze.
It’s from Unity’s arm, where it’s leaking through,
Is it something else, is it old or new?
And we have to decide, should we call it “bludge” or “slood?”
Off to Carbondale in early June,
And another trip for this cartoon.
The swamp’s been saved with a toxic wastepile flood.
KT was excited, that’s as good as gold.
Artie Narbon’s depressed, but that’s pretty old.
But how do we work out “bludge” and “slood?”
And with Sweetheart still Alaska-stuck,
It all comes down to some dripping muck.
They’ll come around and a different point is viewed.
And I’ve fiddled around with some pretty strange rhymes.
I’ve used better words and had tougher times
But how can I make a rhyme out of “bludge” and “slood?”
—from “A Boy Named Sue,” Shel Silverstein (all right, Johnny Cash.)
Bitey looks a little peaked, pun not intended. Take him/it/they with them to new climes, introducing new foods to their diet (living or otherwise), listening to the screams of the locals, all might be just enough to perk them up a bit.
Go for “bludge.” If you write out “slood,” it’ll be mispronounced.
Plus “bludge” sounds like “bludgeon”, and Unity would love that!
Go for “slood”. “Bludge” is already a word, it’s a slang term here in Australia which means “to avoid work or responsibility”.
But “slood” also has a couple of meanings, besides the science fiction meaning referenced below.
Is that a Terry Pratchett reference?
https://wiki.lspace.org/mediawiki/Slood
It certainly seems easier to discover than fire, so long as you’re not picky about the sludge.
There are no silly questions.
Only silly answers.
I disagree. I say there are silly questions. I also disagree with the old saying that there are no stupid questions. In any classroom environment, “will this be on the test?” is indeed a stupid question. Not only is it stupid because one should expect that everything discussed in class will likely end up on a test at some point during the entirety of the course. But it is also stupid because it will get you pummelled by your classmates, since by simply asking it, you have virtually guaranteed that it will be on the test — and probably on more than one test.
I prefer the alternate sayings — “Ask a silly/stupid question, get a silly/stupid answer.”
Same here; much like the fairly well known assessment (attributed to Pauli) “that’s not even wrong!” concerning a particularly botched physics paper, I think it’s perfectly possible for a question to be stupid – if nothing else, by being inconsistent with itself, an earlier answer or simply common knowledge and elementary logic. A “good question” exists as one that reveals insight into the nature of the problem it refers to – by contrast, a “stupid question” is one that betrays a startling lack of it…
But consider that earlier answers, common knowledge, and elementary logic should occasionally be questioned. Over the years, there have been numerous discoveries that proved wrong things that were already “known”. Take a look in a set of encyclopediae from the 1800s, and you’ll find a lot of “facts” that we know now to be complete rubbish.
I didn’t say a non-stupid question should worship common knowledge on some sort of pedestal, as immutable truth, never to be questioned. But if setting out to challenge it, it definitely should prove in-depth understanding of it as currently accepted, as well as propose a rationale able to fit available facts better than the existing orthodoxy.
It’s the difference between Einstein going “Huh, Newton got it _almost_ right…” and the average Youtube retard going “wake up sheeple, the moon landings are a lie, the radiation would have killed everyone (and I have an over-unity generator made with three magnets and a paperclip that totally almost works)!!!”.
The essence of a stupid question is “logic and known facts are optional”. They’re not. (Logic, sanity and) Science: it works, bitches.
I still maintain that the worst and mist stupid question is the one that does not get asked.
An edit button on this comment board would be appreciated.
Stealing from “CustomersSuck”: “Anyone who thinks there are no stupid questions has never worked in customer service” (Or, I will add, in tech support.)
Has Unity just discovered Slood?
But no one on Earth could be smart enough to have discovered slood. When she’s high on brains she’s smart enough to invent perpetual motion, but still not enough to discover slood.
In a world of mad science, she may not be smart enough to invent slood, but U.N.I.T.Y. is just nuts enough to trip over it accidentally. Or find it oozing from her arm, whichever.
Ah, an educated question. I raise my hat.
https://wiki.lspace.org/mediawiki/Slood
I’m a bit confused: I thought Unity didn’t have blood, just nanogoo. Did she recently change arms?
perhaps infected by the swamp? Or, did she and the swamp swap stumps?
Depending on the freshness of the parts that she sews on, there may well be some blood left over in them. Hard to say how long it takes to get it all out.
Well, Tip it depends. Do you want to leave Unity here or not?
“Leave that muck-dripping predator behind, and her hat, too.”
With the Colma arc done and extraction planned,
So there isn’t much left to understand.
Just a living hat and a big old puddle of ooze.
It’s from Unity’s arm, where it’s leaking through,
Is it something else, is it old or new?
And we have to decide, should we call it “bludge” or “slood?”
Off to Carbondale in early June,
And another trip for this cartoon.
The swamp’s been saved with a toxic wastepile flood.
KT was excited, that’s as good as gold.
Artie Narbon’s depressed, but that’s pretty old.
But how do we work out “bludge” and “slood?”
And with Sweetheart still Alaska-stuck,
It all comes down to some dripping muck.
They’ll come around and a different point is viewed.
And I’ve fiddled around with some pretty strange rhymes.
I’ve used better words and had tougher times
But how can I make a rhyme out of “bludge” and “slood?”
—from “A Boy Named Sue,” Shel Silverstein (all right, Johnny Cash.)
Very nice!
Bitey looks a little peaked, pun not intended. Take him/it/they with them to new climes, introducing new foods to their diet (living or otherwise), listening to the screams of the locals, all might be just enough to perk them up a bit.