Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

People Break Down The Dumbest Question They've Ever Been Asked

People Break Down The Dumbest Question They've Ever Been Asked
Sophie Janotta from Pixabay

People are always encouraged to ask questions in a classroom or at a training session for a new job. "There are no such thing as a dumb question," an instructor or a person in a position of leadership might say.

But is there such a thing as a dumb question?

That is debatable and the distinction can vary depending on the situation. On one hand, the encouraging phrase assures someone who is unsure of something to dispense with their fear of sounding naive.

On the other hand, some questions can stem from laziness.

If you go in for a job interview and didn't do your research beforehand and then ask a question about the company that is common knowledge, that would be an example of a dumb question.

After all, that's what Google is for – to save face.


Curious about other examples from strangers on the internet, Redditor WinterCrusader91 asked:

"What's the dumbest thing you've ever been asked by anyone?"

My Identity

How many times have you misspelled your own name in school or at work? Probably never.

So why is it that anyone with a different spelling of a common name or those with foreign names seem to encounter difficulty?

That is a genuine question.

Let Me Ask My Birth Certificate

"Are you sure that's how you spell your name?"

luckycatty

The Shady English Teacher

"My high school honors English teacher had a full on argument with me about how I spell my name and whether it was cultural appropriation for me to spell it that way."

"My name was a Native American word, despite me being whiter then wonder bread. My parents thought they were just being creative with the spelling of an extremely popular girls name at the time of naming me, found out when I was 3 or 4 that it was the word for 'turtle' in a Lakota Sioux."

"I changed my name last fall so there's less arguments but people are still weird."

KeyKitty

Spellcheck

"My surname is also a first name. My friend once asked me how to spell it because she needed to write our classmate's name (the first name version) on our project, and once I spelt it, she was like 'are you sure?' Yes you numpty."

"I also have a cousin with that first name (different surname obviously). He was spelling it for me (he was telling me his email) and I was like 'I'm gonna stop you there mate.'"

allhailtheboi

Inquisitive To A Fault

Some people have a tendency to ask stream-of-consciousness-type questions that could have been avoided if they just took a moment to think about what they were about to ask.

Or worse – as you will see below – people might violate another person's physical space to check something to confirm a suspicion.

Baby Talk

"one of my best friends came to visit me in the hospital when i had my baby. i was laying there with my newborn and there was a banana on a tray next to the bed. he asked, 'has he had lunch yet? is that for him?' everyone in the room just cackled so hard that i almost felt bad."

Entire-Gazelle-3478

A Genuine Concern

"What happens if the contact lens falls behind your eye and into your bloodstream -- oh, wait.. blood would go through it because it's clear, right?"

"This person was not high, drunk while very kind, they were easily the most air-headed person I've ever known. That quote was over 25 years ago and I've never forgotten it."

Happy8Day

Cheers

"A lady asked if the bubble lights on the Christmas tree were "filled with colored champagne."

Back2Bach

"Was she filled with coloured champagne?"

AnonymousHoe92

The Audacity

"After trying to pull my hair off:"

"Stranger: It's not a wig!?"

"Me: Uhhh no, it's my hair"

"Stranger: I thought maybe it was a wig because of cancer or something."

pm_pic_of_spiderman

Customer Service

Those working in customer service have had their share of eye-rolling interactions with customers.

Aside from the typical inquiries about certain products or store hours, these Redditors dealt with customers who did not seem aware of their surroundings. At all.

Point Me To The Direction Of...

"I use to work in a grocery store."

"People would legitimately ask me 'where's the juice aisle?' while we are in the aisle with the juice."

Kriimz_

Encounter At The Counter

"Repairing the scanner scale at a grocery store. I have the scale out of the checkstand, on it's side, bottom removed from the scale, one of the circuit boards removed from the scale and placed on the conveyor belt, I have JUST removed the board that the spinner part connects to (that spinning mirror thing in the bottom of the scanner scale), and someone walks up to the checkstand, places items onto the conveyor and asks 'Are you open?'"

GreatJanitor

Not A Costume

"Do you work here?"

"No, ma'am, I just... felt like stealing a work vest and working this shoe pallet for giggles."

kannakantplay

The Things Tourists Ask

"I used to be a tour guide in a cave and one summer we had a running contest among the guides to see who could get the dumbest question. Keep in mind, we only accepted questions from adults for entry into the contest. Some of the finalists were:"

"Is this cave underground?"

"Will the stalagmites bite me?"

"Are the steps natural?"

"What time is the 4.30 tour?"

"And the winner: 'Does the water go all the way around the island?'"

Common-Bonus

Sure, there are specific answers – like the location of the juice aisle – that simply can't be found on a Google search, but sometimes, the answer is literally right in front of you. Just be aware of your surroundings.

But when it comes to other mysteries in life that stump you and keep you up at night, dispense with your fear of sounding dense and ask away.

We will be here in this subReddit and waiting to hear about it.


More from Trending/best-of-reddit

Couple standing apart in silhouette
Eric Ward/Unsplash

People Share Signs Your Significant Other Doesn't Actually Love You

You may be on cloud nine with the person you're dating or have been in a relationship with you for a while.

But sometimes you may wonder if the feeling is mutual based on hints that the other person who is sharing your bed isn't exactly on the same page with you emotionally.

Keep ReadingShow less
Swiss Church Sparks Debate After Introducing Bizarre AI Jesus Hologram To Take Confessions
Fred de Noyelle/Getty Images; Lima/Getty Images

Swiss Church Sparks Debate After Introducing Bizarre AI Jesus Hologram To Take Confessions

A church in Switzerland is stirring debate with its use of an AI-generated Jesus hologram for confessions. Dubbed Deus in Machina (“God in Machine”), the project is installed at St. Peter’s Chapel in Lucerne, the city’s oldest Catholic church.

The hologram, developed by experts from Lucerne University’s Immersive Realities Center and a parish theologian, greets users with, “Peace be with you, brother,” and invites them to share what’s troubling their hearts. It can respond in 100 languages, with answers based on sacred scripture and theological texts sourced from the internet.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez; Nancy Mace
Spectrum News 1; Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

AOC Calls Out Exactly What Nancy Mace's 'Gross' Anti-Trans Bathroom Crusade Is Actually About

Speaking to reporters, New York Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called out South Carolina Republican Representative Nancy Mace, for proposing a bill that would prohibit transgender women from using women's bathroom facilities at the U.S. Capitol.

Mace introduced the resolution shortly after Delaware elected Democrat Sarah McBride as the first openly transgender member of Congress.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kate Winslet with Leonardo DiCaprio
Eric Charbonneau/Roadside Attractions via Getty Images

Leo DiCaprio And Kate Winslet Share Tender Kiss During Surprise Reunion To Delight Of Fans

Hollywood A-listers Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, famous for their star-crossed lover roles in the global box office phenomenon Titanic 27 years ago, gave fans all the feels when they recently reunited on stage for a screening of Winslet's latest film.

DiCaprio introduced Winslet on stage at a screening of her new "passion project" film, Lee, based on the life and work of WWII journalist Lee Miller, played by Winslet.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Summer Lee
Oversight Committee Democrats

Dem Rep. Expertly Pinpoints Why Republicans Are Dismantling DEI Programs In Mic Drop Rant

Speaking during a House Oversight Committee hearing, Pennsylvania Democratic Representative Summer Lee expertly pinpointed why diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs are being targeted by Republicans nationwide, noting that "remedying past discrimination is not, in turn, a discrimination."

DEI programs are organizational strategies aimed at ensuring fair treatment and full participation for everyone, with a special focus on historically marginalized or discriminated groups. These frameworks strive to create an environment where all individuals, regardless of their identity or abilities, are valued and included.

Keep ReadingShow less