Don’t be Afraid to Ask Dumb Questions
by Something for sharing.
Many years ago, at my workplace, there was a man who worked in the Human Resource Department. He only worked for a short period, assisting the Human Resource Manager. He was different from all other male colleagues of the organisation as he was a bit sissy type and so far there were no sissy staff in the company, so far he was the one and only from what I could recall. You could sense it by the way he talked and behaved, the gestures, but to most people, they did not bother so much as he did not owe us any explanation. Anyway, this post is not about his sissy behavior but his unique reply which was quite interesting and meaningful.
I was not close to him at all, but I have learnt something new from him when I happened to interact with him.
One day, he happened to come to my office on some job matters. He then asked me a funny question. He asked me how to put a roll of scotch tape into the scotch tape dispenser. I was very shocked by this question and actually thought of laughing out, but I acted calm and taught him how to do it. My colleague saw it and he teased him as it was such an easy way to do it yet he had to ask. He then replied while smiling :
“Aiya, now hor, you laugh at me, it’s okay, you only laugh 3 to 5 seconds the most, but my whole life, I know how to put the scotch tape into the scotch tape dispenser”.
Moral of this story : Don’t be afraid that people will laugh at you, when in doubt, ask, and you gain knowledge and skill, you won’t lose out, people may laugh at you but they will forget sooner (though I remember), but you may learn something for life.
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Post Commentpguims
On February 23, 2011 at 11:24 am
this is really something to think about…
sgkeat
On February 23, 2011 at 11:36 am
Great advice from a sissy. Nah, just great advice for everyone.
lillyrose
On February 23, 2011 at 11:43 am
Great moral! People are afraid to ask in fear of looking stupid but putting that tape in the holder would seem simple to some but not to others… just depends how your brained is wired.
Brenda Nelson
On February 23, 2011 at 12:07 pm
I use to have an employer who was very mean like that.. if you asked how to do something he would be little you.. if you didnt ask and got it wrong.. he would belittle you.
Francois Hagnere
On February 23, 2011 at 12:17 pm
I totally agree, when I don’t know, I ask, there is no shame. And we are here to learn, aren’t we? Geat post again, my friend!
wonder
On February 23, 2011 at 12:21 pm
Most persons are scared of being laughed at.This attitude should be overcome, as the message in the post portrays.This is educative.
Jimmy Shilaho
On February 23, 2011 at 12:56 pm
You are right. When you ask dumb questions, the answers leave you wiser. I remember asking some beautiful girl here on Triond what LOL meant, despite being very good in English, I had never come across it. She laughed at me, no longer writes for Triond but the answer she gave me made me realize what it meant and I haven’t forgotten since then.
DAN MCHARDY
On February 23, 2011 at 2:04 pm
No question is dumb in my eyes, as long as you need the information it’s actually quite cleaver!
webseowriters
On February 23, 2011 at 2:10 pm
A nice share
Mark Gordon Brown
On February 23, 2011 at 8:03 pm
there are no dumb questions only dumb people who don’t ask questions when they should or those who are dumb because they laugh at people because they feel superior. I say let’s all get together as an angry mob like in those old frankenstien movies and beat up the latter with wet towels and use scotch tape on their dirty little lips
Mark Gordon Brown
On February 23, 2011 at 8:06 pm
there are no dumb questions only dumb people who don\\\’t ask questions when they should or those who are dumb because they laugh at people because they feel superior. I say let\\\’s all get together as an angry mob like in those old frankenstien movies and beat up the latter with wet towels and use scotch tape on their dirty little lips
CA Johnson
On February 23, 2011 at 8:12 pm
You are right. We should not be afraid to ask dumb questions because what may be dumb to one person is smart to another. Thanks for sharing.
sloanie
On February 23, 2011 at 8:23 pm
Knowledge is power, any knowledge to the insecure.
Interesting read.
Phoenix Montoya
On February 23, 2011 at 10:07 pm
A good story here, Star. For me it’s better to be ignorant at first than to be ignorant for ever. We do not know everything so we must ask questions he he!
Eunice Tan
On February 23, 2011 at 10:17 pm
I agree
LCM Linda
On February 23, 2011 at 11:21 pm
Star, thanks for sharing this inspiring experience. I agree with that sissy colleague. Being laughed for 3 to 5 seconds is trivial, learn new thing is far more important.
fagina
On February 24, 2011 at 9:50 am
What if there’d be a lot of people like you who’d remember??
jemialbert
On February 24, 2011 at 11:10 am
good share
Sharif Ishnin
On February 24, 2011 at 2:14 pm
Great story with a good moral to boot StarP. Asking a question is not dumb at all.
Citra Florenca
On February 24, 2011 at 9:22 pm
The only dumb question is the one that isn’t asked.
Inspiring story.
SharifaMcFarlane
On February 25, 2011 at 9:49 am
The people who ak questions when they don’t understand something accomplish more because they waste less time getting things wrong.
BeatsMe
On February 28, 2011 at 10:58 am
Oh I always ask sissy questions.
Anuradha Ramkumar
On February 28, 2011 at 11:50 am
Gr8 moral. There is nothing wrong in asking a dumb question; it might be dumb for others, but that doesn’t matter as long as u learn something out of it.
iamsuperfox
On February 28, 2011 at 8:36 pm
I, myself, ask dumb question at times and learned something from it. Nice share!
Brewed Coffee
On February 28, 2011 at 9:32 pm
Even if it’s a dumb question, when you get good answers, you are a bit wiser. Right Star?