As my mother used to quote from somebody, “Better to keep your mouth shut than speak and let everybody know you are stupid.”
Asking questions and getting answers is a good thing only when the questions are well thought out. A knowledgeable person quickly learns how unsophisticated a person’s information base is when a simple question is posed. It’s best to study something before asking so you can build on your base. On the other hand, if you are willing to expose your lack of knowledge, getting started with simple questions may be seen as very positive.
So if you are applying for a job, study up and ask well calculated questions based on firm knowledge of the company. In a social group of scientists (when you are not), ask the simple questions that come to mind and learn something new.