# Questions that seem easy but are not **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 19, 2013, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-that-seem-easy-but-are-not/650787 "2013-02-19T10:57:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Danger\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6de8d8/32.png) [@Danger\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danger_Man)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-that-seem-easy-but-are-not/650787/1 "2013-02-19T10:57:17Z")
I’m thinking of questions along the line of “why are dinosaurs so big?”. On the surface it seems like one of those things that has an easy answer in a grade school book and everyone should know, while in reality we are not really sure. What are other examples of questions that seem really easy and obvious on the surface, but are really not? ---
**Author:** ![Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunzio_Tavulari)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-that-seem-easy-but-are-not/650787/2 "2013-02-19T16:53:09Z")
After millions of years of practice, why is it still so difficult for men and women to communicate? Why is James Otto so Dreamy McDreamikins? ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-that-seem-easy-but-are-not/650787/3 "2013-02-19T18:46:55Z")
> [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](#): > > Why is James Otto so Dreamy McDreamikins? I told you to knock off personal snark against another user in Cafe Society just the other day – and here you are doing it again. I’m giving you a warning for being a jerk, and the mods will be discussing your posting privileges. **twickster** , for the SDMB ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-that-seem-easy-but-are-not/650787/4 "2013-02-19T19:48:05Z")
“Are you sleeping?” ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-that-seem-easy-but-are-not/650787/5 "2013-02-19T20:23:53Z")
What were you thinking? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-that-seem-easy-but-are-not/650787/6 "2013-02-19T20:32:50Z")
Where are my keys? ---
**Author:** ![PoorYorick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@PoorYorick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoorYorick)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-that-seem-easy-but-are-not/650787/7 "2013-02-19T20:52:09Z")
Does this make my butt look big? ---
**Author:** ![bleach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bleach/32/3106_2.png) [@bleach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bleach)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-that-seem-easy-but-are-not/650787/8 "2013-02-19T21:01:30Z")
“Why is the sky blue?” [Cliff Stoll](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clifford_Stoll) claimed to get this question on his dissertation defense. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-that-seem-easy-but-are-not/650787/9 "2013-02-19T21:06:40Z")
What’s new? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-that-seem-easy-but-are-not/650787/10 "2013-02-19T21:29:57Z")
How high is up? What is the sound of one hand clapping? Is the Pope catholic? We just don’t know these things… ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-that-seem-easy-but-are-not/650787/11 "2013-02-19T21:36:28Z")
> [@bleach](#): > > “Why is the sky blue?” > > [Cliff Stoll](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clifford_Stoll) claimed to get this question on his dissertation defense. Beaten to it, complete with Cliff Stoll reference. ---
**Author:** ![panaccione](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/94ad74/32.png) [@panaccione](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panaccione)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-that-seem-easy-but-are-not/650787/12 "2013-02-19T21:39:10Z")
Why must I always learn things the hard way? ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-that-seem-easy-but-are-not/650787/13 "2013-02-19T21:45:18Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > H > > Is the Pope catholic? Shouldn’t that be “Does the Pope shit in the woods?” Others Why a duck? What’s the difference between a duck? If time flies like an arrow, what do fruit flies like? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-that-seem-easy-but-are-not/650787/14 "2013-02-19T21:45:47Z")
How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-that-seem-easy-but-are-not/650787/15 "2013-02-19T21:46:47Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > What’s the difference between a duck? One of its feet are both the same. Easy! ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-that-seem-easy-but-are-not/650787/16 "2013-02-19T21:50:26Z")
Why is a mouse when it spins? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-that-seem-easy-but-are-not/650787/17 "2013-02-19T21:51:34Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Why is a mouse when it spins? The further it goes, the much. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-that-seem-easy-but-are-not/650787/18 "2013-02-19T22:16:55Z")
Is it further to Boston or to fly? Why is a raven like a writing desk? ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-that-seem-easy-but-are-not/650787/19 "2013-02-19T22:49:28Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Why is a raven like a writing desk? [Addressed here.](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1173/why-is-a-raven-like-a-writing-desk) ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-that-seem-easy-but-are-not/650787/20 "2013-02-20T11:50:58Z")
Why did you do that? What were you thinking?! or, the adult version: Why did I drink so much last night? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-that-seem-easy-but-are-not/650787.md?page=2)