# Serious but odd question

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-but-odd-question/659350>\
**Category:** The BBQ Pit\
**Created:** [May 25, 2013, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-but-odd-question/659350 "2013-05-25T22:12:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-but-odd-question/659350/41 "2013-06-09T00:26:23Z")

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I think most of us feel stupid from time to time. I remember being really intimidated when I first came here, feeling like I always had to be at my intellectual best. Then I learned, posting here is just like talking about things. Pick a thing that interests you, and talk about it like you would with a friend. It’s just an exchange of ideas, that’s all. I’d love to hear what’s on your mind because it sounds like we share a lot of the same interests. And yeah, don’t feel like you have to try so hard.

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**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-but-odd-question/659350/42 "2013-06-09T02:32:51Z")

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I once had a high school teacher who pointed out that the key step to getting the right answer in a problem solving context is to ask the right question. If you can frame the question right, the method of finding the answer will often appear. Later a college professor gave a tip on how to consult:  
a) Take the clients money. Do that.  
But,  
b) Don’t take their question as given. Part of your value-added involves your ability to frame it properly. Sometimes (usually) the question the client is asking isn’t the question that they really want to ask.

So, again, framing a good question is far from a trivial task.

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