# The dumbest questions I have heard this week. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 19, 2003, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dumbest-questions-i-have-heard-this-week/149661 "2003-01-19T18:27:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Fionn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Fionn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fionn)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dumbest-questions-i-have-heard-this-week/149661/61 "2003-01-27T00:02:26Z")
I used to find “Out of [bill denomination]?” annoying, but I find myself saying it all the time at work, since I never know when a customer will want to add some change. Here’s my dumbest question: Me: [University bookstore]. This is Summer. Customer: Can you tell me if you have the lab manual for biology 1406? Me: Sure. The cat version? Customer: Yeah. I duly go and check the shelves. Me: We’re out of the cat version. All we have left is the pig version. Customer: What’s the difference? Uh…the animal you’re dissecting? ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dumbest-questions-i-have-heard-this-week/149661/62 "2003-01-27T00:17:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AllShookDown \* > \*\*I know you said “clearly identified” but there were a couple of other posts about this dumb question so I thought I’d say this. Often when I call a company the person answering the phone rattles off the company name so quickly, or has an accent and I’ve been unable to make out what they’ve said, so I ask. \*\* That reminds me, my ex’s law firm just merged with another bigger law firm. She e-mailed me to let me know, but still, after years of hearing the receptionist say: “Alfalfa, Spanky, Buckwheat and Associates…” I totally blanked the first time I called and they answered “Groucho, Harpo, Zeppo and Chico.” And **AllShook’s** right. Often business phones are answered quick to the point of “What didja say?” Or if there’s more than one business by the same kind of name… e.g If I called the Wellington Cinema, which is just down the street from the Wellington Hotel, and the Wellington Bistro, and they just answer the phone like this: “The Wellington, how can I help you?” you know I’m gonna have to ask “Is this the Wellington Cinema?” ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dumbest-questions-i-have-heard-this-week/149661/63 "2003-01-27T00:47:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Silver Fire \* > This happens at least once a day, not just this week. > > At work - > > Me: Thank you for calling (company), this is Sarah. How may I help you? > > Caller: Is this (company I just clearly identified)? > > No, it’s some other company, I just felt like saying that because I was, like, bored. Or something. > > :rolleyes: As I’ve gotten older, I’ve noticed that I do this sometimes. My attention wanders briefly or the ID goes by too fast for me or it just seems indistinct (maybe a less than perfect phone connection). I know I sound like an idiot, and I _feel_ like an idiot. I don’t blame you for being annoyed, but it happens. ---
**Author:** ![RandomLogick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@RandomLogick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandomLogick)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dumbest-questions-i-have-heard-this-week/149661/64 "2003-01-27T05:03:49Z")
Surely this question is worthy of this pointless, entertaining thread. (setting: living room, watching the Super Bowl) Margaret: What’s the score? John: It’s three to three. ## Margaret: Who’s winning? I must say I wish that was made up. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dumbest-questions-i-have-heard-this-week/149661/65 "2003-01-27T08:19:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mayberrydan \* > \*\*Me: Mom, when the pope dies, does his son then become pope? > > Mom: Why don’t you stop and think about that one for a second. (she pats me on the head) > > Me: :smack: \*\* If it makes you feel better, there were a number of Popes in the Middle Ages who were succeeded by their “nephews” _wink, wink, nudge, nudge_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dumbest-questions-i-have-heard-this-week/149661.md?page=3)