# What are the dumbest questions you've been asked more than once? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 6, 2019, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-dumbest-questions-youve-been-asked-more-than-once/839767 "2019-09-06T01:47:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2019, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-dumbest-questions-youve-been-asked-more-than-once/839767/182 "2019-09-11T01:21:43Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > Do artists in general perceive this as a stupid question? I am not an artist, in fact art (visual, specifically) may as well be magic to me. I have no idea how an artist does what they do nor where they may get inspiration. It is, however, a fascinating subject to me. I am one who asks that very question. Yeah, it’s a nonsense question. The only real answer is “I look at things and hear things and feel things, then sometimes I think things because of them” and that’s disappointing to the type of person who asks. ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2019, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-dumbest-questions-youve-been-asked-more-than-once/839767/183 "2019-09-11T02:04:17Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > When I was a prof in Computer Science I got some really dumb questions. People would even come up to me during tests to asks for clarification. The one that sticks out the most: > > “Is zero an even number?” > > (The question would be to solve a problem for all such-and-such of even length or something.) > > This is for 3rd and 4th year Computer Science majors. You know, the field with binary numbers. Where the test of an integer being even is incredibly freaking simple. > > Once after this happened, I asked **FtGKid1** if zero was an even number. He said “Yes.” I asked “Why?” “Because one is odd.” He was four at the time and college students didn’t get this. > > I told my fellow profs about this so some started putting questions like this on tests because they didn’t believe it. And got the some question. I’m sorry, that’s not a dumb question. Not being a mathematician, I wouldn’t be surprised if there are contexts in which zero is even, contexts in which it is odd, and contexts in which it’s neither. It’s just nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2019, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-dumbest-questions-youve-been-asked-more-than-once/839767/184 "2019-09-11T11:32:12Z")
> [@Sparky812](#): > > I find it’s a dumb question because it’s not a song that’s really written for guitar. It’s written for percussion string instrument very similar to the guitar, and doesn’t depend on complex chords or arpeggios that are tied to the instrument. It’s a simple guitar song played on the piano. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2019, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-dumbest-questions-youve-been-asked-more-than-once/839767/185 "2019-09-11T11:33:38Z")
> [@begbert2](#): > > Try measuring the diagonal. Bad example. Better example: 1" pipe. ---
**Author:** ![yendis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ed8c4c/32.png) [@yendis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yendis)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2019, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-dumbest-questions-youve-been-asked-more-than-once/839767/186 "2019-09-11T12:43:22Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > A lot more time has passed since the invention of the anti-aircraft gun than has passed between the civil war and the anti-aircraft gun! It was only 5 years between the civil war and the invention of the anti-aircraft gun. ---
**Author:** ![AllShookDown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d9b06d/32.png) [@AllShookDown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AllShookDown)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2019, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-dumbest-questions-youve-been-asked-more-than-once/839767/187 "2019-09-11T13:18:28Z")
“What’s that lake over there?” Twice. On the same day. By native Wisconsinites. On the Milwaukee lakefront. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2019, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-dumbest-questions-youve-been-asked-more-than-once/839767/188 "2019-09-11T13:44:41Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > [Trump Says Revolutionary War Troops 'Took Over the Airports' | TIME](https://time.com/5620936/donald-trump-revolutionary-war-airports/) Ok, no one but Individual Number One. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2019, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-dumbest-questions-youve-been-asked-more-than-once/839767/189 "2019-09-11T13:50:48Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > I internally scream in chromosomal anguish every time someone asks where my son’s red hair comes from. It’s like nobody has ever heard of recessive genes. > > Explaining the basics of inheritance is a waste of time (and borderline rude), so we’re coming up with snarky joke answers. Bottle of Clairol, ate too many carrots during pregnancy, demonspawn, adoption agency, etc. 1.Bro’s hair gets reddish in the summer. I think it hasn’t happened for a few years now, but when he was younger he was asked quite a few times “why do you dye your hair?” Several people simply refused to believe that reddish-brown hair exists in nature. ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2019, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-dumbest-questions-youve-been-asked-more-than-once/839767/190 "2019-09-11T13:51:09Z")
> [@yendis](#): > > It was only 5 years between the civil war and the invention of the anti-aircraft gun. Well, the Union did use observation balloons, and the Confederates did occasionally try to shoot them down with artillery. Not at Gettysburg, but in a loose sense, there was some use of anti-aircraft fire during the Civil War. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2019, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-dumbest-questions-youve-been-asked-more-than-once/839767/191 "2019-09-11T13:55:47Z")
> [@Napier](#): > > At the grocery store I often buy a large number of identical items, such as six-packs of seltzer water. They allow customers to leave most of them in the cart and put just one up on the conveyor for scanning. I used to say “I have a total of # of this item”, and they would ALWAYS ask, “Including this one?” So I gave up and now I say “I have a total of # of this item including this one.” Does it include the ones in the cart? Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2019, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-dumbest-questions-youve-been-asked-more-than-once/839767/192 "2019-09-11T14:09:24Z")
What does “total” mean again? ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2019, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-dumbest-questions-youve-been-asked-more-than-once/839767/193 "2019-09-11T14:43:50Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > What does “total” mean again? It’s a kind of cereal. _Price check on Total!_ ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2019, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-dumbest-questions-youve-been-asked-more-than-once/839767/194 "2019-09-11T15:48:17Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > What does “total” mean again? > [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > It’s a kind of cereal. But that’s not important right now. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2019, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-dumbest-questions-youve-been-asked-more-than-once/839767/195 "2019-09-11T15:55:34Z")
> [@begbert2](#): > > Try measuring the diagonal. TV sizes have been deceptively labeled for decades. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2019, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-dumbest-questions-youve-been-asked-more-than-once/839767/196 "2019-09-11T16:52:31Z")
> [@Saintly\_Loser](#): > > I’m sorry, that’s not a dumb question. Not being a mathematician, I wouldn’t be surprised if there are contexts in which zero is even, contexts in which it is odd, and contexts in which it’s neither. It’s just nothing. What the what? :smack: Not up to date on the last several thousand years of Math, I take it. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2019, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-dumbest-questions-youve-been-asked-more-than-once/839767/197 "2019-09-11T17:06:39Z")
I am thin. Okay, downright skinny. At least once a week. someone asks "What do you eat? " I always answer “I have a very unique diet. When I get hungry, I eat.” When they say “Yeah, but what do you eat?” I always answer “Whatever I feel like eating.” ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2019, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-dumbest-questions-youve-been-asked-more-than-once/839767/198 "2019-09-11T19:37:39Z")
> [@AllShookDown](#): > > “What’s that lake over there?” Twice. On the same day. By native Wisconsinites. On the Milwaukee lakefront. “Lake Mendota”. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2019, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-dumbest-questions-youve-been-asked-more-than-once/839767/199 "2019-09-11T19:50:53Z")
People asked my son, a lot, “Where’d you get all that red hair?” He did have red hair, and he had a lot of it, and I realize this is more of an observation than an actual question. But it happened a lot. He had a few different answers. “Target” was one. “Out of a bottle” was another. I also had a few different answers that I might put in, like, “it came with his head,” and “it came with his temper.” I never came right out and said, “Hey, I’m his mom and I’m standing right here, look at ME,” because in fact his hair was a hell of lot redder than mine ever was. But it’s like asking a tall person “How’s the weather up there,” it’s not so much a stupid question but it’s stupid to ask it, not to mention unoriginal, and how are you supposed to answer that? Like, why would they say that? Fake edit: I see that garygnu had the same experience. Apparently people don’t think red hair is a real color. Nobody ever asked me that about the blond kids. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2019, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-dumbest-questions-youve-been-asked-more-than-once/839767/200 "2019-09-11T20:10:19Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > I am thin. Okay, downright skinny. At least once a week. someone asks "What do you eat? > " > > I always answer “I have a very unique diet. When I get hungry, I eat.” When they say “Yeah, but what do you eat?” I always answer “Whatever I feel like eating.” I say, “I don’t! I’m starving!” ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2019, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-dumbest-questions-youve-been-asked-more-than-once/839767/201 "2019-09-11T20:51:41Z")
> [@Saintly\_Loser](#): > > I’m sorry, that’s not a dumb question. Not being a mathematician, I wouldn’t be surprised if there are contexts in which zero is even, contexts in which it is odd, and contexts in which it’s neither. It’s just nothing. Being a pedant, I’ll note that there are contexts where zero definitely isn’t nothing. And contexts where it is. And contexts where 0 is 0 and -1 is, essentially, nothing. But seriously, zero will never be odd. It will either be even, or a placeholder for a special situation where it’s not intended to be interpreted as a number at all. (Like when it means ‘nothing’.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-dumbest-questions-youve-been-asked-more-than-once/839767.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-dumbest-questions-youve-been-asked-more-than-once/839767.md?page=11)