To think you should never ask a question you don’t already know the answer to?

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People say “there’s no such thing as a stupid question,” but isn’t asking something you genuinely don’t know just admitting ignorance? The smartest people seem to ask questions to test others, confirm what they suspect, or guide a conversation - not because they’re clueless.

If you have to ask, doesn’t that mean you’ve already lost the upper hand? AIBU to think that in many cases, asking questions is just exposing a weakness?

Life isn't a competition. Why do you feel the need to have the upper hand over everyone?

How else do you learn?!

Applies to barristers cross examining in court.

Day to day life, nothing wrong with asking questions you don't know the answer to.

The dumbest question is the one you don't ask...

I think that asking questions is a sign of intelligence. You are finding answers and using them to form an opinion or a new method of doing something or reasoning. Don’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise. Question everything. It’s how we learn, and learn to change our views. If you never question, you never learn.

No, it shows vulnerability, humility and openness to learn. Nobody likes a snobby know it all / somebody who thinks they're a superior human.

That’s what people like Donald Trump would have you believe. But Trump isn’t smart. He’s ruthless, and singularly self interested.

Genuinely smart people are curious about the world, other people, other view points, are aware of the limits of their knowledge / ability, and the vastness of human experience/ knowledge compared with their own, and value co-operation and collaboration.

No one is born knowing everything

This is a kind of ironic question.

Either you know the answer to it, in which case posting just to get validation.
Or you don't know the answer, in which case you shouldn't have asked it.

How will you ever learn anything about other people if you don't ask questions. Book learning is one thing but never asking a question to widen your horizons is in my view sad.

I don’t necessarily see life as a competition, but in many environments - work, social dynamics, even negotiations - asking the wrong question at the wrong time can shift how people perceive you. It’s not about having the ‘upper hand’ over anyone but about being strategic in how you present yourself.

I guess you know the answer, or you wouldn’t be asking.

It’s called intellectual curiosity, surely, rather than ‘admitting ignorance’?

The most intelligent people I know, know what they don't know and are smart enough to ask intelligent questions in order to understand more.

Or you could just be authentic?

Why would I ask a question I already know the answer to? Unless I'm hosting a pub quiz, that is.

I think you already know the answer to this...

There are plenty ways to learn without openly admitting you don’t know something - observing, researching, listening to others. I’m not saying you should never ask questions, but in certain situations, asking too openly can make you seem unprepared or less capable.

How on earth would a doctor or a vet ever reach a diagnosis? I am not psychic, I don't know if your cat is vomiting, has blood in its urine, is eating less, coughing, scratching etc unless I ask you questions that I need you to answer.

I actually don't work in practice anymore, but the role I do have requires me to ask questions every day. I would be shit at my job if I didn't.

I’m an academic. My whole life is admitting I don’t know things and asking questions, that is how research works. Hopefully Im asking fairly intelligent questions but no guarantees!

Sure there are certain circumstances under which it's better not to ask questions. But that is an entirely different proposition from "you should never ask a question you don't know the answer to".

One is a perfectly reasonable statement. The other is clearly an extreme and my my mind entirely necessary.

You literally said "If you have to ask, doesn’t that mean you’ve already lost the upper hand?" so clearly it is about having the upper hand to you. Which is taking things far too seriously.
And how do you find out things without asking questions? You mention business and negotiations. How, for example, would you find out how many of an item your customer wants to buy without asking a question? Or whether your starting offer is reasonable or insulting. You're talking nonsense really.

Yes, me too! That’s how research works, and how any advances in knowledge are made.

Being authentic doesn’t mean being naive. You can be genuine while also being mindful of how you come across. In certain situations, perception matters - whether we like it or not.

Ha this! What a stupid question indeed OP.