Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Stupid Questions.
Whether it’s a hot new movie, a massive sporting event, or a TV show that seems like everyone’s watching, it’s not fun to be stumped when talking to a cooler or partying. If you want to be a part of it all, let go of your pride and ask some silly questions about it.
We are often too concerned about the fact that, according to other people we know. Maybe you’re researching the basics of football to talk about a big game that seems to be on everyone’s mind at work. Or perhaps you’ve read the Westworld summary on the Internet because your friends talk about it all the time. Or maybe sometimes, to amuse yourself, you openly lie and say that you know everything about current pop culture, hoping that no one will call you. It’s a scenario we’ve seen over and over again on sitcoms, but many of us still do it in an effort to merge with it. This is problematic for several reasons:
- You may be recognized as a poser. If it does, it’s not the end of the world, but it will scare people off because you no longer seem sincere.
- You cannot bring anything to the table. The other party or parties will think you are in the know and will raise the level of the conversation by discussing things that are likely to be too difficult for you to make any useful input. This can make you look like an idiot, the conversation can become boring to those around you, because you just keep nodding your head and saying, “Yes, of course,” and you can ruin your life if it’s about a story.
- You are missing out on an opportunity to really learn about the subject.
What to do instead? Say that you don’t know anything about the subject and ask questions about it – however silly they may sound. This solves all three of the problems I mentioned above. You maintain your sincerity because you are honest, you don’t seem like a fool who ties up a conversation with your ignorance, and finally, you really open yourself up to explore something. But most importantly, people like you more when you ask questions . We love to feel knowledgeable about a subject, and we love even more to be the ones who share that knowledge. It makes us feel useful and heard.
So use this to your advantage! Instead of lying, say, “Oh, I heard about it, but I don’t know anything about it. Can you explain this to me? It’s like asking a young child to tell you about their favorite toys. Their faces will light up and you will have a decent introduction to the topic. And if you want to earn some bonus points, tell them that you will check it out based on their recommendations. After all, these stupid questions are not so stupid.