When my kids were younger, they loved to ask "would you rather" questions:
- Would you rather eat a dozen raw eggs or lick the bottom of every shoe in the house?
- Would you rather fight a bear or wrestle a shark?
- Would you rather never brush your teeth again or never shower again?
(That last one might come back to haunt me when their dentist tells me they have seven cavities.)
Despite the potential repercussions of answering such questions, I always thought they were creative, funny, and sometimes even thought-provoking. It reminds me of one of my favorite books from my younger years, The Kids’ Book of Questions by Gregory Stock. The book encourages kids to discover who they really are and what they really believe. It beckons, "[You] will be amazed to find how far one little question will lead." After all, there are no stupid questions, right?
This is why a group of teachers created Ask a Stupid Question Day in the 1980s. They sought to encourage students to ask questions in the classroom and break down the fear that some students have of asking questions that might seem "stupid." The goal is to foster a more open, curious, and inclusive learning environment, while also reinforcing the notion that no question is too small or insignificant. Though it started in schools, it can be embraced in any setting – your workplace, a conference, and especially at the University of Phoenix, where asking questions can feel even more intimidating behind a screen. And as your friendly neighborhood librarians, we're here to tell you: there’s no such thing as a stupid question. In fact, asking questions is one of the smartest things you can do.
In a traditional classroom, you might whisper a question to a classmate or catch your instructor after class. In an online environment, those casual moments are harder to come by. That's why Ask a Stupid Question Day is a good reminder that your curiosity is not only welcome – it's essential.
What Kind of Questions Do We Love? All of Them.
- How do I find peer-reviewed articles?
- Do we have access to Harvard Business Review?
- What’s up with using WhatsApp in the classroom?
- Is a real librarian answering my question, or is it an AI robot whose day job is conducting research, but at night is on a relentless pursuit to find Sarah Connor, whose yet-to-exist baby will eventually ruin all evil robot plans?
We happily answer all of the questions we receive. And here’s a not-so-spoiler alert: our Ask Us service is staffed by real, research-savvy non-robots who genuinely enjoy helping you track down answers. Whether you're a new student or seasoned faculty from, say, the College of Business and Information Technology, whose southern warmth is so endearing, and is also married to a retired public librarian, asking questions is how we grow, connect, and discover. And we’re here to support that process every step of the way.
September 28: Celebrate With Us!
Here's how you can join the fun on September 28, Ask a Stupid Question Day (but really, any day of the year works):
☑️ Submit a question to Ask Us – any question, no matter how small.
☑️ Tell us your favorite “Aha!” moment – comment on this blog post and tell us when the lightbulb shone bright above your head while using our library.
In a world full of information, the ability to ask thoughtful, even awkward, questions is what sets great learners apart. So go ahead – ask the question. The one you’ve been holding back. The one you think everyone else already knows the answer to. Because, as the saying goes, we believe the only "stupid" question is the one you don't ask.
Kristina Green is an associate university librarian and oversees research services. She has two kids and an office mate pooch, Hachi, who snores at her feet all day.