Asking good questions

[Gorpomon]

I have two questions I want your opinion on.

1. What is a good question these days? In this age of Google and Wikipedia, I feel like asking questions is increasingly frowned upon. Generally when its a factual answer I go to the internet, but these days its seems I'm forced even further to just fake that I know something and secretly searching online for answer. Even if a question's answer can be found on the internet, I feel I'm losing all the context that a live engineer could provide. Also, especially with Wikipedia I don't think some of it can be trusted (basic info can be trusted, but I think not specialized articles).

This leads to question 2

2. What should you admit to not knowing and knowing? I'm a mechanical, and ALL non-engineers automatically assume I know how ANY mechanical device works instantly. Often I just say "I didn't get a degree in fridge repair" (or insert whatever device is broken) This is fine, but at work I sometimes feel bad when another engineer rattles off how a device works (very quickly) and I feel compelled to just nod in agreement and then... look it up on the internet later.

As a caveat to question 2, is it just me or does it seem the worse an engineer is at explaining something, the worse they are at understanding/accepting your need for a clearer explanation.

Any interesting takes on these issues appreciated

 

[zdas04]

It works really well. Something to do with Newton and his 387 laws.

I had a medical professional answer a yes/no question about a piece of equipment she was selling me today with a definitive "NO" when the real answer was "I don't know what you are talking about". I got home and looked at the device and the answer ("YES") was printed on the damn thing. Engineers are not the only folks that hate to admit a shortfall in their total knowledge.

David

 

[weab]

I used to not ask what I thought was a stupid question and try to figure it out on my own. Then I noticed other people asking stupid questions. Eventually I realized that not everybody with the same degree have the same education and experience.

1. Ask anything that you don't know. In particular, ask questions across disciplines. You will eventually be able to hold intelligent conversations in different fields.

2. I don't have a problem admitting to anything that I wasn't taught or experienced. Nod in agreement if you just want to get away, but they will expect you to understand next time. I try to never merely nod in agreement if I don't understand.

Good luck.