And so to the second guest blog of the day. Having, I'm sure, enjoyed Iain's post earlier, this post will set another interesting thought process in motion. I've had a great time with the work that I have been sent today and I hope it will encourage others to write their own stuff. The writer of this post has asked to remain anonymous.
Having volunteered, somewhat over-enthusiastically, to author a guest post for Martin I faced the problem of actually coming up with something to write about. This is one area that normally I have no trouble with - I can ramble on about anything and everything. However when looking at what I would like to talk about I hit a brick wall.
The inspiration eventually came in the form of a couple of podcasts that I have been listening to recently. The podcasts themselves are not wonderful works of art or a lesson in editing but rather are the discussions of two individuals talking about a range of topics that take their fancy. My listening to them has posed one of the most perplexing questions I have thought about recently: the question of asking questions.
This is not going to be a discussion of a major logical challenge posing issues of regression in relation to questions. Instead I simply query why we don’t always ask the difficult questions?
A quick bit of background: the nature of the podcast involves one of the hosts explaining an issue and the other jumping in to flesh it out, often leading to an interesting discussion. Listening to one of the discussions the other day one of the podcasters joked that the other always asks the difficult questions. Although a slightly tongue in cheek dig at his fellow podcaster, it left me thinking what are ‘difficult questions’ and why do we avoid asking them in the first place?
Some might say a difficult question is one in which you struggle to answer or one in which you may not want to answer at all. I would suggest a different definition: a difficult question is one that you may not want the answer to. That is not to say that it is a rhetorical question but that on some level you are worried what the response would be.
Some might say a difficult question is one in which you struggle to answer or one in which you may not want to answer at all. I would suggest a different definition: a difficult question is one that you may not want the answer to. That is not to say that it is a rhetorical question but that on some level you are worried what the response would be.
- What is time?
- What is the answer to life, the universe and everything?
- Is there an afterlife?
- Is the standard model accurate?
These could all be said to be ‘difficult questions’ (except for the second, the answer to which is 42) but what makes them difficult is more the lack of understanding and knowledge than something objectionable about their answer. Questions I would say that fit in to my categorisation of ‘difficult questions’ include ‘Why have we drifted apart?’ ‘What do you really think of me?’ – and the one that many are dealing with at the moment – ‘What am I doing with my life?’
They are difficult for a number of reasons. The harsh truths of self-reflection make many shy away from it. Others are difficult through a fear of rejection, a fear of change, a fear of complicating the status quo. The difficulties, therefore, are self-imposed and so it is something that you can change.
They are difficult for a number of reasons. The harsh truths of self-reflection make many shy away from it. Others are difficult through a fear of rejection, a fear of change, a fear of complicating the status quo. The difficulties, therefore, are self-imposed and so it is something that you can change.
The challenge is to overcome your own inhibitions, look at the question as a way forward in life and don’t let it hold you back. What is the worst outcome from the question? Often it is nothing that cannot be overcome and yet we still worry. We worry about the smallest bump in the road whilst simultaneously ignoring the potential for any enjoyment that the question may lead to.
Every journey will have some problems with it and the road is rarely if ever completely smooth (especially if you are driving anywhere in Edinburgh recently) so what is one more bump in the road?
This is not a post advocating for mass inquisitions regarding everything and anything but instead the musings of a simple-minded individual. The musings may not mean much and often jump randomly but in this point one concluding remark I feel should be made.
Avoiding asking questions is not the best option. If you are worried about the response it should not stop you asking the question – instead it should make you think. Think about what you want. Think about yourself. Think about your question. Having thought about it, ask it and think on the answer.
Having said all this I am now going to do the usual thing I seem to do having given advice: ignore it in a hypocritical manner and continue musing. Enjoy.
Every journey will have some problems with it and the road is rarely if ever completely smooth (especially if you are driving anywhere in Edinburgh recently) so what is one more bump in the road?
This is not a post advocating for mass inquisitions regarding everything and anything but instead the musings of a simple-minded individual. The musings may not mean much and often jump randomly but in this point one concluding remark I feel should be made.
Avoiding asking questions is not the best option. If you are worried about the response it should not stop you asking the question – instead it should make you think. Think about what you want. Think about yourself. Think about your question. Having thought about it, ask it and think on the answer.
Having said all this I am now going to do the usual thing I seem to do having given advice: ignore it in a hypocritical manner and continue musing. Enjoy.
Great content today. Thanks again to the writers.
Martin
