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We live in a curious world, and there are a couple of questions that every human would be absolutely thrilled to know the answers to; where did we come from, how many universes are there, and is there a plan for us, or is the future yet to be written? 

"There is no such thing as a stupid question" – a common phrase that suggests that just because one person may know less than others, they should not be afraid to ask questions, even if they sound rather odd. 

“What is the dumbest question someone legitimately asked you?” – this online user took it to one of the most well-liked Reddit communities to find out what kinds of foolish questions the online members have gotten. The post has received nearly 35K upvotes and 31.4K worth of entertaining comments.

More info: Reddit

#1

There’s No Such Thing As A Stupid Question But These 40 People Online Just Proved Everyone Wrong One day one of my students said “Ew, I have to work today.” To which I replied, “So do I.”

He looked at me and asked, honestly, “Oh really? Where do you work?”

“Here...I work here...right where I am standing. I don’t do this as a service to your parents.”

BrainPainn , saimad Report

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jnegraham avatar
Janet Graham
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I remember that as a topic of discussion in 4th or 5th grade. It started out as what do you want to be when you are older. Then, someone asked the teacher to answer, too. All hell broke loose as we realized that she wasn't there just because she loved us.

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#2

There’s No Such Thing As A Stupid Question But These 40 People Online Just Proved Everyone Wrong American: "Do you have airplanes in South America?"

Me: "No, I got here swinging on vines that hang from our trees"

throwawayventing2018 , Jason O'Halloran Report

#3

There’s No Such Thing As A Stupid Question But These 40 People Online Just Proved Everyone Wrong “Don’t you find it stupid that Obama is the only president without a last name?”

bjv2001 , dcblog Report

#4

There’s No Such Thing As A Stupid Question But These 40 People Online Just Proved Everyone Wrong Boss: "Could you print out that file, scan it, and email it to me?"

Me: "I could just email it to you."

Boss: ...

-SkaffenAmtiskaw- , Jamison Judd Report

#5

There’s No Such Thing As A Stupid Question But These 40 People Online Just Proved Everyone Wrong Going through the border -- from Canada into the U.S.:

Border Guard: "What's your citizenship?"

Me: [hands over passport, which notes my birthplace as Vancouver, British Columbia] "Canadian."

Border Guard: "No, what's your citizenship?"

Me: *louder* "I'm Canadian."

Border Guard: *yelling* "What's your citizenship?!"

Me: "I don't know what you're asking me!"

Border Guard: "Where were you born? Was it Colombia?"

Me: "British Columbia is a province in Canada."

Border Guard: *waves me through*

joceyposse , Tom Purves Report

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emeraldocean avatar
Emerald Ocean
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is you’re a border guard on the Canadian border u should probably be remotely familiar with Canadian provinces

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#6

There’s No Such Thing As A Stupid Question But These 40 People Online Just Proved Everyone Wrong “Are you gay?”

“No.”

“Why?”

Hm I don’t know Jerry, just not feelin’ it today.

vBHSW , http://underclassrising.net/ Report

#7

There’s No Such Thing As A Stupid Question But These 40 People Online Just Proved Everyone Wrong My friend once asked, “What if they made a sea world but instead it’s centered around the land?”

I responded with “So basically, a zoo?”

Legitimate_Luke , [MGM] Report

#8

There’s No Such Thing As A Stupid Question But These 40 People Online Just Proved Everyone Wrong My wife at the time saw the headline “Buffalo buried in 5 feet of snow” (I don’t remember the exact measurement). She asked “Why don’t they just dig the poor guy out?” There was a picture of the city under the headline.

gjhobso , Maciej Report

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emeraldocean avatar
Emerald Ocean
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

🤣🤣🤣I’m literally crying laughing! 🤣🤣🤣🤣 but hey, at least she cares about animals

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#9

There’s No Such Thing As A Stupid Question But These 40 People Online Just Proved Everyone Wrong What nationality are you?

*canadian*

No, i mean, what nationality?

*ummm, do you mean heritage? Polish I guess*

No no, listen, na-tional-ity

*I don’t know what you’re asking?*

Whispers: Nationality, like, are you white, black, etc?

*just look at me, I’m white as snow, and that’s not nation...*

Cool I didn’t want to assume anything.

billbapapa , Dumphasizer Report

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stephanietrosch avatar
Scotira
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What??? One thing is painfully obvious: You can't argue with stupid. 🤦‍♀️

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#10

There’s No Such Thing As A Stupid Question But These 40 People Online Just Proved Everyone Wrong Having a conversation about traveling.

Me: I’ve always wanted to road trip up to Alaska and see the northern lights

Her: (looking at me like I’m a moron*) oh yeah? How are you going to drive to Alaska??

Me: in my car...

Her: You can’t DRIVE there

And then I realized she thought Alaska was an island... I had to explain to her that although Alaska and Hawaii were always in little boxes next to the mainland of USA maps that doesn’t mean they’re both islands.

10 years later I married her...

Drewkin13 , Jay Cross Report

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emeraldocean avatar
Emerald Ocean
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Awwwww that’s hilarious and sweet. I could definitely see how someone could think that if they never learned/realized it

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#11

There’s No Such Thing As A Stupid Question But These 40 People Online Just Proved Everyone Wrong My eyes are two different colors, and the question I'm most often asked about them is , "Did you know your eyes are two different colors?" I'm amused when someone asks me whether I see different colors out of each eye, or - even better - whether I "see in 3D."

MelilDeMolihua , Keith Kissel Report

#12

There’s No Such Thing As A Stupid Question But These 40 People Online Just Proved Everyone Wrong Isn’t it a shame unicorns went extinct?

This person was an adult and thought unicorns exists during medieval times.

laughing_cat , ebrkut Report

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mireetta avatar
Remi
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What I really miss are the dragons. Daμn all those pesky knights that killed them off. /j

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#13

There’s No Such Thing As A Stupid Question But These 40 People Online Just Proved Everyone Wrong (I used to work at a bakery) a customer once asked me:

"When the bread isn't warm anymore, that means it's not fresh anymore, so I can have it for free right?"

-_- "no"

Bcause789 , sylvar Report

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vikrant-talponkar avatar
Vic
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When the bread goes cold.. you can buy it with cold hard cash..

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#14

There’s No Such Thing As A Stupid Question But These 40 People Online Just Proved Everyone Wrong Not anything super mind-boggling, but I worked as a server at a infamous "Italian" restaurant during college. Here's my interaction with a guest one evening:

G: "I'd like to order the spaghetti with marinara sauce, but can I get fettuccine noodles instead?"
M: "Sure thing."
G: "Oh, and I'd like to please substitute the marinara with Alfredo sauce. And please add chicken."
M: ".... I would have to charge you for the chicken Alfredo, then." (Note there was a few dollars in price difference between the two dishes, Alfredo being more expensive).
G: "But I ordered the spaghetti with marinara."

I legitimately had to argue with this person for few moments as to why I couldn't magically substitute out the entire entree for a different one with no price difference. Guest ended up being super crabby for the remainder of the time and I'm fairly certain didn't tip at all.

architectmillenial , MattCC716 Report

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stephanietrosch avatar
Scotira
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'd like to order Pizza Margherita, but could you please substitute the dough with Filet Mignon and the tomatoes with noodles and the mozzarella with cream sauce? Ahhh, and the basil with some fresh veggies? 😇

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#15

There’s No Such Thing As A Stupid Question But These 40 People Online Just Proved Everyone Wrong A coworker at the library was asked for aerial photos of the Colosseum in Rome.

Before it was in ruins.

enfanta , Philip Kahn Report

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emeraldocean avatar
Emerald Ocean
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’m sorry I can’t today🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣I just can’t🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣this is too funny

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#16

There’s No Such Thing As A Stupid Question But These 40 People Online Just Proved Everyone Wrong "So Trump is our president, right? Does that mean he's in charge of our state or the whole world? Sorry but I've never understood this whole president thing..."

This was asked to me by a fellow high school senior... in civics class.

dogfobia , Matt Johnson Report

#17

There’s No Such Thing As A Stupid Question But These 40 People Online Just Proved Everyone Wrong A girl asked me if honey came from bears. I’ll never forget it.

GxRandy , Don Hankins Report

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mulkyway avatar
mulk
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes! All you need is a milking machine you put on mama-bear... *I'm out*

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#18

There’s No Such Thing As A Stupid Question But These 40 People Online Just Proved Everyone Wrong my own sister asked me how we were related to my grandparents

noahtherichman , Jan Vlugt Report

#19

There’s No Such Thing As A Stupid Question But These 40 People Online Just Proved Everyone Wrong Not me, but overheard someone asking a restaurant server "Your coupon says it's valid 7 days a week, does this include weekends?"

ihatepeasoup , Joe Lanman Report

#20

There’s No Such Thing As A Stupid Question But These 40 People Online Just Proved Everyone Wrong My stepmom once asked if islands float around in the ocean.

My brother burst out laughing, and I just looked flatly at my dad and said, "You married this woman." We still give her grief about it.

MightyBobTheMighty , Michael Spiller Report

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#21

There’s No Such Thing As A Stupid Question But These 40 People Online Just Proved Everyone Wrong If penguins need water to survive, doesn't that means they're fish?

synalgo_12 , Neil Turner Report

#23

There’s No Such Thing As A Stupid Question But These 40 People Online Just Proved Everyone Wrong I was weighing a patient, and she asked me if it measured in Celsius.

Jamochajon , PebblePicJay Report

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sharonfaust avatar
Kookamunga
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I get weighed at the doctor's office, it says "One at a time, please".

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#24

There’s No Such Thing As A Stupid Question But These 40 People Online Just Proved Everyone Wrong Had a customer ask if she could pay her bill over the phone. I asked what kind of credit card.... cash. She wanted to pay cash over the phone.

busykim , Jacqui Brown Report

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vikrant-talponkar avatar
Vic
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Say yes and calmly explain to her directions to get to your office..

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#25

There’s No Such Thing As A Stupid Question But These 40 People Online Just Proved Everyone Wrong On a ski lift

"At what elevation do deer turn into elk?"

TheFatherIxion , Rob Lee Report

#26

There’s No Such Thing As A Stupid Question But These 40 People Online Just Proved Everyone Wrong How long did it take you to drive from Australia - *to America*? I've been asked this twice.

I wish I could say I had a witty response, but my brain froze as it tried to compute the stupidity of the question.

*ETA: No offense to Americans, just these two particular idiots. I've lived in the U.S. most of my life.*

ecodrew , Nathan Hughes Hamilton Report

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kona4me avatar
Kona Pake
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nobody tells the Americans about the secret Tunnel between Australia to Hawaii to LA under the ocean.

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#27

There’s No Such Thing As A Stupid Question But These 40 People Online Just Proved Everyone Wrong Is Cherry Vanilla Coke made with cherries and vanilla mixed together, or is it made with vanilla cherries?

*vanilla cherries???*

anon Report

#28

There’s No Such Thing As A Stupid Question But These 40 People Online Just Proved Everyone Wrong “Does Halloween ever fall on Friday the 13th?”

Took my buddy a few seconds combined with our WTF stares to realize what he had just asked

EDIT: My bad everyone. Didn’t even consider the fact that other countries don’t celebrate Halloween. ELI5 Halloween is a set holiday that always falls on October 31st

YoungMozartinaGoKart , Kevin Dooley Report

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zeroflight avatar
Zero
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sadly, this makes the rounds from time to time and people fall for it. "OMG, Halloween falls on Friday the 13th this year! It only happens ever 666 years! Scary!"

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#29

There’s No Such Thing As A Stupid Question But These 40 People Online Just Proved Everyone Wrong My cousin bought a map from a nearby fancy store for tourists. After perusing it for no less than two hours, she asked me, "How does this north-south stuff work? The side I'm facing is north, right? And if I turn right, north also turns right, no?"

She was 20.

small_big , Anthony Report

#30

There’s No Such Thing As A Stupid Question But These 40 People Online Just Proved Everyone Wrong If you had a heart transplant, would your memories go away?

Doffy-Mingo , Josey Report

#31

There’s No Such Thing As A Stupid Question But These 40 People Online Just Proved Everyone Wrong I used to work at Disney World and a question I would get on the daily is "What time is the 3 o'clock parade?"

AlexVanderspek94 , Kevin Gaudin Report

#32

There’s No Such Thing As A Stupid Question But These 40 People Online Just Proved Everyone Wrong Was asked to a friend of mine who worked in a book shop.

"Excuse me. Do these stairs go up?"

Draculasmooncannon , kanonn Report

#34

“Do you see in panoramic view?”

I’m Chinese...

verigud Report

#35

There’s No Such Thing As A Stupid Question But These 40 People Online Just Proved Everyone Wrong I wear a headscarf, and someone once asked me if I had ears.

airbenderx , Beverley Goodwin Report

#36

There’s No Such Thing As A Stupid Question But These 40 People Online Just Proved Everyone Wrong When I moved back to Florida from Scotland a girl I was hitting on at a bar asked me how long a drive that was.

Kilen13 , Tobias Begemann Report

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#37

When I was in America in 2012, a man asked me, completely seriously, if we had cellphones in Norway...

anon Report

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anyrei avatar
any rei
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's even more funny if that question comes from a country not making it into the top 10 of standard of living to a country that is at the top.

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#38

There’s No Such Thing As A Stupid Question But These 40 People Online Just Proved Everyone Wrong I used to be a high school college prep teacher. One semester, I had quite a number of students who said they wanted to become surgeons. So one day I showed the class a neat video of a surgeon slicing open a grape with a scalpel and then stitching it back up with this new, technologically advanced pair of robotic arm things. The video was met with many oohs and aahs, and when it was over a hand shot up. I’ll never forget her question.
“What was wrong with the grape?”

(EDIT: Haha okay so people keep saying she was kidding, and the joke just went over my head since I’m old. Wouldn’t change the fact that it was a dumb question. Now I’m 99% sure she was being serious. That or she’s so good an actress that she committed to an entire semester of low grades and embarrassing questions and her friends having to explain things to her and her chuckling embarrassingly at her ditzy self. Now, I said ditzy. I don’t believe any of my students are even a little bit “dumb”. But the question certainly was, and I can with good conscience call it that since on many occasions she spent the entire time talking with her friends only to look up halfway through and just toss her input without gathering much context. In this case she looked up and saw people randomly operating on a grape.

Also, no, she wasn’t blonde. She had black hair. No, English was not her first language (which I’m sure contributed to her lack of focus in the class). Yes she passed the class because she was, in fact, a good kid and quite smart. Just needed a bit of help. She’d make a great surgeon someday if she tried.

Guacaceratops , Mingo Hagen Report

#39

One of my good friends builds computers. He sold me the components of his old desktop and he brought it over to my house so he could transfer them to a new case for me and then build his new computer. It was taking a while and my mom was agitated that he was there so long and asked "is what you're doing even legal?"

ThirdWorldPelican Report

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madddie14 avatar
Madison Connor
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No....yes....no....yes, yes it is legal. Oh wait, it isn't. OF COURSE IT IS LEGAL.

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#40

Is that an uppercase "space bar"?

jiaco Report

Note: this post originally had 48 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.