[svilen_dobrev]

stupid questions are the most important ones - they mean something very deep is missing / misty / doubtful / wrong. Smart ones are usually on the surface.. "assuming" the depth is okay.

https://journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/121/11/1771/3003...

[rightbyte]

Sure but there are also stupid questions that waste the groups time. They are common in university lectures.

Some people, like maybe 2%, seem to have a urge that when the lecturer asks for questions, someone has to ask one to not make the lecturer sad.

[gsf_emergency_2]

As someone who has been censured for recommending the word "imbecility" to describe a healthful state of mind that we should all embrace:

I think a HN-friendly way to reword such advice is:

  Don't shy away from poking at your own confusion, because sometimes you get to poke others as a bonus