You know that saying that there is no such thing as a Stupid Question?

I'm not sure I buy it.

I mean, its a nice thing for teachers to say, or other people who's livlihood depends on stupid questions continuing to be asked.  But, I'm pretty sure I've heard a stupid question. Quite a few of them actually.

And then there are questions that are just wrong- not morally wrong, but just the wrong questions to ask.   Like when someone asks a writer, "Where do you get your ideas?"  Just a heads up; writers hate that question.  It's like being asking "Where do you get air?"   If you are a writer, ideas are everywhere.  They bombard you wherever you go, assault you even.  They take over your mind and demand that you write about them.  And then when you start to obey, other ideas come along and hi-jack those ideas.  That is why the typical writerly response to the "ideas" question is a blank stare.  Wrong question.  How about, "Has there ever been a point in the universe from which ideas did not flow?"  Oh, and by the way, the answer to that is, "No".  

And then there is a third category of questions- the questions directed at the wrong people.  I experienced a doozy one of those the other day.

After ConScription, I was getting a ride to the airport with the guy who owned  the backpackers I'd stayed at.  His name was Scott and he knew that I was a fantasy/sci-fi writer who had been attending a fantasy/sci-fi convention.  We were chatting about the Con, the workshops, etc. and out of the blue he said, "So I'm worried about my nineteen-year-old son."

"What has you worried?"  I asked.

"Well he loves to read.  He devours books, in fact.  But every since he read the Harry Potter series as a boy, that's the only sort of thing he'll read.  I was wondering if you could tell me when my son will grow out of reading Fantasy."  

And I said, "I'm afraid you've asked the wrong person that question.  You see, I am forty and I still haven't grown out of reading fantasy.  In fact, my whole livelihood sort of depends on the hope that people don't grow out of reading fantasy.  What is it about fantasy that you consider juvenile?"

"Well, it doesn't teach you anything about 'real life'?" he insisted.  "Not like the great biographies, the philosophers and thinkers.  My son is going to grow up thinking everything can be fixed with the wave of a wand."  

"So you like to read non-fiction?  You like to read philosophy to find your truth, and your son finds his truth in Fantasy."  

"Truth?  What truth is there in Fantasy?"  he asked scowling.  

You know that saying, there is no such thing as a Stupid Question.

Naw, I don't buy it.