You’re Not Annoying. You’re Curious. Own It.
The small preface of “silly question, but…” before you make an enquiry might seem harmless.
Polite, even.
What it actually is, however, is a quiet act of self-doubt.
It’s a subtle way of telling yourself that your curiosity isn’t valid.
It’s as if you’re apologising for burdening others with your curiosity.
Human curiosity is not an annoyance.
It is the driving force behind some of the most pioneering discoveries in history.
“Why does the apple fall?”
“What if matter is made of invisible particles”
“Are doctors are spreading disease with dirty hands?”
Because we now are well acquainted with the consequences these questions gave rise to, it can be easy today to underestimate how absurd they seemed at the time.
When Newton, Boltzmann, and Semmelweis asked these important questions they were ridiculed by their contempories, but they didn’t let that stop them.
They asked the questions, and those questions gave rise to some of the most important inventions and discoveries in human history.
So don’t you worry about what “the people” think.
Don’t allow their opinion of you to eclipse your quest for knowledge.
Often, it’s not even their opinion — it’s merely your perception of their opinion.
Maybe they really had the same question.
Maybe your question sparks their curiosity.
or maybe they do think your question really is silly.
It doesn’t matter.
Statistically, your next “silly” question probably won’t revolutionise the world — and that’s perfectly fine.
The real win is that you’ve deepened your own understanding.
And maybe you’ll even help others deepen theirs.
“There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.”
I grew up reading about Malcolm X, Marcus Garvey, and other symbols of the struggle against oppression.
Naturally, at some point in my childhood, I came across Nelson Mandela’s inaugural speech.
Part of that speech —oft-quoted— was actually taken from a passage by Marianne Williamson.
I may not connect with the piece as a whole because of my beliefs, but the quote above has always resonated with me.
For a long time, I allowed others’ perceptions to cause me to shrink
I allowed them to regulate my speech and second-guess my own thoughts.
But this shrinking doesn’t serve the world.
Why do you feel the need to belittle yourself?
Why do you feel compelled to qualify your own question as lacking common sense or judgement (Google the meaning of “silly.”)
There is nothing enlightened about that.
“Say it with your chest”. Speak with strength and conviction, be bold and be clear. Project your confidence on to the world.
Let them think you are silly if they must.
Let them be annoyed if they must.
Let them feel insecure if they must.
But
“You shall not fold your wings that you may pass through doors… You shall not … fear to breathe lest walls should crack and fall down” — Khalil Gibran