A comment on Boaty McBoatface

When I was at school, they common thought was that there were no stupid questions, only stupid people. This was a really dangerous and derogatory model. What I think is more helpful is that both the person asking the question and the person being quizzed need to respect each other. That is when I pose a question, no matter how silly it may seem, I actually want/need the answer. And the person I have asked could respect that and either answer or decline to answer for a suite of reasons.

“Name our ship!” This was the call from the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) in an online poll soliciting names for a U.K. polar research vessel. And the Internet responded in the most predictable way possible: The people have spoken — and the name they want is “Boaty McBoatface.” In my model of respect, the question was respectfully put to the public who NERC wanted to connect with and they have respectfully respectfully and this should be honoured.

“We can not solve our problems with the same level of thinking that created them”  ― Albert Einstein

“The formulation of the problem is often more essential than its solution, which may be merely a matter of mathematical or experimental skill.”  ― Albert Einstein

“a problem well put is half solved.”  ― John Dewey