In Which There Are Such Thing As Stupid Questions-They Come From The Most Educated People in the Room

If you spend enough time eavesdropping on the subway or in cafes in certain parts of New York, you will quickly discover that about ten percent of the city is riding a tsunami-sized wave of megalomania. Usually this manifests itself in an abrasive, condescending attitude coupled with insecurity so crippling that the subject spends several hours a week cradled in the loving embrace of his/her favorite mental health professional.*

The reason this is on my mind is because last night I went to a documentary and the director came for a Q & A session after the movie. Q & As are really common here and they take place after independent movies, political discussions, speakers, etc. They have the potential to be a great opportunity to examine the mind of the great thinkers of our time, but instead usually deteriorate into ego trips for the people asking the questions. These are examples of typical questions (I am not smart enough to make them super intellectual, but I will try):


Example One: "Hello, my name is Barbara and I am currently a PhD student in Anthropology at Columbia. I have received the ________________ fellowship and have recently published in ______________, _______________ and ____________________. I have also had the honor of working intimately with the eminent Dr. ___________________. I am writing my dissertation on the results of existential paradigm shifts among the Baluchi people of Iran and in my research, I have found......."

Moderator: I'm sorry, but I am having a difficult time identifying your question...

My comment-Do you really think that the first female president of her country is impressed that you are a second year MPA student? Or will remember? Just ask the question...

Example Two (in a dreamy voice): Where do memories reside?

Example Three: I have noticed that this film appears to be deeply reflective of the narrative arc of FILL IN THE BLANK WITH OBSCURE FRENCH NOVEL THAT HAS NEVER BEEN TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH. How did AUTHOR inform your work?

Speaker: I am not familiar with that.

Questioner feels triumphant.


My friend went to a Q & A where the speaker turned on everyone. He told me that if someone name dropped a philosopher, the speaker responded by asking him something very specific about said philosopher that he didn't think they would know. The self aggrandizing questions stopped immediately.

* I am very, very pro therapy and very strongly feel that it plays a positive role in our society. However, I have seen lots of people of a certain class and education level use it as a crutch. I can't think of a better recreational activity for a consummate narcissist.