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They say there are no stupid questions. Well, that depends on the setting. If it's a classroom full of eager-to-learn minds, then it might be true. But if we're talking about a conversation between two colleagues in front of the coffee machine...

So in an attempt to disprove this old saying, a now-deleted Reddit user asked everyone on the platform to share the dumbest things people have asked them. And they succeeded: the comment section was flooded with ridiculous submissions, stemming from ignorance in subjects like geography, religion, and the human body. Continue scrolling to see our hand-picked selection of the funniest ones!

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#1

40 People Share The One Question They Got That Was So Dumb, They Thought The Person Must Be Joking, But They Were 100% Serious About 25 years ago I was explaining time zones to a 20ish year old intern at a large scientific agency. She wasn't getting it, so i got an orange I brought for lunch and used it as the Earth.

Me: Ok, pretend this is the Earth. The sun only shines on one side, so it's day on approximately half at any given time. Now since the Earth rotates (as i spin the orange)...

Intern: So wait. Hold on. So you're saying the Earth is round?

I wish i was joking.

zygomelonm , Sigmund Report

Final score:
347points
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#2

40 People Share The One Question They Got That Was So Dumb, They Thought The Person Must Be Joking, But They Were 100% Serious "If you're an atheist, why don't you go around killing people?" I'm worried now that there are people out there who would just casually kill, but don't because they're scared of hell.

thesoundofchange , ajuprasetyo Report

Final score:
331points
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Skara Brae
Skara Brae
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Which raises the question, how many people refrain from murder just because they are religious?

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#3

40 People Share The One Question They Got That Was So Dumb, They Thought The Person Must Be Joking, But They Were 100% Serious Why are you spying on me?

I was working in a call center for Dish Network and a guy called in, very upset. He wanted to know why Dish Network was spying on him. I tried to let him know that we were not in fact spying on him. Which he countered with, "if you are not spying on me then why is there a camera in the damn box?" "Sir, a camera? There is no camera in the receiver" I respond. "Yes there is" he screams "I know there is because I can see everything happening in my room on the TV right now."

I sat there and pondered that statement, trying to figure out what was happening. I asked, "sir, is your TV off right now?" In the background I hear the clear sound of a TV being turned on. I then said, "sir, that is called a reflection. Is there anything else I can help you with?" He hung up.

tacsatduck , CDC Report

Final score:
319points
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Falcon
Falcon
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This guy might call the police every time he walks past a mirror in the house. Damn spies in wall-boxes!

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#4

Why do we need farmers when we have supermarkets. Heard this in real life and blew my mind

Training_Exit_5849 Report

Final score:
269points
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Serial pacifist
Serial pacifist
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have a steak and sausage farm, and I love how they wrap themselves up these days and ship each other to supermarkets. We virtually have nothing to do.

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#5

40 People Share The One Question They Got That Was So Dumb, They Thought The Person Must Be Joking, But They Were 100% Serious Before I got married my doctor asked me...

Doctor: Are you sexually active?

Me: yes

Doctor: Are you married?

Me: no

Doctor: Then how can you be sexually active?

Cyber_duckie , National Cancer Institute Report

Final score:
257points
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#6

40 People Share The One Question They Got That Was So Dumb, They Thought The Person Must Be Joking, But They Were 100% Serious I used to be a tour guide in a cave and one summer we had a running contest among the guides to see who could get the dumbest question. Keep in mind, we only accepted questions from adults for entry into the contest. Some of the finalists were:

"Is this cave underground?"

"Will the stalagmites bite me?"

"Are the steps natural?"

"What time is the 4.30 tour?"

And the winner: "Does the water go all the way around the island?"

Common-Bonus , Stephan Louis Report

Final score:
252points
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#7

40 People Share The One Question They Got That Was So Dumb, They Thought The Person Must Be Joking, But They Were 100% Serious Are you sure that's how you spell your name

luckycatty , Bewakoof.com Official Report

Final score:
227points
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troufaki13
troufaki13
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ι have seen people miss-spell their names so... (and no, they didn't want an alternative spelling)

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#8

40 People Share The One Question They Got That Was So Dumb, They Thought The Person Must Be Joking, But They Were 100% Serious one of my best friends came to visit me in the hospital when i had my baby. i was laying there with my newborn and there was a banana on a tray next to the bed. he asked, “has he had lunch yet? is that for him?” everyone in the room just cackled so hard that i almost felt bad

Entire-Gazelle-3478 , Aditya Romansa Report

Final score:
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#9

I'm half Inuit. In 6th grade I did a social studies project on Inuit people/lifestyles. During my presentation, I brought up the fact that I'm half Inuit and pointed out different things my grandmother was teaching me. A boy in the class the goes "how can you be an indian?? I thought they were like.. extinct"

SnowyInuk Report

Final score:
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#10

40 People Share The One Question They Got That Was So Dumb, They Thought The Person Must Be Joking, But They Were 100% Serious Someone asked me why I have a dark skinned baby if I'm white and couldn't comprehend how it is possible that my daughter is mixed race

[deleted] , Chayene Rafaela Report

Final score:
217points
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#11

Was in a maternity class with my wife. One of the husbands was an endless source of amazing comments. My favorite was while on the topic of breastfeeding. “So do you just poke holes in them or what?” There was a very long, very shocked pause from the instructor before she explained it to him.

junkme551 Report

Final score:
217points
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ner_diz avatar
Serial pacifist
Serial pacifist
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Obviously, someone poked a hole through his ears and left an empty space in there.

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#12

40 People Share The One Question They Got That Was So Dumb, They Thought The Person Must Be Joking, But They Were 100% Serious "Do you work here?"

No, ma'am, I just... felt like stealing a work vest and working this shoe pallet for giggles.

kannakantplay , Ahsanizatio Report

Final score:
215points
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#13

"What's that yellow stuff?"

Fire. It was fire.

PrudentFlamingo Report

Final score:
213points
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#14

40 People Share The One Question They Got That Was So Dumb, They Thought The Person Must Be Joking, But They Were 100% Serious Is the blue part on a map the sky or the water?

thestonez , Kelsey Knight Report

Final score:
203points
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#15

40 People Share The One Question They Got That Was So Dumb, They Thought The Person Must Be Joking, But They Were 100% Serious Repairing the scanner scale at a grocery store. I have the scale out of the checkstand, on it's side, bottom removed from the scale, one of the circuit boards removed from the scale and placed on the conveyor belt, I have JUST removed the board that the spinner part connects to (that spinning mirror thing in the bottom of the scanner scale), and someone walks up to the checkstand, places items onto the conveyor and asks "Are you open?"

I should be allowed to throw things at people this dumb.

GreatJanitor , maabsnco0 Report

Final score:
201points
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Lucas
Lucas
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe they had terrible eyesight Mr Magoo style!! 😂

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#16

Working on a tourist sightseeing boat on the ocean in Alaska. Person asks me what elevation we are at. I look down at the ocean and back to them and say, about 10 feet

DryIcePhactory Report

Final score:
195points
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#17

40 People Share The One Question They Got That Was So Dumb, They Thought The Person Must Be Joking, But They Were 100% Serious “Who is the man and who is the woman”in regards to a relationship between two gay men.

Hasenpfeffer , Maico Pereira Report

Final score:
183points
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UpQuarkDownQuark
UpQuarkDownQuark
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The correct response is, "Who's the idiot in this conversation?"

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#18

40 People Share The One Question They Got That Was So Dumb, They Thought The Person Must Be Joking, But They Were 100% Serious Holding my cat while outside. “Is that a cat?” “Why yes, yes it is”

Tunapizzacat , Manki Kim Report

Final score:
176points
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September
September
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some people live sheltered lives. Other people live animal sheltered lives.

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#19

I had the neighbors by for a quick chat a few years ago, and we happened to be standing by our goat pen, we had three at the time. For whatever reason, people don't really see goats as pets, and I'm often asked about their purpose, are they meat, etc.

Well, this guy asked if I milked them. I explained that they're all retired breeding males.

He followed that up by asking again if we milk them, and was so affronted by the look I could not help giving him that he left in a huff. I didn't mean to be rude, but I definitely looked at him as if he were an idiot and he was smart enough, at least, to figure that out.

SaltyDangerHands Report

Final score:
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Marianne
Marianne
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Reminds me of the lady who asked my father why his cows are in a stable and not in the meadows. He told her that they were bulls and too aggressive to run free. Then she said: "But there are cows in there, too! Look, this one has an udder!" And he goes: "No, that thing is not an udder..."

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#20

I was having a disagreement with a customer in the workplace. At one point she said “why would I be arguing with you if I was wrong?”.
I mean….what do you say after that?

Legendary_New_song Report

Final score:
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#21

When people notice one of my tattoos "You know they are permanent Right?" Like sh*t I had no idea, if only I had known you before I got it

lil_sma · Report

Final score:
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IlovemydogShilo
IlovemydogShilo
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A tattoo artist friend once told me he lost count years ago how many "cover up" tattoos he did were on people who thought the tattoos they got would eventually fade away and completely disappear after a few years.

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#22

40 People Share The One Question They Got That Was So Dumb, They Thought The Person Must Be Joking, But They Were 100% Serious Context I’m a lesbian:

So do you like get turned on looking in a mirror?

chubbybunnybean , Vladimir Fedotov Report

Final score:
166points
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#23

In retail "Where is the paint in this stupid store? I was sent down here and they lied! " "Right behind you (literally dozens of paint cans 8 feet behind her) " "No they're not!" I walk past her and put my hand on the can, took her a good 10 seconds of ranting to accept the paint was infact there.

rolonotmyrealname Report

Final score:
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#24

"Where does wood come from?"

This person was 19

RealLameUserName Report

Final score:
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#25

This is second hand from a diving guide in Bermuda: "how far do you have to dive to get under the island?"

Sarke1 Report

Final score:
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#26

What can I take for internal bleeding?

Answer: Hospital man. We’re just a f*cking pharmacy, not a trauma unit.

sheldonowns Report

Final score:
151points
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#27

I have been asked and witnessed stupid questions but I am struggling to think of a good gem.

All I can remember is, "how does the paper get to the other fax machine?"

I tried explaining fax machines merely scan a copy and the image travels through wires and it prints a copy but they weren't getting it.

Another one, a girl was offering me soy sauce and I reminded her I am allergic to soy. "Oh. There's soy in soy sauce?"

bitterherpes Report

Final score:
151points
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idrow avatar
Id row
Id row
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Back in the early 90's, I said something so stupid that it still makes me cringe. I asked this guy to use his fax machine and said that I'd supply any a paper I used.

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#28

40 People Share The One Question They Got That Was So Dumb, They Thought The Person Must Be Joking, But They Were 100% Serious After trying to pull my hair off:

Stranger: It's not a wig!?

Me: Uhhh no, it's my hair

Stranger: I thought maybe it was a wig because of cancer or something.

pm_pic_of_spiderman , Hans Mendoza Report

Final score:
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OCD Mom
OCD Mom
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

First, how can you touch someone's hair? Second, even if you do get their permission, how can you just pull their hair? Third, so it's okay if the wig comes off? Are you pulling their hair with that intention? In that case, your aim is to embarrass them, which is disgusting, and you are a prick.

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#29

40 People Share The One Question They Got That Was So Dumb, They Thought The Person Must Be Joking, But They Were 100% Serious “Do the chicken lettuce wraps have chicken in them?”

TheSalty , pzphone Report

Final score:
142points
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oktopus
oktopus
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well if there are chick peas, surely there can be chicken lettuce?

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#30

40 People Share The One Question They Got That Was So Dumb, They Thought The Person Must Be Joking, But They Were 100% Serious A friend of a friend found out during a party that I was serving in the US Army Reserve asked me if I had ever killed anyone.

Sigh

No, I'm not combat arms and I've never even deployed.

Seriously stop asking ANY service member this stupid ass question unless you want a stupid ass answer back.

xerif3743 , Clovis Wood Photography Report

Final score:
138points
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IlovemydogShilo
IlovemydogShilo
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would just say, "No, not yet." Then look them straight in the eye and finish with, "but the night's still young."

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#31

Once my mom had to have part of a lung removed due to cancer. Afterwards, the doctor showed us the imaging that showed the remaining cancer spread through the rest of her lungs, which we already knew about. My dad asked him why they didn't remove all of her lungs.

ecsa0014 Report

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#32

“What was it like to grow up in a third world country?” My step grandmother the first time I met her after moving to the the US from Canada...

caffieneandsarcasm Report

Final score:
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Elliot Fowler
Elliot Fowler
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If anything, the USA is the third world country compared to canada

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#33

40 People Share The One Question They Got That Was So Dumb, They Thought The Person Must Be Joking, But They Were 100% Serious ”Why don’t they schedule New Year’s Eve so that it’ll always be on a Monday?”

wallyballou55 , Andreas Dress Report

Final score:
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#34

40 People Share The One Question They Got That Was So Dumb, They Thought The Person Must Be Joking, But They Were 100% Serious "Continents would float away if they weren't anchored down, right?"

Edit: This was asked by an 18 y/o girl in a top-level secondary school.

mysterybiscuit , NASA Report

Final score:
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Wistiti
Wistiti
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well..... if you use the word anchor and float in the broadest of terms and only on a geological scale, she's right-ish.

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#35

Is Thailand in alaska.

broadwayboi2 Report

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Serial pacifist
Serial pacifist
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No, they just have one ethnic minority in common, the bigfoot, you must have heard.

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#36

How my son was conceived. I'm in a wheelchair.

Zwada84 Report

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September
September
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well you see there's these cables in the bedroom that turn my wheelchair into a swing...

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#37

I worked at an ice cream store and someone came in, looked at the ice cream cone I was handing to someone then looked at me and asked "what kind of soups do you have"

riphitter Report

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#38

“Is that your baby?” I was breastfeeding at the time.

Rell2078 Report

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#39

40 People Share The One Question They Got That Was So Dumb, They Thought The Person Must Be Joking, But They Were 100% Serious Why does apple juice taste like apples?

yashasangel , Shelley Pauls Report

Final score:
116points
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#40

40 People Share The One Question They Got That Was So Dumb, They Thought The Person Must Be Joking, But They Were 100% Serious A lady asked if the bubble lights on the Christmas tree were "filled with colored champagne."

Back2Bach , jochen van Wylick Report

Final score:
113points
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stonewoodoo avatar
Falcon
Falcon
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Might want to cut back on whatever it is they are consuming.

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