The Current | Vol. 31 Issue 8

September 29, 2020 | nsucurrent.nova.edu 11 Opinions Are there stupid questions? Whether it be a teacher in their classroom or a philosopher talking about the endless pursuit of knowledge, we have all heard that there is no such thing as a stupid question. But how true is this sentiment? While putting words to paper,or fingers to keyboard, the irony of such a question is not lost on me. First off, if you have ever heard someone ask, “Do you have a bathroom?” in someone’s house, you already know stupid questions exist, but let’s take a deeper look. What is a stupid question? What makes something stupid? A quick search in the Merriam-Webster dictionary will show that stupid means “given to unintelligent decisions or acts: acting in an unintelligent or careless manner” or “lacking intelligence or reason: brutish.” So, by definition, a ‘stupid’ question has some variation on what it condones. One category of stupid questions would be thoughtless questions that just kind of falls out of the speaker’s mouth without any care. Another category of stupid questions would be questions presented in an unintelligent and careless fashion. This could also be considered the stupidest type of question of all. In the circumstance of the quest for knowledge, the occasional repetitive question can only be forgiven when one truly wants to learn. Sometimes, it takes a little longer for some individuals to learn or adapt to a specific mindset or skill. In an educational environment, students may feel nervous to ask questions on subjects the teacher has already discussed and may consider their question a stupid question. However, you should always go ahead and ask that question because, ultimately, who cares if peers think you don’t know what’s happening in class? Those grades matter way more. It could be said that not asking the question would be the stupid thing to do. How can one set the difference between existential philosophy and asking something stupid? An example question would be “Aren’t we all the same?” We are all just humans. On one side, a response could be “Wow, that’s so deep. We really are the same,” and another could be, “Wow, that’s so dumb. Humanity is incredibly diverse. “ The only thing that makes a question deep instead of dumb is the environment in which it is said. If someone asks in their philosophy class why we are here, the response could lead to hours of discussion. The same question in someone’s math class could get a response similar to because you need the credits to graduate. After much consideration, there is finally an answer to the age-old question of if there are stupid questions. The answer is yes. Nonetheless, there is still so much to learn and you have to spend the rest of your life doing so. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, even if they are stupid. Just try to think before you speak. “ How can one set the difference between existential philosophy and asking something stupid? An example question would be “Aren’t we all the same?” We are all just humans. PRINTED WITH PERMISSION E. COWAN Tea, please Sept. 29 marks National Coffee Day, and while many people will be running to coffee shopslikeStarbucksandDunkin’fortheircoffee fixes, I’ll be getting my drink on too, but with tea instead.While coffee is a hyped-up beverage of preference and choice, truthfully, I’m not the biggest fan of it. Oftentimes, whenever I do drink coffee, I end up feeling antsy and jittery. While the taste can be great, the feeling it gives me is really not superb. Coffee versus tea has been one of themost debated things for a long time, like Coca-Cola versus Pepsi. While at the end of the day, it’s all amatter of taste—and both tea and coffee offer more benefits than all sodas combined, tea may actually be better for you than coffee. Yes, coffee can improve your energy levels, among other things, but coffee can also cause insomnia and nervousness. On the other hand, tea contains antioxidants and most won’t cause nervousness. According to PennMedicine, people have actually been “drinking tea for thousands of centuries, and for good reason.” Different teas have different health benefits and can help boost your immune system, fight off inflammation and even ward off diseases and illnesses like cancer and heart disease. Like coffee, tea also comes from nature, but oftentimes, people find themselves dependent on coffee without even noticing it. If you regularly drink coffee, how many times have you said “I need coffee” in just the last week? You may think you don’t really ‘need’ it, but your body just might think you do. Thanks to the Journal of Caffeine Research, we actually now know that “caffeine is the most commonly used drug in the world,” and while “low to moderate doses of caffeine [are] generally safe, an increasing number of clinical studies are showing that some caffeine users become dependent on the drug and are unable to reduce consumption.” Given so many people can’t go without their morning coffee, is it safe to say they’re actually just dependent on it? Teas with caffeine also put consumers at risk of caffeine dependency, but more often than not, the types of teas people are drinking lack caffeine or contain lower amounts when compared to a cup of coffee. Some of the most popular types of teas include white, herbal, black, oolong and green teas, all of which contain low amounts of caffeine except most black and green teas. While not everyone is a fan of tea, regardless of if it’s hot or cold, it may be better for you than drinking coffee.With that said, this National Coffee Day, you give your body and mind a caffeine break and choose a calming cup of tea instead. If you still want that caffeinated coffee feeling without the coffee, I recommend a chai tea latte, hot or iced. PRINTED WITH PERMISSION F. MIRELES Tea can be enjoyed both in the morning and at night and has many health benefits. By: Flor Ana Mireles Copy Editor By: Gabriel J. Stone Contributing Writer