Why people ask questions

[Jechbi]

from here:

Five reasons why people ask questions: through stupidity and foolishness; with evil intentions and through covetousness; with a desire to know; out of contempt; with the thought: "If he answers my question correctly, it is good; if not, then I shall give the correct answer.

[Mawkish1983]

with a desire to know

[Cittasanto]

suppose that is also applicable in many ways to why people make statements

[Mawkish1983]

suppose that is also applicable in many ways to why people make statements

I think I'm reason 1 for making statements then

[Cittasanto]

Damn the good one was taken I'll be probably the last reason or second then

[Mawkish1983]

or second then

Evil intention? You? I find that hard to believe

[Cittasanto]

or second then

Evil intention? You? I find that hard to believe

There have been a couple of times a few weeks ago more than before or after, that I have noticed this! not so much here but somewhere else, which I have left because of this being more prominent, I figure remove myself from the greater temptation than be a t£&7, and work on it where the temptation is less.

[Mawkish1983]

not so much here but somewhere else

Yahoo! Answers Religion & Spirituality? I stopped using that too because I noticed it had a negative effect on me.

[Cittasanto]

no, but I have found the questions just don't interest me!

p.s. I was looking at some of my old questions the other day/week & noticed you answered one of mine from before I moved to Aberdeen!

[Kim OHara]

Five reasons why people ask questions: through stupidity and foolishness; with evil intentions and through covetousness; with a desire to know; out of contempt; with the thought: "If he answers my question correctly, it is good; if not, then I shall give the correct answer.

Okay ...
I understand and approve 'with a desire to know' - pretty obvious.
I understand and sometimes approve 'with the thought: "If he answers my question correctly, it is good; if not, then I shall give the correct answer".' It's a good teaching strategy, but it can also be part of domination/vanity games.
I understand but don't approve 'stupidity and foolishness, evil intentions and covetousness'.
But I just don't understand 'out of contempt'. Are we talking about pseudo-questions like, "Are you too stupid to understand that 2 plus 2 is 4?" ?
Any thoughts?

Kim

[Cittasanto]

five types of intentions, or reasons people have.

1 - through stupidity and foolishness; (we all ask stupid questions, which miss the point of what is being discussed, 'why doesn't 2 + 2 = 6?' when.... edit - may be more deliberate ignorance than ignorance though i.e. ignoring some of the 'proof' or 'information')

2 - with evil intentions and through covetousness; (asking for something which we don't need, or particularly want, but want to be seen as better than another by having keep up with the Joneses when there is no need to do as the Joneses have done.)

3 - with a desire to know; (obvious)

4 - out of contempt; (a statement in the form of a question would sometimes be this, not just clarification)

5 - with the thought: "If he answers my question correctly, it is good; if not, then I shall give the correct answer. (this could fall into categories 2 & 4 also, if not a teaching strategy)

[Mawkish1983]

I was looking at some of my old questions the other day/week & noticed you answered one of mine from before I moved to Aberdeen!

Dare I ask... what was it and with which of the five reasons did I appear to answer it? How did I do? You've got me worried now!

Note, these questions are asked for reason no. 3... but how does the desire-dukkha relationship fit with the 'desire to know'? Maybe this relates to Manapas thread about using craving to end craving? Just running around some ideas out loud, sorry

[Cittasanto]

I was looking at some of my old questions the other day/week & noticed you answered one of mine from before I moved to Aberdeen!

Dare I ask... what was it and with which of the five reasons did I appear to answer it? How did I do? You've got me worried now!

Note, these questions are asked for reason no. 3... but how does the desire-dukkha relationship fit with the 'desire to know'? Maybe this relates to Manapas thread about using craving to end craving? Just running around some ideas out loud, sorry

I'll PM you a link to it later!

[Jechbi]

Here's a better reference.

Pañhapuccha Sutta

Then Ven. Sariputta addressed the monks: "Friend monks."

"Yes, friend," the monks responded to him.

Ven. Sariputta said: "All those who ask questions of another do so from any one of five motivations. Which five?

"One asks a question of another through stupidity & bewilderment. One asks a question of another through evil desires & overwhelmed with greed. One asks a question of another through contempt. One asks a question of another when desiring knowledge. Or one asks a question with this thought,1 'If, when asked, he answers correctly, well & good. If not, then I will answer correctly [for him].'

"All those who ask questions of another do so from any one of these five motivations. And as for me, when I ask a question of another, it's with this thought: 'If, when asked, he answers correctly, well & good. If not, then I will answer correctly [for him].'