Is this a good question?

[Jon]

Yes, if this is a good answer.

Discuss.

 

[Bee]

I think the question hinges on the word 'good'. It's a very ambiguous, ambivalent word and can be read in a number of ways.

What makes a question better or worse than any other? Is it context? Is it audience? What is the intent behind the question? What does the questioner seek?

With just a few minutes of pondering, the question has generated even more questions. That's quite unusual, I'd venture. Usually, it's the answer that spurs further questions. So, if the intent behind the question is to get me to think more deeply, then yes it has had that effect. I still haven't satisfied myself as to whether it is a 'good' question.

 

[Jon]

Is it some kind of iterative, fractal imploding question? Where the more you think about it, the more tied up in knots you get?

 

[Bee]

I'd argue the opposite - it's an exploding question. Well, for me, anyway.

 

[Jon]

Maybe both directions are the result of increasing confusion. You ask more questions to remove confusion, I get tied up in knots because I have confusion.