75. Develop a questioning mind.

I am sure that a lot of you have been wondering when I would get around to writing about the changing nature of the question and the art of questioning. Others will just continue to take questioning for granted and not be aware of how it has changed over the years. Fortunately, I have been chronicling this phenomenon for years. 

When I was a young child there were no questions. Rather there were no questions allowed or directed at us kids. We were raised in the era of “children should be seen and not heard.” At many social gatherings when the adults gathered in the kitchen, the kids were banished to the bedrooms or chased outside. We were not invited to participate in discussions nor ask questions. What did we know that would contribute to the discussion?

My question-free childhood accompanied me throughout my school years. I never raised my hand to ask a question for one of two reasons. Sadly, I was not really an inquisitive child and I waited for others to ask my question, which always happened. So why would I ask a question?

Fast forward to today. When we have a family dinner my two grandchildren are very knowledgable about many current topics of the day. With the impact of mass media on everyone, school children are educated by a wealth of information on their TVs, computers and smart phones. They are encouraged to ask questions and their opinion is also sought in order to stimulate their abilities to think and respond. A lot of questions often circulate around the dinner table.

We are no longer asking simple questions that require a yes or no response. Today we are often asking questions for clarification, or that probe issues, reasons, evidence, implications, or consequences. Todays questions are far more strategic and also often explore points of view or perspectives. Many of our discussions ultimately raise a question that will challenge the truth of the news and arguments of others. It is important in today’s world to become a questioning individual where the search for truth is becoming more difficult daily!