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The Stupid Question Safe Harbor

The Stupid Question Safe Harbor

Let's explore how you can lampshade by asking a stupid question.

I have a stupid question

In real life, I often lampshade by invoking the “stupid question safe harbor” (SQSH).

A “safe harbor” is a legal idea that explicitly okays some behavior that may be in a grey zone due to unclear rules. So, I use it as an analogy for how we act when someone says, “I have a stupid question.”.

Get mutual understanding

When we invoke the SQSH, we are acknowledging the question is potentially stupid, AND that we all know that ...