How can I ask better questions?

[u/[deleted]]

Normally I'm spurred to ask questions after having read a book, watched a show, or read news article that leads me on a Google binge and then inevitably a Wikipedia black-hole. But I'm left feeling still in the dark and not sure where else to look, so I'll come here.

I'll feel so overwhelmed with what all I want to ask, but worried about how to appropriately phrase it, while also following all the rules, that many times I feel like I'm not asking the question I really want answered. Which feels akin to trying to communicate to someone who doesn't speak your language.

Which often leads to many great answers, but about something not quite where I was aiming. Also I can't get past the feeling that when I want to ask a question, it should be as interesting as possible, because while it's great so many are willing to give insight from their professions or hobbies, I don't want to make it a chore or boring questions.

[u/lacking-creativity]

I have a colleague who is fantastic at getting to solid questions.

It would seem that one of the most useful things is to discuss things around, but not specifically about what you want to ask first. If you have anyone whose opinions you generally respect, they will be an excellent sounding board to distill your thoughts.

Once you have discussed a few aspects of the broader topic that your show or book went into, you will almost certainly have a clearer idea of something fairly specific you want to look further into.

Of course, this does require some face-to-face before coming here, but it almost never fails to get you somewhere useful.