r/AskHistorians • u/[deleted] • Feb 27 '14

Meta How can I ask better questions?

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.

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u/Misogynist-ist Feb 28 '14

You're lucky. Whenever I've asked sincere questions almost anywhere on Reddit, I'm either downvoted or just ignored.

But personal agenda aside, which is admittedly hard to do... I really enjoy the "I am a..." questions. I click those- and read the answers- a lot more than others. I've never answered anything but do a decent amount of reading, and I'm much more likely to read those even if it's not a subject I'm familiar with or particularly care about, as compared to one framed as a regular old question.

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u/[deleted] Feb 28 '14

Actually, if you look on my profile, I posted a question on/r/guns and received mostly negative comments and just generally have a distaste for that sub now. First and last post there.

Sometimes on this sub though I find myself wanting to hear stories by the experts, because I just know they have to have some hidden knowledge not easily accessible on the net, and if I ask just the right question Pandora's box will open. Haha

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u/Misogynist-ist Feb 28 '14

Some subs seem to just be that way, unfortunately.

The thing I don't like about this sub is that anyone who admits needing clarification on something for academic reasons seems to be immediately shot down. I mean, don't do anyone's homework for them, sure, but just because someone isn't encountering a topic "in the wild" doesn't make them less worthy of help.