It's ok if you don't know the answer

source

In an interrogation, you're asked questions and what the questionnaire seeks is an answer, word of mouth. It kind of looks like a requirement and not answering is considered rude but sometimes, the best answer is I don’t know.

I stumbled on this funny quote by Douglas Adams, he said “I refuse to answer that question on the grounds that I don't know the answer.” If you're asking someone a question and the fire back at you with that as their answer, it will either sound silly or rude but it’s actually very smart response from the person.

Many people feel they must always have an answer and I guess it's probably from how we were trained in preschool and by our parents. In class the teacher asks a question and if you don't know you're punished so we have developed this natural sense that a good answer that the questionnaire seeks must be our only response.

Most people that are asked questions in a way fear to look weak, ignorant or stupid if they say they don’t know something. But no one knows everything. Saying you don't know is also a good and honest response if genuinely you're clueless about the correct answer. I'm not talking to people that respond I don't know in a disrespectful way to snob you but someone who genuinely does not have an answer.

Responding like this infact shows you are not afraid to learn or ask questions. Even smart people, like scientists or writers, admit they don’t know things. That’s how anyone learns more.

I think Douglas Adams was trying to use humor to show us the truth. If you don't know, say it and humbly learn from those that do.