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Re: [GWL]: There are no "idiotic questions."

Carol Deppe,

Cheers for your eloquent essay (10/17) on "there are no idiotic questions."  
Sorry, I'm so far behind on my mail... 

As an Advanced Master Gardener (oh horror for the title :>)...I am reminded 
how impossible it is to know "everything" about gardening...when someone asks 
a question I can't answer...which happens quite often.

I agree that it is not proper to laugh at the audience that pays our bills.  
My background is corporate business.  It is sort of like Managers getting 
together and laughing about their employees...or teachers laughing about 
their students.  If the employees or students sense the attitude in their 
teacher or boss...forget cooperation and real progress...nobody will listen.

I also want to say that the ridicule and laughter on this subject has kept me 
silent on this list.  I am not shy, but I'll bet some people (including 
myself) are hesitant to ask a question or state an opinion, simply because 
you may laugh...or there is a perception that you may.

Is that what we want?

I don't think so.

When I volunteer at some of the Farmer's markets in my area...I generally 
have to ask..."What can I help you with...if you grow anything, you must have 
a question?"  Many times I get the response..."This is a dumb question, 
but..."  Well, for that person it isn't a dumb question.  I usually 
say..."There is no such thing as a dumb question."  I usually get more people 
to talk to me that way.  And most of the questions are not dumb...maybe 
uninformed...but not dumb.

I also agree on pronunciation.  Hey, between the US and England we can't even 
agree :>)...how about clematis...is it pronounced CLEM-it-is or clem-AT-is?  
Does it really matter?  For myself, and possibly many other people, we 
learned the names of plants from books and catalogs with no pronunciation 
guides or from relatives or neighbors...

Ok, enough...you have awakened a sleeping giant...you may be sorry...

Some info on my background...

I have been freelance writing for about a year and a half.  My former life 
was Corporate Purchasing in the Automotive world.  I am very new to the 
freelance writing world and have learned a TON from sitting back and reading 
all of your banter.  (I always run about two weeks behind...I hate to delete 
anything...

I write for a local newspaper and have done some Internet work.  I'm trying 
very hard to break into magazines (at a time when every company seems to be 
tightening their belts).

I enjoy volunteering at the Farmer's Markets where I get first hand knowledge 
of what the average "Yardener" wants to know.

My expertise is working with the beginning "Yardeners" in the areas of 
perennials, vines, houseplants and landscape design.

Thanks for listening...

Sandie Parrott
Freelance garden and Travel Writer
Clarkston, MI (Zone 5)

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