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Is there anything dishonest about asking a question on a Q&A site to which one is not actually interested in learning the answer?

Possible ulterior motives could be

  • wishing to pump up one's self-esteem as a skilled asker of questions,
  • wishing to pump up one's rep (on a site like this one),
  • wishing to demonstrate one's knowledge of a topic by answering one's own question,
  • wishing to provoke an argument between those answering a question on a given topic.

Is there a problem of false portrayal of oneself as curious on a topic in which one is not actually interested? Does it have a practical marginal malefit of diluting the knowledge base by composing questions to which one is not committed?

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WAF
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  • I have wondered that in that past when individuals were dumping 10 or 12 in a row every day on here. So yes I think it is problematic, but it I don't have sources to say that, so you are getting my two cents in a comment. – Rabbi Michael Tzadok Apr 17 '11 at 14:39
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    I think this is why the question was asked and asking questions was encouraged

    http://mi.yodeya.com/questions/1486/should-i-populate-this-site-with-questions

     – SimchasTorah Apr 17 '11 at 23:16
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    Do you have an ulterior motive for this question? – Daniel ben Noach Apr 18 '11 at 08:51
  • @Daniel ben Noach - Nope! My priorities in asking are enumerated pretty well by its tags. – WAF Apr 18 '11 at 12:52
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    @SimchasTorah, Good find! I'll just point out that that was more of a site policy Q&A, while this one is more about general ethics. If the latter frowns upon a practice that's permitted by the former, then maybe the former deserves modification. That's pretty much why I haven't weighed in here yet. – Isaac Moses Apr 18 '11 at 18:06