RE: a stupid question - or not

[RADIATION HEALTH DIVISION <RADHLTH@gam10.med.navy.mil>]

I totally agree Mrs. Perle.  I'm in the military, very junior enlisted and I
run the Radiation Health Program by myself.  I have dozens of questions
regarding Radiation Health/ Safety but I'm afraid to ask anyone on this RAD
SAFE program.  Majority of the information that is posted on this link does
not pertain to my particular program, but it is very interesting.  My intent
was to serve my time in the military, get out and get a job doing something
in the Radiation Health/Safety field.  But sometimes I get discouraged from
the abundant knowledge that you all have that I couldn't possibly comprehend
or could I?  If I have a question that you might think is too infantile,
please don't slam me. Help me.  One day I might be doing you're job and I'm
sure you'd want me to be as qualified as possible.  Enough said. Thanks.
	----------
	From:  Sandy Perle [SMTP:sandyfl@earthlink.net]
	Sent:  Thursday, September 02, 1999 11:04 AM
	To:  Multiple recipients of list
	Subject:  a stupid question - or not

	> As for this comment, I have but one thing to say.  What ever
happened to the
	> phrase, "The only stupid question is the one that is not asked."?
There are
	> some that are new to the HP field and have limited knowledge in
certain
	> areas.  How are they to learn what to do and what not to do if
they are
	> afraid of asking because they will get slammed on RAD SAFE by
someone else.
	> In the military, the lower ranking, less knowledgeable soldiers
look to the
	> higher ranks for mentoring and help.  I thought that this was one
of the
	> reasons RAD SAFE was started.

	There was no justification to slam you. If one is intimidated to the

	point where a question isn't asked, and the answer is really 
	needed, then Radsafe is a failure. There is no stupid question. I 
	would venture to say that what each of us knows, and doesn't 
	know, is quite significant and varied. The fact that we don't know
an 
	answer doesn't mean that we're stupid. It only means that we 
	weren't exposed to it (no pun intended) nor did we have the 
	experience or know how to possibly get the answer. We all know 
	things that someone else doesn't know. We can all then say that 
	the "other" person is obviously stupid, since they didn't know the 
	answer that "we" know. That notion is preposterous. If we get to 
	the point that we judge others by the questions asked, and the fact 
	that "we" know the answer .. perhaps it's time for Radsafe to close 
	it's door, and only allow members by invitation who can pass a test 
	devised by the most knowledgeable amongst us. Now who do we 
	want to prepare the entrance test?
	
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