I really think penalizing someone for asking a question, even if it comes from an uninformed point of view, even if it's as simple as a down-vote, is the wrong

I really think penalizing someone for asking a question, even if it comes from an uninformed point of view, even if it's as simple as a down-vote, is the wrong way to go. All it does is cause most people to dig their heels into their position instead of encouraging them to explore ideas that vary from their own.