I think it depends on how you read mikestew's comment. I am a physicist and I can relate to his experience. Sometimes friends/family will ask me absurd, ignora

I think it depends on how you read mikestew's comment. I am a physicist and I can relate to his experience. Sometimes friends/family will ask me absurd, ignorant questions and I have to pause to figure out how to answer them. But just because the questions are absurd or ignorant doesn't mean I disrespect the questioner or their other areas of competency. I think it's awesome when people have the curiosity and the confidence to ask questions that risk being ill-posed. Taken at face value, mikestew's comment seems fine to me. I guess it depends on how much disdain you read into his usage of 'absurd' and 'ignorant'. Perhaps he meant them literally, with no connotation implied. I guess only he knows. And when the OP's intentions are not clear, it's probably not best to respond with a rude remark.