Who learns the most? The asker or the answerer?

Question

I find you all so wonderfully refreshing!

Thank you to everyone who has answered my questions, and who has asked questions that have made me ponder and come to deeper conclusions.

Love to All.

So....

Who learns the most? The asker or the answerer?

Answer 1

The one who is the most humble.

Answer 2

I would have to say the asker, because they were obviously thinking about the topic when they asked the question, and most likely either came to a conclusion and are asking their quesion for validation of their own answer, or they're so confused that they don't know what the answer might be. Then they read through the answers and pick a best answer, so they've put some thought into who they think has the best answer.
The answerer on the other hand gives their opinion mostly, although some have studied it out on their own and give very insightful answers.

Ok, so I've already changed my mind while answering your question. I think it depends on the sincerity of the person, and if we're talking about who learns the most initially, or who learns the most in the long run, not to mention that there are people who didn't ask the question or answer it, but stumbled across it afterwards.

Answer 3

ASKER AND ANSWERER-

In my opinion both learn. Both have the equal opportunity to learn. It depends how both of them utilize this forum for the purpose.

The asker get more answers, giving different dimensions to the subject and learn a lot, easily. While the answerer, if he is a serious person and want to give a good answer with an edge over others, he has to work a lot to get a suitable answer. He has to use his intelligent, surf the internet, go through the books and so on. In the process stand to gain and learn more on the subject.

So the ANSWERER has the chances of learning more in the process. It also mostly depends how both of them utilize YA-

Answer 4

There are some great answers already, but I am going to offer one from a different perspective.

There is a great saying from the Tao Te Ching that translates roughly to: "Those who speak do not know, those who know do not speak."

Interestingly, I have found that in asking questions and trying to answer them, its not about what I learn, but more about what I unlearn. Its more like this: the more answers I find, the more questions that surface, the more I realize how little I know, the more I realize how little can be known.

I think that, most times, any actual learning is not such a voluntary endeavor. We learn to associate danger and fear with spiders, for example. Or maybe we learn to identify a group of people as inferior to us. Not because we asked a question, but because we were subconsciously trained and socialized to interpret the world these ways.

So the true goal of any noble spiritual tradition should not be about learning at all, but rather UNLEARNING, or emptying our minds of all the ways we have learned to interpret ourselves and the world around us so that we can instead see the "naked" truth -- not the one that his been disguised by our preconceptions.

Thus, the measure of a good teacher (or answerer) is not what you can learn from him/her but what you can unlearn. The true measure of a student (or asker) is not their capacity for learning, but their willingness for unlearning. Who unlearns more is fairly irrelevant, imho.

Answer 5

Both the asker and the answerer. Knowledge on a certain subject can be gained by both parties because eventually, in the process of either questioning and answering, they get to use their brains. They become critical thinkers and in the end, pick some pretty good insights and ideas.

Answer 6

Some of the "askers" here aren't interested in learning, and instead post insincere questions in hope of just getting attention and a peanut gallery behind them. In that case, the answer probably learns more by just wording the refutations of a claim and perhaps reading the others.

Answer 7

Both learn, I think.

The asker gets to read all the different perspectives on the question. And the answerers get to possibly consider a question regarding a topic that they have never thought to ask before.

Answer 8

Hi..
I think we both do!
The asker..asks a question, that's on his or her mind..The answerer..either answers that question, due to his/her own experience..
Or in some cases looks up information, regarding the question asked.. Learning something, he/she didn't know or just wasn't aware of..
So, I think both parties learn and benefit from the question! At least I certainly have, in both aspects..
Take care of all, and have a wonderful evening!

Answer 9

Both benefit, but the person who learns the most largely depends on what the question is. Usually, though, I would think it is the asker.

Answer 10

That is a tough one. I will have to say my choice is the one who questions. Einstein said, "Never stop questioning." He didn't say never stop answering other people's questions. In questioning we learn something new. In answering we may get some insight on our current thoughts, but it is not as eye opening as the newness of a good question.

Answer 11

I think both benifit.

To know is one thing. To be able to express what you know in order to teach is an important skill to learn. Also teaching helps you reconsider your own views, that you haven't thought about for a while.
Also, here there is nothing to stop one from reading the other answers as well as giving one's own opinion.