up vote 6 down vote favorite

How are we supposed to treat questions that are, or would be considered by many, to be ridiculous, but which the poster apparently takes very seriously?

I voted to close one such question as too localized to the poster's imagination. But he objected and stated that the probability of the scenario in the question actually happening was greater than 0, and that it therefore was not too localized to his imagination. Furthermore, he objected to another person's closing it at not a real question, since it was not vague or confusing (which is the reason I hadn't chosen that option when I voted to close it). Other people apparently thought it was a decent enough question (probably more for its creativity than its actual merit, IMHO), and it has been voted up several times.

If too localized (to his imagination) doesn't cover it, and it is, in fact, a clearly worded question, and it is (weirdly) about Jewish life in some fantastic sci-fi scenario, what option is there to close? Should I have tagged it as Purim Torah instead?

(Ref. Can an Alien convert to Judaism?)

share
Please reword as a clear question about site policy. – Isaac Moses Jun 18 '12 at 5:33
Alright, done. Reopen, please. I'd like to hear what the community has to say. I apologize for being passive aggressive to YYDL. – Seth J Jun 18 '12 at 14:10
Thanks very much. I've re-opened. – Isaac Moses Jun 18 '12 at 14:22
related: judaism.stackexchange.com/q/8496/759 – Double AA♦ Jun 21 '12 at 6:14

1 Answer

up vote 10 down vote

It sounds like "too localized" is the right reason to use on a close vote. However, I don't think such questions should necessarily be closed. Our tradition records arguments and midrashim that have no halachic purpose, yet they are recorded for posterity because someone was curious enough to ask and engage in the discussion. I value that and I don't think all of our questions need to be of the form "I have this specific situation; what should I do?".

That said, the speculative questions do need to be asked well; this isn't a free-for-all. But it's not necessarily purim torah. (Would you also close my question about Shabbat times when not living on Earth, which is not currently a real problem I face but is far from absurd IMO?)

share
2  
Then again, even in the gemara there are limits, such as R' Yirmiyah being thrown out of Beis Medrash for asking a question that was a bit too ridiculous. (BB 23b) – HodofHod Jun 18 '12 at 15:17
1  
@HodofHod sure there are limits. The aliens question boils down to "must one be human to convert?", which seems like an interesting question in an age when we're not that far away from manufacturing life in a lab and could conceivably find other intelligent beings out there eventually. – Monica Cellio♦ Jun 18 '12 at 15:23
If yydl were in fact a widely regarded Halachic and Midrashic expert, and not an anonymous internet personality, albeit one who has demonstrated some knowledge of Jewish tradition in our little microverse, and if he were asking a question about a scenario that appears possible based on statements originating in our Mesorah and not campy sci-fi novels, I'd agree with you. However, your scenario has already proven to be relevant to some in real life, and it is worthwhile to consider the possibilities of a religious Jew living (even temporarily) in space. – Seth J Jun 18 '12 at 15:25
1  
A question about lab-generated life would be far better than the current question, IMHO. Until we hear communication from aliens on other planets, I see no justification for his question. – Seth J Jun 18 '12 at 15:26
@MonicaCellio Agreed. Personally, I had my doubts about yydl's question but I have since been convinced (particularly because of the way it boils down). I stand by my (now deleted) answer to SethJ's hypothetical one, though. – HodofHod Jun 18 '12 at 15:41
1  
@SethJ, if he were an SF author who wanted to get his details right, instead of just a curious anonymous internet user, would that make a difference? (BTW, I remember finding many of the short stories in Wandering Stars delightful in part because while the science was fantastical, the Judaism was often plausible.) – Monica Cellio♦ Jun 18 '12 at 15:51
1  
I think I'd view that as off-topic. – Seth J Jun 18 '12 at 15:52
@HodofHod I've heard it said that R' Yirmiyah was thrown out not because his questions were speculative but because they cast doubt on the Torah's/rabbis' authority to draw lines. IOW his questions 40 se'ah and not a drop more? or one foot in the 50 amos and one foot out? etc. etc. were seen as rhetorical and with implications that undermined Chazal. Though Rashi seems to understand it your way, that they'd had enough of his speculative questions. – Dov F Jun 21 '12 at 22:51
@DovF Thanks! Where did you see that? – HodofHod Jun 21 '12 at 22:55
@HodofHod I heard it from a Rosh Yeshiva once in a speech. I'm not sure if it was his own thought or if he had a source. – Dov F Jun 21 '12 at 23:02

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged