A friend of mine is introducing a new creation of his, a rack that uses the warm, moving air of a forced-air home furnace to dry winter boots. A couple weeks ago, he showed off his creation at a local market. He had an actual model plus a cutaway simulator that sat on a bit of floor with an actual vent in it, on top of a tiny fan. After discussing the virtues of various sizes and shapes for about 10 minutes with a potential customer, the person said they preferred the smaller model with the built-in fan (i.e., the simulator). Stupid question? Before you pass judgement, consider what Bruce Mau advises in manifesto entry #15:

15. Ask stupid questions.
Growth is fueled by desire and innocence. Assess the answer, not the question. Imagine learning throughout your life at the rate of an infant.

The biggest creative obstacle is what we're certain of. Try asking questions as if you weren't certain, as if what seems fixed was actually pliable and open. What if you wrote a song made up entirely of choruses? What if you wrote a song in a language you don't speak? What if you composed a tune to rhythm of your dishwasher? I bet you'd find yourself exploring all kinds of fascinating new musical crevices and hilltops. How stupid is that?