Is this a good time to ask a completely ridiculous question?

Erik’s post about media discourse regarding higher ed is related to an aspect of Steve Solomon’s “is this a good time to go to law school” piece that itself reflects . . . wait, this sentence is getting too complicated.

Why do people ask questions like “is this a good time to go to law school?”

Compare:

Is this a good time to get a Ph.D. in political science?

Is this a good time to go to college?

Is this a good time to get married?

Is this a good time to write a novel?

Is this a good time to buy a house?

All these questions are the same, in that they’re asked at a uselessly high level of abstraction.

Good questions are things like:

Is this a good time to see Jerry Bruckheimer’s new film?

Is this a good time to take Bill Kristol’s advice regarding foreign policy?

Is this a good time to put ketchup on the hot dog I plan to wash down with a vodka “Martini” [sic]?

These questions are specific, and have real, specific answers.