The Flat Earth Society

Flat Earth Discussion Boards => Flat Earth Debate => Topic started by: troy2000 on August 14, 2008, 09:07:49 AM

Title: Why?
Post by: troy2000 on August 14, 2008, 09:07:49 AM
In the FE model, why do the stars (and possibly the moon) need to exist?  Obviously they are not there specifically for our amusement, so why then do they exist?

Furthermore, what exactly are the stars in FE?  Since they orbit the Earth, they could not possibly be other suns. 

The more you read into the finer details, the less statistically likely it becomes.
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: Parsifal on August 14, 2008, 09:15:18 AM
In the RE model, why do the stars (and possibly the moon) need to exist?  Obviously they are not there specifically for our amusement, so why then do they exist?
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: troy2000 on August 14, 2008, 09:28:13 AM
How amusing :) (Not really).

The Moon and stars exist in the RE universe because they were formed naturally.  What I really mean't to ask is why the stars exist according to FE, but serve no purpose.  In FE, they are described as points of light and nothing more relevant.  This does nothing to explain why they are luminescent or why they are also accellerating upwards.
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: 12345SA on August 14, 2008, 09:35:01 AM
Because we are but a small part of an Immense Universe of Spherical Planets, Suns and Solar Systems that light our sky and beckon us to explore. From Cheng Ho in 1405 and Columbus in 1492 to Modern Day adventures and Astronauts they have served as a call and pull to the Human Race to expand their Knowledge of the World around us both on Earth and beyond.  
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: sokarul on August 14, 2008, 09:37:55 AM
In the RE model, why do the stars (and possibly the moon) need to exist?  Obviously they are not there specifically for our amusement, so why then do they exist?

Is this a serious question?

Also, the moon helps stabalize the earth. 
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: Parsifal on August 14, 2008, 09:40:51 AM
In the RE model, why do the stars (and possibly the moon) need to exist?  Obviously they are not there specifically for our amusement, so why then do they exist?

Is this a serious question?

If you have to ask that, you don't deserve an answer.
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: troy2000 on August 14, 2008, 09:54:51 AM
Really, how could that be a serious question?  In what way does it even REMOTELY apply to our reality? ???
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: lolz at trollz on August 14, 2008, 10:01:46 AM
Why questions just don't work, cos essentially you are saying Why does hte universe exist.
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: troy2000 on August 14, 2008, 10:20:43 AM
I'm not asking why the universe exists.  I'm asking why stars are orbiting and accellerating with the Earth.  There is no known possible way for them to emit light and no explanation of what they are in FE.  They do not create any relevant contribution to overall illumination either.  In either theory, phenomena do not come into existance for no reason what-so-ever.

Title: Re: Why?
Post by: sokarul on August 14, 2008, 11:00:16 AM
In the RE model, why do the stars (and possibly the moon) need to exist?  Obviously they are not there specifically for our amusement, so why then do they exist?

Is this a serious question?

If you have to ask that, you don't deserve an answer.

Stop acting stupid then. 
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: mayhem on August 14, 2008, 12:12:18 PM
I'm not asking why the universe exists.  I'm asking why stars are orbiting and accellerating with the Earth.  There is no known possible way for them to emit light and no explanation of what they are in FE.  They do not create any relevant contribution to overall illumination either.  In either theory, phenomena do not come into existance for no reason what-so-ever.



They exist because people opened their windows and looked up at the sky at night.  Saw a bunch of points of light and had to explain them. 

They must exist in FET because they are observable directly.  The explanation fits the naked eye observations and thus is their correct model, subject to change.

Not all FET proponents consider them to be starts and just the same, not all FET proponents consider them to be tiny points of light on a fixed sphere 5000km away.  Tom for example seems to think Start are pretty close to us and are actually fractal bits of energy (his explanation for telescope-observable galaxies IIRC, I don't want to put words in his mouth inaccurately) and others (cannot recall screen names now) consider the bulk of our universe outside our solar system to be more or less the way RET explains it...its just our solar system thats different.
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: SteveY19 on August 14, 2008, 12:37:05 PM
Because we are but a small part of an Immense Universe of Spherical Planets, Suns and Solar Systems that light our sky and beckon us to explore. From Cheng Ho in 1405 and Columbus in 1492 to Modern Day adventures and Astronauts they have served as a call and pull to the Human Race to expand their Knowledge of the World around us both on Earth and beyond.  

Robosteve could you please respond to this answer
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: Parsifal on August 14, 2008, 12:50:11 PM
Because we are but a small part of an Immense Universe of Spherical Planets, Suns and Solar Systems that light our sky and beckon us to explore. From Cheng Ho in 1405 and Columbus in 1492 to Modern Day adventures and Astronauts they have served as a call and pull to the Human Race to expand their Knowledge of the World around us both on Earth and beyond.  

Robosteve could you please respond to this answer

When an answer is provided, I will.
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: sokarul on August 14, 2008, 12:56:38 PM
Because we are but a small part of an Immense Universe of Spherical Planets, Suns and Solar Systems that light our sky and beckon us to explore. From Cheng Ho in 1405 and Columbus in 1492 to Modern Day adventures and Astronauts they have served as a call and pull to the Human Race to expand their Knowledge of the World around us both on Earth and beyond.  

Robosteve could you please respond to this answer

When an answer is provided, I will.

You need someone to give an answer for you? 
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: SteveY19 on August 14, 2008, 12:58:09 PM
Because we are but a small part of an Immense Universe of Spherical Planets, Suns and Solar Systems that light our sky and beckon us to explore. From Cheng Ho in 1405 and Columbus in 1492 to Modern Day adventures and Astronauts they have served as a call and pull to the Human Race to expand their Knowledge of the World around us both on Earth and beyond.  

Robosteve could you please respond to this answer

When an answer is provided, I will.




An answer is provided "they have served as a call and pull to the Human Race to expand their Knowledge of the World around us both on Earth and beyond."
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: Parsifal on August 14, 2008, 01:03:41 PM
An answer is provided "they have served as a call and pull to the Human Race to expand their Knowledge of the World around us both on Earth and beyond."

That is not an answer.
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: SteveY19 on August 14, 2008, 01:04:56 PM
An answer is provided "they have served as a call and pull to the Human Race to expand their Knowledge of the World around us both on Earth and beyond."

That is not an answer.

how is that not an answer?
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: Parsifal on August 14, 2008, 01:14:08 PM
how is that not an answer?

Answers generally provide some sort of response to the question at hand.
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: SteveY19 on August 14, 2008, 01:18:43 PM
how is that not an answer?

Answers generally provide some sort of response to the question at hand.

question:
"In the RE model, why do the stars (and possibly the moon) need to exist?"

Answer:
"they have served as a call and pull to the Human Race to expand their Knowledge of the World around us both on Earth and beyond."
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: Parsifal on August 14, 2008, 01:25:06 PM
question:
"In the RE model, why do the stars (and possibly the moon) need to exist?"

Answer:
"they have served as a call and pull to the Human Race to expand their Knowledge of the World around us both on Earth and beyond."

I can read, thanks.
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: SteveY19 on August 14, 2008, 01:27:00 PM
question:
"In the RE model, why do the stars (and possibly the moon) need to exist?"

Answer:
"they have served as a call and pull to the Human Race to expand their Knowledge of the World around us both on Earth and beyond."

I can read, thanks.

than as a reasonably smart human you can see how this is an answer to your question.
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: Parsifal on August 14, 2008, 01:32:16 PM
than as a reasonably smart human you can see how this is an answer to your question.

I am quite significantly more intelligent than merely "reasonably smart", and no, it is not an answer to my question.
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: Crudblud on August 14, 2008, 01:33:48 PM
Is it 'reasonably smart' to assume that just because the Earth is flat, the moon serves no purpose?
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: SteveY19 on August 14, 2008, 01:39:18 PM
than as a reasonably smart human you can see how this is an answer to your question.

I am quite significantly more intelligent than merely "reasonably smart", and no, it is not an answer to my question.

ok then answer my question:

why is that not an answer to your question?
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: Parsifal on August 14, 2008, 01:47:26 PM
ok then answer my question:

why is that not an answer to your question?

Answers generally provide some sort of response to the question at hand.
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: troy2000 on August 14, 2008, 04:02:37 PM
I'm not asking why the universe exists.  I'm asking why stars are orbiting and accellerating with the Earth.  There is no known possible way for them to emit light and no explanation of what they are in FE.  They do not create any relevant contribution to overall illumination either.  In either theory, phenomena do not come into existance for no reason what-so-ever.



They exist because people opened their windows and looked up at the sky at night.  Saw a bunch of points of light and had to explain them. 

They must exist in FET because they are observable directly.  The explanation fits the naked eye observations and thus is their correct model, subject to change.

Not all FET proponents consider them to be starts and just the same, not all FET proponents consider them to be tiny points of light on a fixed sphere 5000km away.  Tom for example seems to think Start are pretty close to us and are actually fractal bits of energy (his explanation for telescope-observable galaxies IIRC, I don't want to put words in his mouth inaccurately) and others (cannot recall screen names now) consider the bulk of our universe outside our solar system to be more or less the way RET explains it...its just our solar system thats different.

Thank you very much, Mayhem.  That is the most coherent answer I have read in this entire thread :).

If other solar systems are mostly general in their exhibited characteristics, what phenomenon could possibly cause our solar system to become so drastically unique?  Furthermore, I have just read that the Moon supposedly emits "cold light".  I want to assume this to be an innacurate explanation, as all light sources must radiate heat also.

And BTW:  Robosteve, why do you insist on distorting the topic of EVERY single RE thread?


Title: Re: Why?
Post by: CognitiveDissonance001 on August 14, 2008, 04:06:38 PM
In the RE model, why do the stars (and possibly the moon) need to exist?  Obviously they are not there specifically for our amusement, so why then do they exist?

Is this a serious question?

If you have to ask that, you don't deserve an answer.

Stop acting stupid then. 

Be fair - He's not acting.
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: SteveY19 on August 14, 2008, 04:14:49 PM
ok then answer my question:

why is that not an answer to your question?

Answers generally provide some sort of response to the question at hand.

this kind of circular argument is why you are not able to convince people the earth is flat. that and the lack of evidence. 
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: CognitiveDissonance001 on August 14, 2008, 04:20:32 PM
ok then answer my question:

why is that not an answer to your question?

Answers generally provide some sort of response to the question at hand.

this kind of circular argument is why you are not able to convince people the earth is flat. that and the lack of evidence. 

Evidence . . . Logic . . . experimental data . . . knowledge of the scientific method . . . self-consistency . . .

There's a 20K limit on these posts isn't there - <G>

CD
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: SteveY19 on August 14, 2008, 04:40:33 PM

[/quote]

this kind of circular argument is why you are not able to convince people the earth is flat. that and the lack of evidence. 
[/quote]

Evidence . . . Logic . . . experimental data . . . knowledge of the scientific method . . . self-consistency . . .

There's a 20K limit on these posts isn't there - <G>

CD
[/quote]

so you've been here 2 days and your an expert on every thing related to this forum. now I don't claim to be an expert, but I can tell when someone is avoiding a question and for the limited amount of time I have been here there are plenty of avoided questions.

also I have not seen one bit of proven science that the earth is flat all I see is faulty logic, and when faulty logic doesn't work you fall back on conspiracy theory and when that doesn't work you just make fun of them for having a low post count.
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: CognitiveDissonance001 on August 14, 2008, 05:15:41 PM
Nah - but I do know logic, applied and symbolic at the college level, and mathematics up to number theory, and it's fun debunking this stuff.

CD
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: Parsifal on August 14, 2008, 10:15:29 PM
this kind of circular argument is why you are not able to convince people the earth is flat. that and the lack of evidence. 

It isn't a circular argument. That statement does not answer my question. If you claim that it does, then the onus is on you to convince me otherwise.
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: mayhem on August 15, 2008, 04:42:23 AM
Quote
Answers generally provide some sort of response to the question at hand.

Just out of curiosity, can you please explain why he needs to answer your question before you'll answer his?  He asked the first question.  He asks, you answer...then you get to ask and he answers.  Thats how we learn things from each other and get things done. 

In my experience usually someone asks a question the person asked has only a few options. 

- Answer the question if he knows the answer.
- Tell the questioner "I don't know".
- Ask a clarifying question so as to be better able to answer accurately.
- Be rude and ignore the question altogether.
- Turn the question back on the original questioner because you haven't the faintest idea of the answer and you hope the original questioner will provide a reasonable answer that you can regurgitate nearly verbatim.

With respect Robosteve, can you tell us which category your line of reasoning falls into in this thread?  Or is there a 6th option I have not included above?  If there is, please tell us what it is. 

Will you at least tell us if you do or do not know the answer to the original question?  If so, when?
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: Parsifal on August 15, 2008, 04:46:58 AM
Just out of curiosity, can you please explain why he needs to answer your question before you'll answer his?  He asked the first question.  He asks, you answer...then you get to ask and he answers.  Thats how we learn things from each other and get things done. 

In my experience usually someone asks a question the person asked has only a few options. 

- Answer the question if he knows the answer.
- Tell the questioner "I don't know".
- Ask a clarifying question so as to be better able to answer accurately.
- Be rude and ignore the question altogether.
- Turn the question back on the original questioner because you haven't the faintest idea of the answer and you hope the original questioner will provide a reasonable answer that you can regurgitate nearly verbatim.

With respect Robosteve, can you tell us which category your line of reasoning falls into in this thread?  Or is there a 6th option I have not included above?  If there is, please tell us what it is.

There is a sixth option that my question falls into quite nicely. It may be succinctly described as "ask a rhetorical question of similar form to illustrate the inanity of the original question".

Will you at least tell us if you do or do not know the answer to the original question?  If so, when?

The question does not deserve an answer. See above.
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: Crudblud on August 15, 2008, 04:53:16 AM
HAY GUISE, TEH MOONZ N STAR IS A USELESS COS DA ERTH IS FALT LOLOLOLOL.


Please think before you type kids, otherwise it could get ugly.
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: mayhem on August 15, 2008, 04:53:46 AM
Will you at least tell us if you do or do not know the answer to the original question?  If so, when?

The question does not deserve an answer. See above.
[/quote]

His question or mine?  
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: Parsifal on August 15, 2008, 04:55:51 AM
His question or mine?

His original question.
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: Fletch on August 15, 2008, 05:07:02 AM
In the FE model, why do the stars (and possibly the moon) need to exist?  Obviously they are not there specifically for our amusement, so why then do they exist?
I don't want to put words in Robosteve's mouth, but I believe his responses are related to the fact that you asked a ludicrous question. Why does something NEED to exist? It exists because we can see it. Exactly the same is in the RE model. Why does it NEED to exist? I don't think you thought enough about your question before you tried to put it into words.
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: Parsifal on August 15, 2008, 05:16:21 AM
I don't want to put words in Robosteve's mouth, but I believe his responses are related to the fact that you asked a ludicrous question. Why does something NEED to exist? It exists because we can see it. Exactly the same is in the RE model. Why does it NEED to exist? I don't think you thought enough about your question before you tried to put it into words.

Couldn't have put it better myself.
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: SteveY19 on August 15, 2008, 05:21:48 AM
I don't want to put words in Robosteve's mouth, but I believe his responses are related to the fact that you asked a ludicrous question. Why does something NEED to exist? It exists because we can see it. Exactly the same is in the RE model. Why does it NEED to exist? I don't think you thought enough about your question before you tried to put it into words.

Couldn't have put it better myself.

Obviously you couldn't because I would have accepted Fletch's answer had you typed it.
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: Parsifal on August 15, 2008, 05:24:08 AM
Obviously you couldn't because I would have accepted Fletch's answer had you typed it.

You didn't ask the right question to incite such response.
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: troy2000 on August 15, 2008, 05:33:15 AM
In the FE model, why do the stars (and possibly the moon) need to exist?  Obviously they are not there specifically for our amusement, so why then do they exist?
I don't want to put words in Robosteve's mouth, but I believe his responses are related to the fact that you asked a ludicrous question. Why does something NEED to exist? It exists because we can see it. Exactly the same is in the RE model. Why does it NEED to exist? I don't think you thought enough about your question before you tried to put it into words.

I'm asking because according to FE, there is no solid explanation of what the stars are.  The reason I question whether they need to exist (assuming on the FE model they are not other suns) is because if they serve no relevant function to Earth, they would not have formed above the planet in the first place.  It's a perfectly valid question.
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: Parsifal on August 15, 2008, 05:39:06 AM
I'm asking because according to FE, there is no solid explanation of what the stars are.  The reason I question whether they need to exist (assuming on the FE model they are not other suns) is because if they serve no relevant function to Earth, they would not have formed above the planet in the first place.  It's a perfectly valid question.

No it isn't.
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: troy2000 on August 15, 2008, 05:54:08 AM
If that is your opinion, why did you continue to post after reading the original question.  Off-topic debate aside, I have already recieved the answer I was looking for from Mayhem.
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: Fletch on August 15, 2008, 06:03:50 AM
If that is your opinion, why did you continue to post after reading the original question.  Off-topic debate aside, I have already recieved the answer I was looking for from Mayhem.
Because he was enjoying himself. Still is, I'd bet.
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: troy2000 on August 15, 2008, 06:34:06 AM
Oh I see.  Well, have fun Robosteve ;D.
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: lawl on August 15, 2008, 08:31:48 AM
LOLLOLLOL
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: Schism1613 on August 15, 2008, 08:38:18 AM
(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f308/cloud1613/bunnybird.jpg)
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: lawl on August 15, 2008, 08:39:18 AM
(http://tinpig.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/05/02/pancake1.jpg)

LOLLOLLOLLOL
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: Schism1613 on August 15, 2008, 08:44:42 AM
(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f308/cloud1613/chris.jpg)
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: mayhem on August 15, 2008, 09:31:00 AM
One thing you guys need to realize is the extent to which some regualrs here take literalism.  Asking a question in a way that you may think is acceptable and clear will frequently be turned back on itself...imaging you're having a conversation with a computer that has no ability to work without being 100% literal.

"Can you tell me what shape the earth is?"

"Yes."

"Well then?"

"Well then what?"

"Can you tell me what shape the earth is?"

"I've already answered your question.  Whats the problem?"

"Did you read my question?  Yes is not the shape of the earth.  Yes is not a valid answer to my question!  YOU'RE STUPID!!"

"I did read your question most carefully and after reconsidering it I again answer "Yes"."

You guys can see that the reply was actually "Yes I can tell you the shape of the earth, but sisnce you only asked if I CAN tell you, thats all I've done."

Literalism, taken to a whole new level.  My youngest older brother and I have been doing this back and forth for years so I recognize it...that why I asked some of my questions the way I did.

Quote
Will you at least tell us if you do or do not know the answer to the original question?  If so, when?
 
 

You can see that my first question could still be a yes or no answer, thus the follow up of when will you do so? 

You guys have got to slow down and rethink your sentences and ask them in the most precisely worded fashion possible...anything less and you're just providing entertainment at your own expense and blood pressure.

Title: Re: Why?
Post by: datascat on August 15, 2008, 10:32:26 AM
Why does something NEED to exist? It exists because we can see it. Exactly the same is in the RE model. Why does it NEED to exist? I don't think you thought enough about your question before you tried to put it into words.

I can see the curvature of the earth from a plane. That doesn't exist so your argument is flawed. Just because you see something doesn't mean it exists. By human nature, if you see something you don't understand you question it. Also by human nature if you know an answer or have an opinion you share it. Some people also like to subvert the whole process when things aren't going their way with childish insults/circular arguments, which appears to be RobSteve's position on this subject. I'd call that trolling but hey ho.
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: Jazzlizard on August 15, 2008, 10:49:37 AM
I think Goat-Penguin guy isn't nearly as intelligent as he'd like us to believe. He gives snide and condescending "replies", but no answers, because the only real answer is that stars are not useless points of light on some random black sphere that is somehow suspended around the earth as is hurtles through space, constantly accelerating to produce gravity. The moon isn't a tiny disk spinning about overhead, with no true purpose (or there to stabilize the purportedly much more massive disk of the earth), it's a very large ball of rock orbiting some 380 thousand kilometers away, creating oceanic and atmospheric tides.

I looked at the moon through my friend's telescope the other night, and it appeared to be very round, looking towards the terminator, or horizon of the moon, you could see it's topography, the massive shadows created by mountains and craters large enough to swallow entire states.

Everything up there's got it's uses, Jupiter was in full form as well, watching long enough, you could even see it's moons on their orbits around it's sphere as well.
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: TheEngineer on August 15, 2008, 10:51:10 AM
I can see the curvature of the earth from a plane.
I've never seen it from my hundreds to thousands of flights.
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: datascat on August 15, 2008, 10:55:10 AM
Everything up there's got it's uses, Jupiter was in full form as well, watching long enough, you could even see it's moons on their orbits around it's sphere as well.

If jupiter is purportedly a sphere with a diameter 11 times larger than the supposed earths, how long were you watching to actually observe orbit? More likely it was an optical illusion.
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: datascat on August 15, 2008, 10:56:06 AM
I can see the curvature of the earth from a plane.
I've never seen it from my hundreds to thousands of flights.

Sometimes we only see what we want to see, works both ways I suppose.
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: TheEngineer on August 15, 2008, 10:59:53 AM
Exactly.
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: Jazzlizard on August 15, 2008, 11:04:16 AM
Everything up there's got it's uses, Jupiter was in full form as well, watching long enough, you could even see it's moons on their orbits around it's sphere as well.

If jupiter is purportedly a sphere with a diameter 11 times larger than the supposed earths, how long were you watching to actually observe orbit? More likely it was an optical illusion.

Watching over the course of several hours, we were able to see two moons, Europa and Io, I believe, moving considerably. And if you're admitting to Jupiter's massive size, how does it fit inside this mysterious black sphere painted with stars?
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: datascat on August 15, 2008, 11:12:03 AM
I don't recall making any firm admissions that anything was spherical. It was all hypothetical. How were you able to see Jupiter so clearly? It must be quite a sight.
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: Jazzlizard on August 15, 2008, 11:21:00 AM
I don't recall making any firm admissions that anything was spherical. It was all hypothetical. How were you able to see Jupiter so clearly? It must be quite a sight.

We've got a telescope with an nine or ten inch lens, and a servo-drive to track stars and planets. As it neared the horizon, the sky was too bright where we were to keep watching (damn light pollution!).
Title: Re: Why?
Post by: CognitiveDissonance001 on August 15, 2008, 01:42:38 PM
Just out of curiosity, can you please explain why he needs to answer your question before you'll answer his?  He asked the first question.  He asks, you answer...then you get to ask and he answers.  Thats how we learn things from each other and get things done. 

In my experience usually someone asks a question the person asked has only a few options. 

- Answer the question if he knows the answer.
- Tell the questioner "I don't know".
- Ask a clarifying question so as to be better able to answer accurately.
- Be rude and ignore the question altogether.
- Turn the question back on the original questioner because you haven't the faintest idea of the answer and you hope the original questioner will provide a reasonable answer that you can regurgitate nearly verbatim.

With respect Robosteve, can you tell us which category your line of reasoning falls into in this thread?  Or is there a 6th option I have not included above?  If there is, please tell us what it is.

There is a sixth option that my question falls into quite nicely. It may be succinctly described as "ask a rhetorical question of similar form to illustrate the inanity of the original question".

Will you at least tell us if you do or do not know the answer to the original question?  If so, when?

The question does not deserve an answer. See above.

Then you failed badly in your attempt to do so as your 'rhetorical question' and it's follow-ups have illustrated your own inanity to far greater affect than thay have the original poster.

Cd