- broaden our understanding of a learned subject/ knowledge acquired prior.

This can be demeaning because we are allowed to ask whatever questions we want regardless of whether we know where the questions stems from a subject/ area of knowledge, or simply we have come across or know the subject matter at all. 

There is a fine line between what is considered to be asking questions from a rational standpoint AND being able to/ have a certain 'degree' of qualification (authority) to justly ask questions, within the reach of their studies or realm.

What about questions that not a lot of people know, like an amalgamation of subjects across different disciplines that 'cannot' be answered because there is a lack of experts who are knowledgeable in those areas.