When is it smart to pretend to be stupid?

There was this Chinese restaurant near where I live.

Years and years ago a guy came in and handed the greeter a note that said,

I have a weapon, give me your money.

The woman examined the note and then handed it back to the man, shaking her head.

You want food? What do you want to eat?

The man began to quietly explain that he had a piece.

Gum?

What gum?

We don't sell gum.

You want chicken?

While she was busy with this guy, one of the chefs in the back caught on to what was going

on and called the cops.

Of course, the greaser spoke perfect English.

It can be easier to pretend to be dumb if you know a lot

about a topic, and someone is trying to give you poor advice on that topic, and you don't really

feel like spending the next 30 minutes trying to make them understand the error of their ways.

When your family asks you to fix their computer, the first time you do it, every problem they

have down the road is going to be on you. My mum has called me from 300 miles away to have me

fix some computer issues of hers. I end up having to remotely access her computer with Join Me,

and it's a pain. I have to say, click on the orange button. I don't see it. It's right in the

middle of the homepage. It says about. Should I click on about? No. We provide a variety of services.

...