Stupid Questions Are Questions You Don’t Ask

Crazy but it took me 2 years before I could figure it out. I was not able to figure it out because I did not ask. Truly, the only stupid question in the world is the question you don’t ask.

So finally I asked my webhosting provider why I cannot update my WordPress blogs when chmoding files and folders 777. I cannot also update WP plugins if I don’t chmod certain directories at 777. The answer was to enable suPHP. That simple, yet it appeared so complicated when you don’t know the right question and of course the right answer.

suPHP is by default enabled in shared hosting accounts. But for a virtual private hosting (vps) like the one I have right now, disabling suPHP is not a good idea. It is annoying, time-wasting, and anti-productive.

I told my host that I am not reselling my VPS account, thus I don’t need to worry about people installing scripts in their sites. In that case, enabling suPHP is safe for me. No sites and cpanels, beside mine, in the vps server are owned by others. My host has been very supportive and receptive of my stupid questions. And they explained to me the pros and cons of enabling and disabling suPHP. I weighed my options: enabling suPHP does more good than bad.

After the enabling of suPHP, everything works fine. I can now update wordpress and its plugins smoothly.

If there is something that bother you, it is best to ask questions from people who are knowledgeable about it. Stupid questions are questions you don’t ask.

P.S. Make sure your webhost company is understanding of you when you ask even the simplest questions about webhosting, server, and all that.