[PLUG] "Dumb" [as in naive] question

[Richard Owlett]

Linux has the concept of standard "input"/"output" device(s).
The current question:
Does an "output device" have any carnal knowledge of from whence its 
input cometh?

P.S. I know question is weird/??/????
But I need input to understand how to state a more
  [intelligible/coherent/??/???] question.

I appreciate the tolerance of this group for atypical questions.
TIA