# A question where 'yes' and 'no' both mean the same thing **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 4, 2012, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-where-yes-and-no-both-mean-the-same-thing/617842 "2012-04-04T19:03:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-where-yes-and-no-both-mean-the-same-thing/617842/21 "2012-04-05T00:03:09Z")
And that joke reminds me that in a general sense, a sufficiently sarcastic ‘no’ can be mean yes regardless of what the question is. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-where-yes-and-no-both-mean-the-same-thing/617842/22 "2012-04-05T00:10:15Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > Actually, agreeing with any ‘negative’ by answering with a no is incorrect. As in: > > _“You mean you’re not going?”_ > > You should answer, _“ **Yes** , I’m not going”_, but instead everyone inevitably says, _“ **No** , I’m not going”_. “Yes, We Have No Bananas.” ---
**Author:** ![Blkshp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blkshp/32/7135_2.png) [@Blkshp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blkshp)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-where-yes-and-no-both-mean-the-same-thing/617842/23 "2012-04-05T01:43:47Z")
Are you incapable of saying yes? ---
**Author:** ![\_Undecided\_Adrian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/eada6e/32.png) [@\_Undecided\_Adrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_Undecided_Adrian)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-where-yes-and-no-both-mean-the-same-thing/617842/24 "2012-04-05T01:46:53Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > Actually, agreeing with any ‘negative’ by answering with a no is incorrect. As in: > > _“You mean you’re not going?”_ > > You should answer, _“ **Yes** , I’m not going”_, but instead everyone inevitably says, _“ **No** , I’m not going”_. That’s because with all its pilfered vocabulary, English is still missing an important word, like French _si_ or German _doch_, meaning the opposite of both yes and no. ---
**Author:** ![SDMBKL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sdmbkl/32/7297_2.png) [@SDMBKL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SDMBKL)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-where-yes-and-no-both-mean-the-same-thing/617842/25 "2012-04-05T01:51:21Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > So as I was laying awake in bed the other night, I was thinking about the question, “Can you hear me?” > > If the person responds yes, then they were answering truthfully and can hear you. If they respond with no, they are being a wise ass and are effectively signalling that they can hear you. The only way to respond with a negative to this question would be to say “what?” and even then, the person might just be pulling your chain. > > But anyhow, it’s clear that both a yes and a no response to the above question effectively mean yes. > > Are there any other questions you can think of where both yes and no as a response would carry the same meaning? Is there a name for this type of thing? Well, there is that English phrase where “No means yes.” For example, Person A says, “No, blahblahblah.” Person B thinks, “No means yes,” so effectively Person B assumes that Person A has replied with a “Yes” instead of a “No”. Though, I think in this special scenario, Person B is really in denial of the truth, or is not really paying attention to Person A. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Jamicat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c67d28/32.png) [@Jamicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jamicat)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-where-yes-and-no-both-mean-the-same-thing/617842/26 "2012-04-05T01:56:27Z")
“…There was yes , Yes, in her eyes…” 🙂 But… There was no NOSE on her face. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-where-yes-and-no-both-mean-the-same-thing/617842/27 "2012-04-05T02:10:42Z")
Q.: What is Jason’s last name? A.: Yesno. (Yesno is a surname in my region.) ---
**Author:** ![santorum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/22d042/32.png) [@santorum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/santorum)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-where-yes-and-no-both-mean-the-same-thing/617842/28 "2012-04-05T02:55:53Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > So as I was laying awake in bed the other night, I was thinking about the question, “Can you hear me?” > > If the person responds yes, then they were answering truthfully and can hear you. If they respond with no, they are being a wise ass and are effectively signalling that they can hear you. The only way to respond with a negative to this question would be to say “what?” and even then, the person might just be pulling your chain. > > But anyhow, it’s clear that both a yes and a no response to the above question effectively mean yes. > > Are there any other questions you can think of where both yes and no as a response would carry the same meaning? Is there a name for this type of thing? WAG Maybe a [rhetorical question.](http://rhetoric.byu.edu/figures/R/rhetorical%20questions.htm) > [@](#): > > The rhetorical question is usually defined as any question asked for a purpose other than to obtain the information the question asks. ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-where-yes-and-no-both-mean-the-same-thing/617842/29 "2012-04-05T04:07:42Z")
Do you want me to rape you? ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-where-yes-and-no-both-mean-the-same-thing/617842/30 "2012-04-05T05:16:07Z")
Leonard on Big Bang Theory often says “yeah no” for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![tellyworth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@tellyworth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tellyworth)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-where-yes-and-no-both-mean-the-same-thing/617842/31 "2012-04-05T06:12:18Z")
That’s common in Australia too: “yeah, yeah, yeah… nup.” ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-where-yes-and-no-both-mean-the-same-thing/617842/32 "2012-04-05T17:06:17Z")
(31 posts in and no one mentions “Have you stopped beating your wife?”) > [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > Leonard on Big Bang Theory often says “yeah no” for some reason. The “yeah” means “I heard you/I understand/I’ve thought about it.”, i.e., a vague acknowledgement and the “no” means … “no”. It’s a bit politer than a blunt “no”. Leonard doesn’t want to seem too direct. (Unlike Sheldon.) ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-where-yes-and-no-both-mean-the-same-thing/617842/33 "2012-04-05T19:19:30Z")
Here’s a conundrum that a linguistics professor of mine presented: **"Is this door unlockable?"** The word “unlockable” is ambiguous, and can mean two different things: [ol] [li]incapable of being locked (un-lockable).[/li][li]capable of being unlocked (unlock-able).[/li][/ol] If we go by the first meaning, and you respond “yes”, that means the door is, in effect, permanently unlocked. If you respond “no”, that means the possibility exists that the door is locked. Going by definition two, a reply of “yes” indicates that someone who possesses the key will be capable of opening the door. A reply of “no” would seem to imply that, no matter what, the door is and will remain locked. Fun! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-where-yes-and-no-both-mean-the-same-thing/617842/34 "2012-04-06T01:32:48Z")
If you were speaking Latin to the ancient Roman equivalent of Michael Phelps, and asked him whether he swims, the answer would be “no”. ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-where-yes-and-no-both-mean-the-same-thing/617842/35 "2012-04-06T01:46:33Z")
Can you say the word ‘no’? ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-where-yes-and-no-both-mean-the-same-thing/617842/36 "2012-04-06T01:50:02Z")
THE FAN (Folding together, rests against her left eardrop.) Have you forgotten me? BLOOM Nes. Yo. THE FAN (Folded akimbo against her waist.) Is me her was you dreamed before? Was then she him you us since knew? Am all them and the same now me? –_Ulysses_, Circe I think this answer trumps all. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-where-yes-and-no-both-mean-the-same-thing/617842/37 "2012-04-06T02:37:39Z")
> [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](#): > > Can you say the word ‘no’? Ha! I like that one. ---
**Author:** ![Ashley\_Pomeroy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c68b51/32.png) [@Ashley\_Pomeroy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashley_Pomeroy)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-where-yes-and-no-both-mean-the-same-thing/617842/38 "2012-04-06T21:54:22Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > (31 posts in and no one mentions “Have you stopped beating your wife?”) That’s a different conundrum, though - it’s a loaded question, rather than a redundant one. If you actually _have_ beaten your wife, “yes” and “no” would convey two different bits of information. Yeah, but what if you were playing mixed doubles in tennis? You could say “yes, my backhand isn’t what it was”. Which would be horrible out of context. “Yes, until I switched to catgut. Now I beat her all the time.” ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-where-yes-and-no-both-mean-the-same-thing/617842/39 "2012-04-07T01:49:34Z")
Any number of … “Do you mind if I…?” questions are typically answered ‘Yes’ colloquially to convey permission or a ‘go ahead and do it’. While gramatically and technically a ‘yes’ would mean ‘please don’t do it.’ Answering ‘No’ will convey giving permission also. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-where-yes-and-no-both-mean-the-same-thing/617842/40 "2012-04-07T08:44:12Z")
If a yes or no answer is meaningless, then essentially they mean the same thing. As in: Why do birds fly? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-where-yes-and-no-both-mean-the-same-thing/617842.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-where-yes-and-no-both-mean-the-same-thing/617842.md?page=3)