# Have you stopped beating your wife? - Origin **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 15, 2003, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-stopped-beating-your-wife-origin/207521 "2003-10-15T06:38:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Oktberfest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed655f/32.png) [@Oktberfest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oktberfest)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2003, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-stopped-beating-your-wife-origin/207521/1 "2003-10-15T06:38:17Z")
I know this is used as a response to a straw man argument, but what is the origin of this question? When and to whom was it asked? ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2003, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-stopped-beating-your-wife-origin/207521/2 "2003-10-15T11:47:13Z")
I know I heard that line in high school (1974-77). I think it was old then. There was a politically incorrect companion question to that onenthat went: “If a gay man jumped on your back, would you beat him off?” ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2003, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-stopped-beating-your-wife-origin/207521/3 "2003-10-15T11:56:05Z")
I think it’s from the old music hall or Vaudeville days. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2003, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-stopped-beating-your-wife-origin/207521/4 "2003-10-15T12:03:31Z")
Well, [this site](http://www.utdallas.edu/pretext/PT1.1/PT1Hindmanb.html) gives an example of that type of question from Plato’s _Republic_, > [@](#): > > He sets this situation up very carefully when, in effect, he says this: we’ve both done a lot of arguing; we know that when people disagree and say that the opponent is wrong, the opponent gets upset and “think[s] that the remark comes from. . .a spirit of contention rather than of inquiry. . .Now I am afraid to refute you, lest you imagine I am contentiously neglecting the point and its elucidation and merely attacking you. I therefore, if you are a person of the same sort as myself, should be glad to continue questioning you; if not, I can let it drop” (67). > > Gorgias, of course, answers “After that, Socrates, it would be shameful indeed if I were unwilling.” What else can a man say to this type of “Have-you-stopped-beating-your-wife?” question? What else can you say to a questioner who has demanded brief “yes” or “no” answers and whom you have answered with “Well, I will do that, and you will admit that you never heard anyone speak more briefly”? (62) It’s a set up, and–dammit–Gorgias falls for it. but as for that actual question, all the sites I Googled just listed it as a “classic example”. At least now I have a name for what was bugging me all through _Republic_. ---
**Author:** ![NoGoodNamesLeft](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8797f3/32.png) [@NoGoodNamesLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoGoodNamesLeft)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2003, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-stopped-beating-your-wife-origin/207521/5 "2003-10-15T13:15:34Z")
It’s an example of a “loaded question”. I think Lawyers use it in Law School as a classic example. You see, if I ask “Have you stopped beating your wife?”, I’m not asking if you ever beat her in the past, I know you did, I just asked if you’ve stopped yet. [Here](http://www2.sjsu.edu/depts/itl/graphics/adhom/loaded.html) is a better explanation. ---
**Author:** ![j.c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@j.c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j.c)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2003, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-stopped-beating-your-wife-origin/207521/6 "2003-10-15T16:35:33Z")
**You see, if I ask “Have you stopped beating your wife?”, I’m not asking if you ever beat her in the past, I know you did, I just asked if you’ve stopped yet.** You don’t know I did - you are trying to give others the idea that I did/put me in a bad position. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2003, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-stopped-beating-your-wife-origin/207521/7 "2003-10-15T18:00:56Z")
Right, a **yes** means you`ve stopped, but _used_ to do it. A **no** means you are _currently_ beating your wife. A loaded question. ---
**Author:** ![gluteus\_maximus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f17d59/32.png) [@gluteus\_maximus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gluteus_maximus)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2003, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-stopped-beating-your-wife-origin/207521/8 "2003-10-15T18:12:17Z")
I’m not married. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2003, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-stopped-beating-your-wife-origin/207521/9 "2003-10-15T18:37:41Z")
No, because she’ll never take a damn lesson. ---
**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:** [October 15, 2003, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-stopped-beating-your-wife-origin/207521/10 "2003-10-15T18:52:39Z")
For an earlier cite, the quote is used in Heinlein’s _Double Star_ in 1956, though I seriously doubt that he originated it. ---
**Author:** ![Motog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85e7bf/32.png) [@Motog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motog)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2003, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-stopped-beating-your-wife-origin/207521/11 "2003-10-15T23:44:50Z")
**Sublight** Is there any way of checking if that is precisely what was said in the Republic or if that is a modern translator’s interpretation of what was said. I ask because translators will often insert modern expressions for older ones that would be meaningless to present day readers. FWIW, this is also called a false dilemna. Groucho Marx used this so regularly that it was parodied in a Bugs Bunny cartoon: > [@](#): > > BUGS (AS GROUCHO): Welcome, welcome to You Beat Your Wife. Say the magic word and win $1,000. What’s your name, sir, and what do you do? > > ELMER: Elmer Fudd. I’m a hunter. I’m hunting a wabbit. A cwazy fwesh wabbit. > > BUGS: Well, Mr. Fudd, for $1,000, would you stop beating your wife? > > ELMER: Well, yes. . . I, I mean no! I mean, well, that is I never. . . > > BUGS: Well, while you’re making up your mind, I’m going to go slip out of these wet clothes, and into a dry martini, eh? ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2003, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-stopped-beating-your-wife-origin/207521/12 "2003-10-16T04:32:03Z")
I have always referred to this as a question for which there is no correct answer. "When did you stop beating your wife, is also an excellent response to this type of question in general “Rick, when did you stop using drugs?” “Right after you stopped beating your wife” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2003, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-stopped-beating-your-wife-origin/207521/13 "2003-10-16T04:35:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Motog \* > \*\ ***Sublight** Is there any way of checking if that is precisely what was said in the Republic or if that is a modern translator’s interpretation of what was said. I ask because translators will often insert modern expressions for older ones that would be meaningless to present day readers. \*\* I think the text quoted in that website is fairly accurate, but the “have you stopped beating your wife” is part of the commentary, rather than the original text. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2003, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-stopped-beating-your-wife-origin/207521/14 "2003-10-16T05:23:24Z")
> [@](#): > > Have you stopped beating your wife? Clearly the answer is “No, since I never started to”. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2003, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-stopped-beating-your-wife-origin/207521/15 "2003-10-16T05:40:51Z")
About 20 years ago when I was in the academy and they were training us to testify in court, some instructor asked the “have you stopped beating your wife” question to a recruit, (in a light hearted manner). Without blinking an eye the recruit fired back “I had to. I was too tired out from f\*cking yours”. I don’t think there was 1 person who wasn’t laughing themselves sick. I guess you had to be there.😛 ---
**Author:** ![Tikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5daacb/32.png) [@Tikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tikki)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2003, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-stopped-beating-your-wife-origin/207521/16 "2003-10-16T06:49:43Z")
**Andrew T** , to clarify things a little, you are only allowed to answer “yes” or “no” to the question. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2003, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-stopped-beating-your-wife-origin/207521/17 "2003-10-16T11:48:50Z")
[Here is a thread I started on it back in March](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=165588&highlight=beating) ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2003, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-stopped-beating-your-wife-origin/207521/18 "2003-10-16T14:19:21Z")
You beat me to it, **Motog**. That’s exactly what I was thinking of. Haven’t seen that episode in years. ---
**Author:** ![Motog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85e7bf/32.png) [@Motog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motog)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2003, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-stopped-beating-your-wife-origin/207521/19 "2003-10-17T01:18:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kizarvexius \* > \*\*You beat me to it, **Motog**. That’s exactly what I was thinking of. Haven’t seen that episode in years. \*\* I am informed that the reason you haven’t seen it in years is because Warner Bros. have withdrawn it - the wife beating references were deemed to be a bit risky for a kids’ cartoon. However, I have no cites for this and could be wrong, it’s just something that I picked up on a cartoon forum when I was looking for that quote. Either that or you haven’t been watching cartoons for a while.