what question can you never answer yes to riddle

Guri Bee

2 min read

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18-10-2024

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The Riddle That Always Says "No": Decoding the "Yes" Trap

Ever heard of the riddle, "What question can you never answer yes to?" It's a classic brain teaser that often gets people thinking. But before we dive into the solution, let's explore why this riddle is so intriguing.

The Allure of "Yes"

The riddle cleverly uses the word "yes" as a focal point, drawing our attention to its seemingly simple affirmation. We naturally associate "yes" with agreement and truth, making it a powerful word in our daily communication.

The Trick: Shifting Perspectives

The key to solving this riddle lies in understanding that the question itself sets up a trap. We tend to think of questions as prompts for direct answers, but this riddle plays on the inherent limitations of language. Let's break down the answer from a thread on GitHub:

"Are you asleep?" - User: [Name Hidden]

This answer works because it focuses on the state of being asleep. While we might respond with "yes" or "no" to questions about our current state, the question itself assumes an active response that is impossible in a state of sleep.

Adding Depth: The Philosophy of Language

This riddle touches on a philosophical concept called "performative contradiction," which is a paradox that arises from language. The question creates a contradiction because it assumes the ability to respond "yes" while simultaneously implying that you cannot.

Other Ingenious Solutions

Here are some other variations of the answer, sourced from the same GitHub thread:

• "Are you dead?" - Death, like sleep, removes the ability to respond.
• "Have you stopped beating your wife?" - This question is a classic logical fallacy, using a loaded phrase to imply a past action.

The Takeaway: The Power of Perspective

This riddle reminds us that language is not always straightforward. By manipulating our assumptions about questions and answers, we can create seemingly unanswerable dilemmas.

Further Exploration:

• Logical Fallacies: Learn more about common fallacies like the "loaded question" and how they influence our thinking.
• The Philosophy of Language: Explore the works of philosophers like Ludwig Wittgenstein and Bertrand Russell to understand the complex relationship between language, thought, and reality.

Challenge Yourself: Can you come up with your own question that cannot be answered with "yes"?

This article incorporates insights from a GitHub thread, with attribution to the original author. The specific user name has been redacted for privacy.