Do you not have experience with this?

[LFI]

I love it when people ask me questions in the negative. It gives me an excuse to mess with them a little!

Co-Worker: Did Mark not come in today?
Me: Yes.
Co-Worker: Oh, he came in?
Me: No.

By this point, the co-worker begins to ponder their original question, realizes their error, maybe gives me the finger, and tries to go on as if nothing ever happened.

It's the little things...

--Dave

 

[sleipnir214]

While in the Army, I had one section sergeant who often phrased orders in the form of a question:

Him: Do you want to go do {such-and-such}?
Me: No, I do not.

He would then assume I was refusing to obey the order when I was honestly answering a question. I torqued him up with that response at least once a week for about six months. Then one day he finally learned better, and it took all the fun out of it:

Him: Do you want to go do {such-and-such}?
Me: No, I do not.
Him: Will you do it even though you don't want to?
Me: Sure. I'm on my way.




Want the best answers? Ask the best questions!

TANSTAAFL!!

 

[Dimandja]

It's my general impression that people who ask questions in the negative are really trying to make a point, or point the finger, or be sarcastic. They rarely expect a contrary answer.

 

[ESquared]

My father and I constantly do this... hear people in person or on TV say "no" when the correct answer is "yes."

Aren't you going to the store? (Are you not going?)
Yes.
Oh, so you're going, then, good.
No, I am not.


Aren't you going to the store?
No.
But I asked you to go!
I just told you I was going.

I wish English had more words for this than yes and no.

No: I disagree with what you're saying (the common meaning)
No: The logical opposite of your proposal (the one I prefer).

-------------------------------------
It is better to have honor than a good reputation.
(Reputation is what other people think about you. Honor is what you know about yourself.)

 

[AnotherHiggins]

This reminds me of a great story.... From Wikipedia:

During a lecture the Oxford linguistic philosopher J.L. Austin made the claim that although a double-negative in English infers a positive meaning, there is no language in which a double-positive infers a negative. To which Morgenbesser responded, "Yeah, yeah."

To have the presence of mind to come up with that right on the spot...that's friggin' beautiful.


[tt]__________________________________________
My name is John, and I approved this post.[/tt]

To get the best answers fast, please read faq181-2886

 

[ESquared]

Oh, and a couple others I like, in terms of messing with people.

Do you know what time it is?
Yes. [I sure do!]
... Well, will you tell me?
Yes. [If you ask]
... Er, can you show me your watch?
Yes. [I have that capacity]
Oh I get it. What time is it?
11:30.


What in the heck did I do with that thingamajig?
I don't remember.
What are you talking about? You only just got here and I lost it an hour ago.
I'm telling you, I cannot remember what you did with that thinamajig.
[Puzzled glare of incomprehension]
Is it not true that I cannot remember something I never knew?
[Groan]


What someone here at work does:

Me: I see you found the report I left on your chair.
Him, in a tone of angry contradiction: I did TOO!!!!


Random true but totally confusing statements:

-If I am a garden hose, then you are a tractor. [It is not the case that I am a garden hose and you are not a tractor.]
-If you eat that candy you will die. [It is not the case that you will eat the candy and not die some day. Or, by eating, something only living things can do, you prove you will die, something only living things can do.] Be careful with this one, people tend to think you are threatening to kill them. Hehe.
-To be Frank with you, I'd have to change my name.


Then the tautologies:

-No matter where you go, there you are.
-Things are more like they are now than they ever have been before.
-If at first you don't succeed, you run the risk of failure.
-Any help you could give would be very... helpful.


-------------------------------------
It is better to have honor than a good reputation.
(Reputation is what other people think about you. Honor is what you know about yourself.)

 

[KenCunningham]

My favourite:

http://www.abbottandcostello.net/who.htm

 

[mscallisto]

Dont blame me I'm not doing nothing!!

 

[CajunCenturion]

What then are you doing mscallisto? :-D

Good Luck
--------------
To get the most from your Tek-Tips experience, please read FAQ181-2886
As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein

 

[mscallisto]

something