A few days ago
karipap ayam m

Why do we answer No to a No question?

Example:

“No sugar?” is answered by “No” meaning that you don’t want sugar instead of “Yes” indicating that the suggestion of “no sugar” is accepted and therefore preferred.

Top 10 Answers
A few days ago
Rich

Favorite Answer

We tend to answer before our brain comprehends what is said. Even though the question was “No Sugar?” we hear “Sugar?” and respond to that. Sometimes, the asker, if confused, will confirm the response “No sugar, got it!” or, accepting your decline as “No sugar, thanks!” will move on. We naturally tend to fill in the blanks ourselves to move on.

This is also how we get into trouble, by not listening and comprehending the entire question.

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A few days ago
digy
I have also been thinking about that for a long time now.Its our natural mentality since the time we were children.We grow up with the idea that “No” always means negative and “Yes always means positive.So maybe I dn’t want some some sugar and someone asks me “No sugar?”.My brain thinks negative and I inherently respond “No”.
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A few days ago
civil_seismic_eng
No Sugar? is an incomplete sentence, a shortened answer is begat from a fragmented sentence always.

Why can’t you ask would you like some sugar?

That might inhibit a real response.

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A few days ago
Anonymous
Good one. Why don’t people asked the question “Sugar?” Then the answer will be clear.

-MM

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A few days ago
Anonymous
Because the question is suggesting an option. Yes or no.
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A few days ago
Stefanie B
I usually answer by saying something like,, right, or correct, so that it’s clear.
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A few days ago
mr_discovery_channal
“no sugar” nope no surgar, makes sense doesn’t it. you can say no agai nafter a already no question
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A few days ago
Anonymous
good point but i think its like agreing no suger yes no suger do u get what im saying
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A few days ago
Anonymous
Because if we aswered yes, it may become confusing.
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A few days ago
Go Bears!
I answer “affirmative” to those questions.
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