...it's like TV Tropes, but LINKED DATA!
Double-Edged Answer
- 114 statements
- 21 feature instances
- 11 referencing feature instances
| Double-Edged Answer | type |
FeatureClass | |
| Double-Edged Answer | label |
Double-Edged Answer | |
| Double-Edged Answer | page |
DoubleEdgedAnswer | |
| Double-Edged Answer | comment |
Sometimes situations aren't simple. That's where the Double-Edged Answer comes into play. Alice asks Bob what she expects is a simple question with a binary yes or no answer. The problem is that the answer to her question can be yes and no at the same time without either answer being factually inaccurate. Rather than just give her the simple and incomplete answer, Bob prefaces a longer explanation with some variation on "yes and no" to let her know his response has to deal with the nuances of the situation at hand. There are multiple situations in which this trope can be played. There was a point in time where the answer was yes, but the situation is rapidly coming to the point of being no (or vice versa). Technically yes, but not in a meaningful way. The situation is not nearly simple enough to be explained in yes or no format. In games translated from Japanese, this can be often be a result of inexperienced translators, since "hai" doesn't precisely mean the same thing as "yes", in a way that makes this trope a nonissue in that language; translating literally can sometimes introduce confusion that wasn't present in the original. Not to be confused with "No" Means "Yes". Compare and contrast Mathematician's Answer and Distinction Without a Difference. |
|
| Double-Edged Answer | fetched |
2023-07-01T03:29:38Z | |
| Double-Edged Answer | parsed |
2023-07-01T03:29:38Z | |
| Double-Edged Answer | processingComment |
Dropped link to GoneWithTheWind: Not an Item - UNKNOWN | |
| Double-Edged Answer | processingUnknown |
GoneWithTheWind | |
| Double-Edged Answer | isPartOf |
DBTropes | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_1484a16e | type |
Double-Edged Answer | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_1484a16e | comment |
From both the book and film version of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone about the Mirror of Erised. | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_1484a16e | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_1484a16e | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone | hasFeature |
Double-Edged Answer / int_1484a16e | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_22aa22cc | type |
Double-Edged Answer | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_22aa22cc | comment |
In The Road to El Dorado, Tulio and Miguel manage to sneak off Cortez's ship with enough food to get back to Spain, with the unexpected event of Altivo jumping off the ship in chase of an apple. After saving themselves, the horse, and the boat, Altivo eats all of their food within seconds. | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_22aa22cc | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_22aa22cc | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Road to El Dorado | hasFeature |
Double-Edged Answer / int_22aa22cc | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_261c8d3f | type |
Double-Edged Answer | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_261c8d3f | comment |
The Simpsons, "Hurricane Neddy". When Ned Flanders asks Reverend Lovejoy if God is testing him, Lovejoy answers, "Short answer, yes with an if; long answer, no with a but." | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_261c8d3f | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_261c8d3f | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Simpsons | hasFeature |
Double-Edged Answer / int_261c8d3f | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_39fe00f1 | type |
Double-Edged Answer | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_39fe00f1 | comment |
In Dragon Age: Inquisition, this is Dorian's answer if the player asks whether mages really do rule the Tevinter Imperium. He goes on to explain that aristocratic families of mages rule it, and mages who aren't from the right family aren't much better off than non-mages. | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_39fe00f1 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_39fe00f1 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| DragonAgeInquisition | hasFeature |
Double-Edged Answer / int_39fe00f1 | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_3b11106f | type |
Double-Edged Answer | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_3b11106f | comment |
Flash Gordon. Emperor Ming offers to give Earth to Flash to rule. | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_3b11106f | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_3b11106f | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Flash Gordon (1980) | hasFeature |
Double-Edged Answer / int_3b11106f | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_40672565 | type |
Double-Edged Answer | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_40672565 | comment |
An episode of Billy (a short-lived Head of the Class spinoff) had David's (Johnny Gelecki) mother asking him if he was smoking, to which he replied "no". When Billy called him on it (knowing David had taken up smoking), David explained that he didn't lie because he wasn't smoking at that particular time. Billy didn't care about the lying, just the smoking. | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_40672565 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_40672565 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Head of the Class | hasFeature |
Double-Edged Answer / int_40672565 | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_43ab80dc | type |
Double-Edged Answer | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_43ab80dc | comment |
In Evita, the song "Rainbow Tour" ends with them agreeing that Evita's tour of Italy, France, and England was a success "...we had a few doubts, but the answer is yes. And no. and yes. and no." | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_43ab80dc | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_43ab80dc | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Evita (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Double-Edged Answer / int_43ab80dc | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_49a0a477 | type |
Double-Edged Answer | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_49a0a477 | comment |
In Snow Crash, the guy in front of The Black Sun insists that the "Snow Crash" he's offering Hiro is really a drug, much to his consternation since he can see that it's a data-bearing hypercard: | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_49a0a477 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_49a0a477 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Snow Crash | hasFeature |
Double-Edged Answer / int_49a0a477 | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_4b790c79 | type |
Double-Edged Answer | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_4b790c79 | comment |
From Iron Man: | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_4b790c79 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_4b790c79 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Iron Man | hasFeature |
Double-Edged Answer / int_4b790c79 | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_4d12697f | type |
Double-Edged Answer | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_4d12697f | comment |
In Young Justice: Outsiders, after Metron's chair was used to purge the influence of the Fatherbox from Cyborg's body, Black Lightning asked Metron if the Granny Goodness he had earlier mentioned was the same as Gretchen Goode. With a knowing smirk, Metron answered "No, and yes", before departing. | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_4d12697f | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_4d12697f | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Young Justice - Revival Series | hasFeature |
Double-Edged Answer / int_4d12697f | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_72262aee | type |
Double-Edged Answer | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_72262aee | comment |
Avatar: The Last Airbender: Toph tries to explain how her feet got burned: she surprised and startled Zuko in the middle of the night and he reflexively flung fire at her before he realized it was one of the Gaang. He was immediately contrite and apologetic, but Toph, in pain, bailed. She doesn't say "yes and no" precisely. | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_72262aee | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_72262aee | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Avatar: The Last Airbender | hasFeature |
Double-Edged Answer / int_72262aee | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_7fbd6753 | type |
Double-Edged Answer | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_7fbd6753 | comment |
ThunderCats: "Into The Astral Plane", the answer to the location of the MacGuffin generates one: | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_7fbd6753 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_7fbd6753 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| ThunderCats (2011) | hasFeature |
Double-Edged Answer / int_7fbd6753 | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_7fc78282 | type |
Double-Edged Answer | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_7fc78282 | comment |
The Lord of the Rings: Discussed and lampshaded early on. However, Gildor then relents and does give Frodo a straight answer: go. This turns out to be very much the right advice; if Frodo had waited the Nazgul would have assuredly got him. They almost did anyways. |
|
| Double-Edged Answer / int_7fc78282 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_7fc78282 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Lord of the Rings | hasFeature |
Double-Edged Answer / int_7fc78282 | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_95e4bed | type |
Double-Edged Answer | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_95e4bed | comment |
In Sequential Art, a psychotic AI gasses all personnel in a government facility. As Art, Pip, and Scarlet are sneaking in, Pip uses a small mirror to see around a corner. | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_95e4bed | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_95e4bed | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Sequential Art (Webcomic) | hasFeature |
Double-Edged Answer / int_95e4bed | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_9a7088bc | type |
Double-Edged Answer | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_9a7088bc | comment |
Star Trek: The Original Series: The Guardian of Forever explains that its nature is too complex for a simple description: | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_9a7088bc | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_9a7088bc | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Star Trek: The Original Series | hasFeature |
Double-Edged Answer / int_9a7088bc | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_a53dfb59 | type |
Double-Edged Answer | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_a53dfb59 | comment |
Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness: "Ghost of Oogway" - Shifu stumbles into a Yes/No answer when Po asks whether Shifu wonders why Oogway would speak to someone like Po. Clearly Shifu still harbors a bit of his dubiosity about Po from the original film, despite his master's choice to name Po Dragon Warrior. | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_a53dfb59 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_a53dfb59 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness | hasFeature |
Double-Edged Answer / int_a53dfb59 | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_bcadd7cb | type |
Double-Edged Answer | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_bcadd7cb | comment |
Warhammer 40,000: "Ask not the Eldar a question, for they will give you three answers, all of which are true and terrifying to know." Of course, that's if they actually deign to speak with you. | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_bcadd7cb | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_bcadd7cb | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Warhammer 40,000 (Tabletop Game) | hasFeature |
Double-Edged Answer / int_bcadd7cb | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_bd310eaa | type |
Double-Edged Answer | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_bd310eaa | comment |
In El Goonish Shive the Will of Magic decided not to change how magic worked, though it did pull out some of the functions that were serving to restrain magic. This had the effect of functionally' changing a whole lot of things'', and giving a major headache to the supernatural division of the FBI. Justified in that the Will of Magic does not perceive things the way humans do, and probably still doesn't realize just how much the "tiny" change has altered things. | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_bd310eaa | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_bd310eaa | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| El Goonish Shive (Webcomic) | hasFeature |
Double-Edged Answer / int_bd310eaa | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_ca5d97f1 | type |
Double-Edged Answer | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_ca5d97f1 | comment |
Monty Python's Flying Circus: Put on the spot by a bullying film producer, a writer blurts out "splunge", meaning "it's a great idea but possibly not and I'm not being indecisive". | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_ca5d97f1 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_ca5d97f1 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Monty Python's Flying Circus | hasFeature |
Double-Edged Answer / int_ca5d97f1 | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_dde91ea5 | type |
Double-Edged Answer | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_dde91ea5 | comment |
In A Knight's Tale, the main group encounters Chaucer (yes, that one) walking naked on the same road. They ask if he was robbed. | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_dde91ea5 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_dde91ea5 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| A Knight's Tale | hasFeature |
Double-Edged Answer / int_dde91ea5 | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_f14c41e4 | type |
Double-Edged Answer | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_f14c41e4 | comment |
Kick Buttowski has "Kickin' Genes" in which Honey Buttowski is asked by her son if the daredevil jumpsuit he found belongs to her. She says "No. Yes! No!" before finally admitting she used to be speedboating daredevil Honey Splash, but hadn't done a stunt since an injury years ago. | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_f14c41e4 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Double-Edged Answer / int_f14c41e4 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Kick Buttowski | hasFeature |
Double-Edged Answer / int_f14c41e4 |
The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.
Copyright of DBTropes.org wrapper 2009-2013 DFKI Knowledge Management. Imprint. - Thanks to Bakken&Baeck for hosting. Contact.
Copyright of data TVTropes.org contributors under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.
Copyright of data TVTropes.org contributors under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.