To whoever is asking the question, a more appropriate answer would probably be either a no, or maybe a maybe, or in some cases no answer at all. Instead, however, it's answered with a Blunt Yes, or whatever else would be equivalent to "yes" in its own context (for example, if Alice asks "Have you no shame?" Bob saying "No" or "None!" would count). Normally followed by Alice's dumbfounded or dejected acceptance of Bob's answer.
Maybe this reflects on differences between the asker and the answerer in terms of views toward the subject they are discussing. Maybe it implies that the answerer has a very blunt personality, such as that of a Deadpan Snarker, for instance. Sometimes it could mean both, and by its very nature often does.
Often a subtrope of Rhetorical Question Blunder. Compare with Insult Backfire, since it is often caused by similar things. Often associated with Brutal Honesty. See also Flat "What." and Little No. Compare Mathematician's Answer.
Truth in Television, of course, especially in online discussions, given the sheer diversity of opinions, and in turn, higher rate at which what one would consider an inappropriate response, another considers quite fitting.
Examples:
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Anime & Manga
Neon Genesis Evangelion: Shinji reacts to Misato's questions like this after being returned to NERV Headquarters in Episode four.
When Asuka suggests that Rei would kill herself if ordered to do so, she says yes.
In a more comedic example, when Misato asks if Shinji considers her a slob, Shinji cheerfully says "That and lazy!"
In Bakuman。, when Miura argues with Mashiro and Takagi over whether they should go into gag manga; Miura believes that if they have no serious stories in mind, they should just do as their editor says.
Mashiro: We can change up our style and genre, but I still don't think humor is the best way to utilize Takagi's skills.
In a similar case, Kosugi asks Nanamine if he thinks he's no good as an editor, and Nanamine says "Not in the slightest."
In the Naruto pilot, there is an interesting example, in which the blunt yes is in agreement with the speaker with the question. The eponymous character tells Kuroda about his mission, in which he's unable to return to his village of youkai until he makes a friend. When he remarks that it's a "dumb training exercise," with a smile on his face, Kuroda tells him "Yeah... really dumb," then tells him the only one he can trust is himself, surprising him.
In the Viz translation of Kakashi Gaiden, during an argument over whether to break from the mission to save Rin, Obito asks Kakashi if he thinks emotion is nothing but a useless burden, and after a long pause, Kakashi says he does. Obito then decides to save Rin on his own and Kakashi asks Obito if he knows what happens to those who break the rules. Obito, who, unbeknownst to Kakashi, has learned about Sakumo's abandoning a mission to save his comrades, says "I do, and that's why the White Fang was a true hero."
Phoney Bone: So a couple a' shady business deals went sour...is that any reason to run the most beloved Bone in Boneville out of town on a rail? Fone Bone: Yes.
Jumba: After all you put me through, you expect me to help you, just like that?! Just like that?! Stitch: Ih. [beat] Jumba: Fine! Pleakley: "Fine?" You're doing what he says?! Jumba: He is very persuasive.
Pleakley: Persuasive?!
Later in the same scene is when the audience learns that "Ih" translates to simply "Yes".
In The Incredibles, when Dash, Violet, and Elastigirl are in the ocean after Syndrome shot down their plane, and Elastigirl suggests swimming toward the trail the missiles left.
Dash: You wanna go toward the people that tried to kill us? Elastigirl: If it means land? Yes.
Astrid: Hiccup, we just discovered the dragon's nest! The thing we've been after since Vikings first sailed here! And you want to keep it a secret? To protect your pet dragon? Are you serious? Hiccup: Yes. [beat] Astrid: Ok. Then, what do we do?
It is above all else an example of this reflecting on differences in attitudes; Luke is loyal to his friends even at the expense of duty, and Yoda is inclined to condemn this.
In Falling Down, Martin Prendergast finally confronts the man who snapped and went on a rampage in an attempt to get home, trying to make him face up to what he's become.
Bill Foster: I'm the bad guy? Martin Prendergast: Yeah.
Dr. Bey: We are part of an ancient secret society. For over three thousand years we have guarded the City of the Dead. We are sworn at manhood to do any and all in our power to stop the High Priest Imhotep from being reborn into this world. Ardeth Bay: Now, because of you, we have failed. Evelyn: And you think this justifies the killing of innocent people? Dr. Bey: To stop this creature? Let me think... Ardeth and Dr. Bey: YES!
Used in this trailer for a movie called The Guardian, during a conversation at a dinner table about a girl.
Jake Fischer: You gotta make a move! Billy Hodge: I can't. I get nervous. Jake Fischer: You're tellin' me you can jump outta helicopters but you're afraid to go talk to a girl? Billy Hodge: Uh, pretty much, yeah.
In Serenity, as Mal and Jayne have yet another argument:
In the 2000 remake of Bedazzled 2000, the Devil brings Elliot into Alison's bedroom with both of them are invisible, intangible, and Alison can't hear them. The Devil tells Elliot that Alison is in the bathroom. Naked.
Elliot: You must think that I'm really perverted, don't you? That's what you think. You think I'm some sad, desperate, twisted, pathetic loser. The Devil: Yes. Elliot: Well, in that case, maybe I'll just take a quick look.
Rick Peck: Let me get this straight. You want me to let my client of 15 years, one of my best friends, die in the jungle alone, for some money and a G5? Les Grossman: Yes. [beat] Rick Peck: A G5 airplane? Les Grossman: [whispering] Yes... and lots of money... playaaaa!
Leland: Bernstein, am I a stuffed shirt? Am I a horse-faced hypocrite? Am I a New England school marm? Bernstein: Yes. If you thought I'd answer you any differently than what Mr. Kane tells you...
Saul: I have a question: Say we get into the cage, and through the security doors there and down the elevator we can't move, and past the guards with the guns, and into the vault we can't open... Rusty: Without being seen by the cameras. Danny: Oh yeah, sorry, I forgot to mention that. Saul: Yeah well, say we do all that... uh... we're just supposed to walk out of there with a hundred and fifty million dollars in cash on us, without getting stopped? [everyone looks at Danny] Danny: Yeah. Saul: Oh. Okay.
Miss Price: (matter-of-factly tone) Poisoned Dragon's Liver.
Paul: You mean you poison the dragon or just the liver?
A nice example in A Hard Day's Night, made nicer since one gets the impression it's something George would actually say.
Interviewer: Has success changed your life?
George: Yes.
A hilarious example from True Lies, when Harry and Helen are waiting to be executed by the terrorists; Harry explains to her that he's been injected with sodium pentethol, making him incapable of lying.
Nikitchenko: You would allow a man such as Ernst Kaltenbrunner, responsible for the Gestapo, concentration camps, for killing millions of innocent people, to stand before a court of law and declare himself not guilty?
Loki: The humans slaughter each other in droves, while you idly fret! I mean to rule them, and why should I not?
Thor: You think yourself above them?!
Loki: Well, yes.
Possibly subverted, as Thor isn't phased in the least:
Thor: Then you miss the truth of ruling, brother. A throne would suit you ill.
Captain America: The First Avenger: This conversation where Steve is actually being considered to join the army after being turned down multiple times.
Berthold: Hang on. Hang on! It's all coming back. I've-I've been stuck here for over twenty years, ever since you were last here on the moon. You abandoned me here!You swine! You toddled off with that old queen of tarts and left me to rot in that parrot cage, didn't you? And now you come back here, just because it suits you, after wasting half my life and expect me to follow you to the ends of the earth! Baron: Yes. [beat] Berthold: Oh, all right.
Pirates Of The Caribbean: In the first film, Will Turner accuses Jack Sparrow of planning to trade him to the pirates all along. Jack replies with a quick but very self-amused "Yeah."
“So,” said Harry, dredging up the words from what felt like a deep well of despair inside him, “So does that mean that... that one of us has got to kill the other one... in the end?”
“Yes,” said Dumbledore.
Live Action TV
Cheers. In "Diane Meets Mom" Diane is shocked after Frasier's mom (played by Nancy Marchand) threatens to murder her if she doesn't break it off with Frasier. She goes to Sam for advice.
Diane: Sam, I have to ask you a question. Promise me you won't make a joke out of it.
Sam: Yeah, I promise. what's up?
Diane: Do you think I'm crazy?
Sam: Yes.
Diane: Ha! ha! Now that we've gotten the joke over, will you please help me? This is a strange question, but it's important. Do you think I'm crazy?
Sam:Yes.
On Community, when Britta asks Jeff if her name was recently made into a verb with negative connotations:
Jeff: ...Yes.
May not be a straight example, as she asks if her name is being used to mean "make a tiny mistake". Jeff's hesitation seems to imply that tiny would not be his choice of words.
The Ninth Doctor does this twice to the Editor of the news station Satellite Five in the Doctor Who "The Long Game".
Rose: So all the people on Earth are like slaves?
Editor: Well, now, there's an interesting point. Is a slave a slave if he doesn't know he's enslaved?
Doctor: Yes.
Editor: Oh! I was hoping for a philosophical debate. Is that all I'm going to get? "Yes"?
Doctor: Yes.
From Arrested Development, Michael is suspicious that his father's former cellmate T-Bone, a convicted flamernote An Unusual Euphemism for arsonist, is given a job at the company right after a storage unit full of incriminating evidence is burned down.
The Narrator: [Michael] still had some unanswered questions, so he did a little detective work. Michael: Did you burn down the storage unit? T-Bone: Oh, most definitely!
Flambeaux: What do you think I am, stupid? You: Yes. Quite.
In Tales Of The Abyss, when the replicas on Feres Island say they care nothing for the lives of the originals, Tear makes a comment regarding their personalities to Luke, who is also a replica, but is questioning his own worth.
Tear: Call it a will to live that borders on arrogance. You had it once.
Replica Mary: You would call us arrogant?
Tear: Yes, I would. And someday your own words may be turned right back at you. I wonder if you'll be able to say the same thing then.
In Mass Effect, one of the elevator conversations between Wrex and Tali has this.
Tali: Do krogan size up everyone for a fight, even friends and allies?
Wrex: Yes.
In Wing Commander 2, Commander Khasra delivers one to Crown Prince Thrakhath after disapproving of the prince's reckless orders.
Thrakhath: You… question my orders, Khasra?
Khasra: Yes! And I question why you are still in command of our battle fleet!
Virion: Delving into the character of your future husband before you wed him? Heh heh... Sully: Yep. Virion: Because frankly, I don't see wh—WHAT?!
Webcomics
The Order of the Stick uses this trope a few times, often in its more serious moments. One example from the prequel book Start of Darkness:
Redcloak: Oh, so now you've gained some great insight on the universe by letting your body and mind deteriorate?
Right-Eye: YES! When you're faced with your own mortality, you have no choice but to consider what's best for the next generation.
Web Original
Used twice in a row in thisYouTube video, which may qualify as a real-life example, but the uncertainty as to whether it is real or staged puts it in web original for now.
Mother: All of a sudden, you can just quit believing in god? Son: Yeah. Mother: All of a sudden, "there is no god?" Son: Yeah.
Announcer: You think a reporter without soul can outdance Ulala? Robotnik: ... yes.
The Nostalgia Chick complained about getting Kay back in the game in Men In Black II, then asks "Am I saying that Agent Kay should not have been in the sequel? (Beat) ...YES!!"
Peter: Hang on a second, did you just say I was fat? Doctor: Well, yeah, you are pretty fat.
Also, in Dial Meg For Murder:
Lois: Oh my god! Are you using my shirts as toilet paper? Meg: Yeah, and I think I might need some right now.
In "Too Sexy For His Fat", Lois and Brian have this exchange after Peter gets a lot of plastic surgery and Acquired Situational Narcissism to go along with it:
Lois: Oh, I can't help it! I know, I know, he's become a superficial, ego maniacal jerk, but I've never been more attracted to him! Oh, does that make me a bad person? Brian: Yes, Yes it does make you a bad person!
Nelson from The Simpsons uses this twice in a row during "22 Short Films About Springfield," when confronted by someone he pointed and laughed at.
Very Tall Man: Do you find something comical about my appearance when I'm driving my automobile? Nelson: ...yeah. Very Tall Man: Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto that I could afford. Am I therefore to be made the subject of fun? Nelson: ...I guess so.
In an early episode, Homer is suing Mr. Burns for hitting Bart with his car, and Burns invites him for a private chat:
The New Batman Adventures: The Joker and Harley Quinn ran out of gas during a escape. When he berated her for not refueling the car, she reminded him they were broke and asked what he wanted her to do: "fill the tank, shoot the guy and drive off?" The Joker silently nodded and she complained he didn't tell her before.
Abraham Lincoln pulled this one off once. While meeting with "commissioners" sent by the Confederacy in the late states of the war, he explained in detail his basic approach to the war: the South was not permitted to secede in the first place. That led to this:
Commissioner: You mean that we are rebels according to your view and we are all guilty of treason and liable to be hanged!
