History Main / YouAnsweredYourOwnQuestion

--> '''Wally''': "Do you think our boss will believe a vendor over his own loyal employees?"

* ''Star Wars'' ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'': As the Rebel fleet is approaching the second Death Star, Lando gets word that they can't tell if the deflector shield protecting it is up or down because of jamming, prompting him to ask, "How could they be jamming us if they don't know...[[ExplainExplainOhCrap that we're coming]]. Break off! The shield is still up!"

* ''Series/BrooklynNineNine'': in [[Recap/BrooklynNineNineS2E11Stakeout "Stakeout"]] Rosa refuses to do a four-day stakeout and Amy asks why:

** [[Recap/DoctorWhoS30E13JourneysEnd "Journey's End"]]: When discussing a DoomsdayDevice called the "Osterhagen Key", the Doctor demands to know who would invent such a thing... then realizes that it was probably someone named Osterhagen.

* ''Webcomic/Avalon'':
-->''Alan:'' Hey Alison, when's the New Year's party this year?\\

''Alison:'' December 31st?\\
''Alan:'' Whoa whoa... is that it, or are you asking me?

* There's an episode of ''Animation/HappyHeroes'' where Little M. asks what the number for 911 is.

* Scott does this early on in ''ComicBook/ScottPilgrim'': "''Amazon.ca''... What's the website for that?" [[IdiotHero Wallace still has to answer it for him.]]
-->'''Wallace:''' ...Amazon.ca.\\
'''Scott:''' Cool, thanks!

* This ''ComicStrip/{{Dilbert}}'' comic ([[http://dilbert.com/strip/1995-06-04 June 4, 1995]]): "Do you think our boss will believe a vendor over his own loyal employees?"

* Played with in ''Fanfic/TheKeysStandAlone: The Soft World''. Ringo asks the wizard Shaamforouz whether he'll ever learn to see through masks, noting that "even the weak ones can get flashes." "You have answered your own question," the wizard responds. This is entirely meaningless in context.
* ''WebVideo/DragonballZAbridged'':
** When it becomes apparent to all the cast who Trunks really is:
--->'''Piccolo:''' Trunks? What are you doing here?\\
'''Vegeta:''' Ha! That's a girl's name.\\
'''Krillin:''' Isn't that the name of your kid?\\
'''Vegeta:''' What, are you trying to imply that this wannabe-Super Saiyan from the future is my so... ''[tails off in realisation]''[[labelnote:*]]Note that Vegeta is one of the only two known Super Saiyans in the entire universe[[/labelnote]]
** After the cast waiting back at Kami's Lookout realize that Krillin crushed the remote meant to blow up Android 18:
--->'''Tien:''' I don't understand! All he had to do was push the button and blow up the... [[FoeYay the girl]].\\
'''Bulma:''' Oh, that makes sense.

* In ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory2'', when Rex runs into the middle of the "crime scene" model the other toys have constructed, he's asking, "How do you spell 'FBI'?"

* Dorothy in ''Film/TheStraightStory'': "What's the number for 911?"
* In ''Film/TheLittleRascals'' movie:
-->'''Buckwheat:''' Quick! What's the number for 911?\\
'''Porky:''' How do I know?
* Flip asking how much sixteen-penny nails are in ''Film/WithSixYouGetEggroll'' sounds like this, but the term actually refers to the size, not price, of the nail.

* In ''Film/IdleHands'', Mick says, "I'm... gonna call 911. What's the number?"
* Gary in ''Film/TheWorldsEnd'' has this kind of problem, and tends not to even realize he's answered himself until someone else comments.
-->'''Gary:''' What the fuck does "WTF" mean?\\
'''Peter:''' ''[reacting to the situation]'' What the fuck?\\
'''Gary:''' Oh, yeah.

* ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'': As the Rebel fleet is approaching the second Death Star, Lando gets word that they can't tell if the deflector shield protecting it is up or down because of jamming, prompting him to ask, "How could they be jamming us if they don't know...[[ExplainExplainOhCrap that we're coming]]. Break off! The shield is still up!"
* In ''Film/DoctorDolittle'':
-->'''Dr. John Dolittle:''' You know how to do CPR?\\
'''Rat #2:''' CPR? I can't even spell it!

* At the end of the ''Series/{{Alf}}'' episode "Strangers in the Night", when NosyNeighbour Mrs. Armanick hears noise outside she grabs the phone and ask "Operator, this is an emergency. What's the number for 911?" In her defense, Alf had been messing about the house while she was waitching ''Film/{{Psycho}}'', so she was a little-high-strung.

* Sally in the ''Series/{{Coupling}}'' episode "Inferno":

* In ''Series/TheGoldenGirls'', [[TheDitz Rose]] once dialed information to get the number for 911.
* In ''Series/{{Hustle}}'', when the team of grifters is looking for a place to stay -- having been run out of every hotel in the city that's fancy enough for their standards -- [[TheBartender Eddie]] grumbles, "Why don't you just pay your hotel bill like normal people?... I can't believe I asked that."
* Occasionally, there will be a category on ''Series/{{Jeopardy}}'' called "Stupid Answers"; in this category, the correct response to each clue is ''in'' the clue. This being ''Jeopardy!'', the response is [[MoonLogicPuzzle not always obvious]]:

[[folder:Print Media]]
* in the ''Magazine/{{MAD}}'' parody of the first ''Film/{{Superman}}'' movie, someone asks why everyone is fleeing a disaster site when "the government told us there's no danger." The reply: "You just answered your own question, buddy!"
[[/folder]]

* Alan in ''Webcomic/Avalon'':

* Yuki in ''Webcomic/MenageA3'':
-->'''Yuki:''' He... he kissed another girl! How can he do that when he doesn't even know that I might possibly consider liking him? ''[{{beat}}]'' [[http://www.menagea3.net/d/20101127.html Oh right... all that stuff I just said...]]
* The [[http://www.xkcd.com/852/ page image]] from ''Webcomic/{{xkcd}}'': "Crap! How did the pole-vaulters get up to our balcony?"
* As used in ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'':

** And again when Grace is wondering whether Justin [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=1925 would have noticed his magic mark]]: "How could he miss a small flame shaped mark colored slightly different from the rest of his skin on a spot high up his back where he'd probably need a mirror and probably have to make a deliberate effort to '''''dammit'''''"
* Ur in ''Webcomic/EightBitTheater'', after being killed.
-->'''Ur:''' What the hell is this?\\
'''Kary:''' You answered your own question, pal.
* In ''Webcomic/KevinAndKell'', Ralph accidentally lands a contract to host the [[WritingAroundTrademarks [=WikiBreaks=]]] site. When Kevin expresses his discomfort about this, Ralph asks: "How would anyone ever discover a connection between us and this site that exposes every secret under the - " [{{beat}}] "[[http://www.kevinandkell.com/2011/kk0202.html Oh. Right.]]"
* In ''Webcomic/{{Freefall}}'', when robots are being trained as a [[http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff1800/fc01786.htm police force for the planet's non-human population.]]

* Happens in [[http://www.somethingpositive.net/sp01072004.shtml a strip from]] ''Webcomic/SomethingPositive'':

* In [[http://basicinstructions.net/basic-instructions/2011/12/4/how-to-react-when-you-learn-youve-been-doing-something-wrong.html a strip]] of ''Webcomic/BasicInstructions'':
-->'''[[ButtMonkey Rick]]:''' WHY'RE YOU STILL SAYING IT THAT WAY? YOU KNOW IT DRIVES ME CRAZY!\\
''[beat]''\\
'''Rick:''' I JUST ANSWERED MY OWN QUESTION!\\
'''[[{{Jerkass}} Scott]]:''' And on the [[VerbalTic firstth]] try!
* In [[http://sfc.smackjeeves.com/comics/293372/day-28-liar-liar/ one strip]] of ''Webcomic/SurvivorFanCharacters'':

* [[http://friendshipisdragons.thecomicseries.com/comics/78 Applejack in]] ''Webcomic/FriendshipIsDragons''. When the Mane Six enters the ruins where the Elements of Harmony are kept:
-->'''AJ:''' Then what the heck is Nightmare Moon up to anyhow? Is she waitin' outside or somethin'?\\
... Aw, shoot, I just answered my own question.
* One comic of ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' has the group wandering through a maze, and Elan tries to be helpful.
-->'''Elan:''' Can't we drop breadcrumbs like that story where they dropped breadcrumbs but the birds came and ate them all and they got lost and never mind I get it.
* Occurs in ''Webcomic/{{Erfworld}}'' in a conversation between Parson and Charlie:
-->'''Charlie:''' What were they doing in that black raiment, fighting for Gobwin Knob?\\
'''Parson:''' If you read that question again, Charlie, you'll notice that it answers itself.
* ''Webcomic/{{Ubersoft}}'': When the Boss tries to find out which Binky is the father of Jingles, the Cheerful Google Notification Bell:

* In ''Webcomic/GrrlPower'', as Sydney is watching Math and Jabberwokky getting into a showy martial art fight with obvious glee.
-->'''Sydney:''' What is it with martial artists always wanting tougher oppon... No, wait, I answered my own question.

* In the ''WebVideo/BroniesReact'' episode for ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsRainbowRocks'':

* ComicBook/{{Zatanna}} in the ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' episode "Zatanna". In reality, it's because Batman befriended her as Bruce Wayne when the two were teenagers, though she doesn't figure that out until later. Though the nylon thing might still apply.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'':
** Homer in the episode "Bart vs. Thanksgiving": "Hello, Operator! Give me the number for 911!"
** In "This Little Wiggy" after Chief Wiggum catches Bart and Ralph in his closet, which he told Ralph not to go in:
--->'''Wiggum:''' What is your fascination with my forbidden closet of mystery?
* ''WesternAnimation/EdEddNEddy'': One episode has the Kanker Sisters freak out when their heirloom ship-in-a-bottle is seemingly stolen by a burglar (it was actually taken by a sleepwalking Ed), and May rushes to the phone.
-->'''May:''' What number do you call for 911?!
* In the ''WesternAnimation/Ben10AlienForce'' episode "Unearthed", when the NonMaliciousMonster stops fighting the PowerTrio :

* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog'', Coconuts asks what he would want with a "two-ton baby ape who can lift giant rocks and fire bananas like a shotgun" who thinks Coconuts is his daddy. He promptly realizes that this would be a perfect ally to help him catch Sonic and get in good with Robotnik.
* ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'': In "Raisins", after Bebe tells Stan that Wendy has broken up with him:
-->'''Stan:''' Whoa, wait a minute. What did I do wrong? I haven't even talked to Wendy for weeks!

* Invoked for laughs in the ''WesternAnimation/{{Archer}}'' episode "Jeu Monaguesque".
-->''[Archer walks in, sipping a martini and carrying a BriefcaseFullOfMoney]''\\
'''Malory:''' Sterling? Why isn't the briefcase handcuffed to your drinking hand?!\\
'''Archer:''' [[DeadpanSnarker Pretty sure you just answered your own question, there.]]\\
''[casually takes a sip]''
* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Daria}}'', Daria's neurotic father Jake once asked "What's the number for 9-1-1?!" in a panic.
* Episode 5 of ''WesternAnimation/MissionHill'' has [[HonestJohnsDealership Ron]] promote an extremely reluctant Andy to assistant manager (Andy only accepted because he had lost confidence in ever making it as a cartoonist). As part of his "management training", Ron buys Andy an extremely tacky purple suit.

* ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'': In "Friend of Peter G" (in a DVD-exclusive scene), Peter and Brian go into a movie theater and watch the pre-movie trivia slides, one of which asks "Name the female star of 'Film/PrettyWoman' starring Creator/JuliaRoberts."
-->'''Peter:''' ''Fuck.'' And you guys got any questions for people who are ''not'' Hollywood insiders? Jesus.

-->'''Dr. John Dolittle:''' You know how to do CPR?
-->'''Rat #2:''' CPR? I can't even spell it!

[[folder:Webcomics]]

''Alan:'' Whoa whoa...is that it, or are you asking me?

[[folder:Websites]]
* Website/{{RinkWorks}}’ ''Computer Stupidities'' has a section named “[[http://www.rinkworks.com/stupid/cs_obvious.shtml The Bleeding Obvious]]”, which features customers who ask questions like “How many pins does a sixteen-pin cable have?” and “What program do you use to make a Word document?”

* ComicBook/{{Zatanna}} in the ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' episode "Zatanna":

:: In reality, it's because Batman befriended her as Bruce Wayne when the two were teenagers, though she doesn't figure that out until later. Though the nylon thing might still apply.

* ''WesternAnimation/DastardlyAndMuttleyInTheirFlyingMachines'': In "Home Sweet Homing Pigeon," Dastardly persuades Klunk, Zilly and Muttley -- who have all been discharged -- to sign his memory book (he's actually tricking them into signing re-enlistment forms).

* ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'': In "Raisins" after Bebe tells Stan that Wendy has broken up with him:

* In the ''Series/TheGoldenGirls'', [[TheDitz Rose]] once dialed information to get the number for 911.

** When the group is cleaning out the garage in Howard's home for a garage sale, the put a sticker on everything that's to be put out for sale, and Howard sees a sticker on his full-size replica of a [[Series/DoctorWho TARDIS]]

* In ''Film/IdleHands'' Mick says, "I'm... gonna call 911. What's the number?"

* In ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'', Penny tells Leonard that everything goes wrong with their relationship when they talk. She then adds that she had an 8-month-long relation with a guy named T.J. and they never talked.

Compare IsTheAnswerToThisQuestionYes, ExplainExplainOhCrap.

[[folder:Films -- Animation]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]

** "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS30E13JourneysEnd Journey's End]]": When discussing a DoomsdayDevice called the "Osterhagen Key", the Doctor demands to know who would invent such a thing... then realizes that it was probably someone named Osterhagen.

--->'''The Doctor:''' Have you considered tracking back the signal and talking to them? ''[Daleks are silent]'' ...he asked the Daleks.

* ''Series/{{Frasier}}'':
** In "My Coffee with Niles", Niles is confused to learn Roz can't stand him.
--->'''Niles:''' Why should I warrant such strong emotions? I barely acknowledge her existence.\\
'''Frasier:''' Think you may be onto something there, Sherlock.
** In "Police Story", Frasier is pulled over for speeding while trying to get Roz to her dinner date on time, and the arresting officer sees from his licence that it's his birthday:
--->'''Roz:''' Frasier, why didn't you tell me it was your birthday? I'd have thrown you a party at the station!\\
'''Frasier:''' Question asked, question answered.
** In "To Kill a Talking Bird":
--->'''Frasier:''' Niles, why would you even want to live in such a stodgy building? You know, when I applied there, they treated me like riff-raff.\\
'''Niles:''' Well, if you're going to ask and answer your own question, what do you need me for?

[[folder:Web Comics]]

(''beat'')\\

-->'''Wallace''': ...Amazon.ca.
-->'''Scott''': Cool, thanks!
* ''Comicbook/PS238'' has Atlas [[http://ps238.nodwick.com/?p=1315 wondering]] why he should accept the throne of a planet full of corrupt aristocracy:

[[folder: Fan Works]]
* Played with in ''Fanfic/TheKeysStandAlone: The Soft World''. Ringo asks the wizard Shaamforouz whether he'll ever learn to see through masks, noting that “even the weak ones can get flashes.” “You have answered your own question,” the wizard responds. This is entirely meaningless in context.

* Gary in ''Film/TheWorldsEnd'' has this kind of problem, and tends not to even realise he's answered himself until someone else comments.

'''Peter:''' (''reacting to the situation'') What the fuck?\\

* In ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'', Penny tells Leonard that everything goes wrong with their relationship when they talk. She then adds that she had an 8 month long relation with a guy named T.J. and they never talked.

** [[Recap/DoctorWhoS30E13JourneysEnd "Journey's End"]]: When discussing a DoomsdayDevice called the "Osterhagen Key", the Doctor demands to know who would invent such a thing... then realizes that it was probably someone named Osterhagen.
** [[Recap/DoctorWhoS33E1AsylumOfTheDaleks "Asylum of the Daleks"]]: There's a distress signal coming from the titular planet, so the Doctor has a [[AskAStupidQuestion question]]:
--->"Have you considered tracking back the signal and talking to them?" ''[Daleks are silent]'' "...he asked the Daleks."

* Yuki in ''Webcomic/MenageA3'': "He... he kissed another girl! How can he do that when he doesn't even know that I might possibly consider liking him?" (''{{beat}}'') "[[http://www.menagea3.net/d/20101127.html Oh right... all that stuff I just said...]]"

* Ur in ''WebComic/EightBitTheater'', after being killed.

** Made even funnier by the fact that it works both ways. While they are actually a police force for A.I.s, having an entire police force dedicated to Sam would not be that unreasonable.

(''{{beat panel}}'')\\

(''beat'')\\

-->'''Hugo:''' Taylor said that "he" showed her the idol, and there are only four guys, and I know I don't have it so... [...] (''to Charlie'') Well, either Hogan or Sky has it; one of them is lying.\\

(''{{beat}}'')\\

[[folder:Web Original]]

[[folder:Web Video]]
* ''WebVideo/DragonballZAbridged'':
** When it becomes apparent to all the cast who Trunks really is:
-->'''Piccolo:''' Trunks? What are you doing here?\\
'''Vegeta:''' Ha! That's a girl's name.\\
'''Krillin:''' Isn't that the name of your kid?\\
'''Vegeta:''' What, are you trying to imply that this wannabe-Super Saiyan from the future is my so...(''tails off in realisation'')[[labelnote:*]]Note that Vegeta is one of the only two known Super Saiyans in the entire universe[[/labelnote]]
** After the cast waiting back at Kami's Lookout realise that Krillin crushed the remote meant to blow up Android 18:
-->'''Tien:''' I don't understand! All he had to do was push the button and blow up the... [[FoeYay the girl]].\\
'''Bulma:''' Oh, that makes sense.
[[/folder]]

-->'''Zatanna:''' What do you care about some leggy dame in nylons? Or did I just answer my own question? (In reality, it's because Batman befriended her as Bruce Wayne when the two were teenagers, though she doesnt figure that out until later. Though the nylon thing might still apply)

--> '''May''': What number do you call for 911?!

(''{{beat}} while Kevin gives an AsideGlance'')\\

-->(''Archer walks in, sipping a martini and carrying a BriefcaseFullOfMoney'')\\

(''casually takes a sip'')

--> '''Ron''': Nice, yes? You like, no?
--> '''Andy''': I think you just answered your own question.
--> '''Ron''': Pah!

-->'''Twilight:''' Has anypony checked on Tirek?
-->'''[[TheDitz Pinkie Pie]]:''' You mean the big, red, scary centaur who eats magic? Why would we want ... Oooh, riiight.

** Which weighs the most, a pound of lead, a pound of aluminium, or a pound of cork?[[note]]Surprisingly, this actually becomes a valid question when one of the items in question is measured using ''troy'' weight (such as gold); a troy pound weighs less than a standard (avoirdupois) pound. And just to makes things even more fun, troy weight has more grains to the ounce but less ounces to the pound than avoirdupois - so an ounce of gold weighs more than an ounce of feathers, but a pound of feathers weighs more than a pound of gold.[[/note]][[note]]It's also not as stupid as it sounds when you consider the question asks about ''weight'' and not ''mass'' and is thus affected by gravity. The tallest object (presumably the least dense i.e. cork) will have a centre of mass further away from the ground and thus weigh slightly less than aluminium, which will weigh slightly less than lead - even though all three have the same mass. - However, this caveat applies only when the question refers to mass, not weight: a kilogram of cork weighs less than a kilogram of aluminium, but a pound of cork weighs the same as a pound of aluminium.[[/note]]

* ''What's The Number For 911?'' is actually the title of a collection of bizarre and/or stupid 911 calls.

* The closing line of Creator/PinkFloyd's "[[Music/The wall One of My Turns]]" is "Why are you running away?" It's in reference to the groupie from the song, who Pink (the character) frightens away when he goes berserk during the song in question, tearing apart his hotel room in the process.

* The closing line of Pink Floyd's "One of My Turns" is "Why are you running away?" It's in reference to the groupie from the song, who Pink (the character) frightens away when he goes berserk during the song in question, tearing apart his hotel room in the process.

-->'''Zatanna:''' What do you care about some leggy dame in nylons? Or did I just answer my own question? (In reality, it's because Batman befriended her as Bruce Wayne when the two were teenagers, though she doesnt figure that out until later. Thoygh the nylon thing might still apply)

** In an early episode, Niles is confused to learn Roz can't stand him.
-->'''Niles:''' Why should I warrant such strong emotions? I barely acknowledge her existence.\\

** In another episode:
-->'''Frasier:''' Niles, why would you even want to live in such a stodgy building? You know, when I applied there, they treated me like riff-raff.\\

-->'''Frasier:''' Niles, why would you want to live in such a stodgy building? When I applied there, they treated me like riff-raff.\\
'''Niles:''' Well, if you're going to answer your own question, what do you need me for?

'''Frasier:''' Niles, why would you want to live in such a stodgy building? When I applied there, they treated me like riff-raff.\\

* In ''Series/{{Hustle}}'', when the team of grifters is looking for a place to stay -- having been run out of every hotel in the city that's fancy enough for their standards -- [[TheBartender Eddie]] grumbles, "Why don't you just pay your hotel bill like normal people?... I can't believe I asked that."
* In ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'', Penny tells Leonard that everything goes wrong with their relationship when they talk. She then adds that she had an 8 month long relation with a guy named T.J. and they never talked.
-->'''Leonard:''' Wait, if you guys never talked, what did you... Never mind. Stupid question.
* At the end of the ''Series/{{Alf}}'' episode "Strangers in the Night", when NosyNeighbour Mrs. Armanick hears noise outside she grabs the phone and ask "Operator, this is an emergency. What's the number for 911?" In her defense, Alf had been messing about the house while she was waitching ''Film/{{Psycho}}'', so she was a little-high-strung.

* Occasionally, there will be a category on ''Series/{{Jeopardy}}'' called "Stupid Answers"; in this category, the correct response to each clue is ''in'' the clue. This being ''Jeopardy!'', the response is [[MoonLogicPuzzle not always obvious]]:
-->'''Clue:''' Now named for James Brady, this room in the White House is where the briefing of the press takes place.[[labelnote:Response]]What is the Briefing Room?[[/labelnote]]
* In the ''Series/TheGoldenGirls'', [[TheDitz Rose]] once dialed information to get the number for 911.
* In ''Series/DoctorWho'', when discussing a DoomsdayDevice called the "Osterhagen Key", the Doctor demands to know who would invent such a thing... then realizes that it was probably someone named Osterhagen.

** Which weighs the most, a pound of lead, a pound of aluminium, or a pound of cork?[[note]]Surprisingly, this actually becomes a valid question when one of the items in question is measured using ''troy'' weight (such as gold); a troy pound weighs less than a standard (avoirdupois) pound. And just to makes things even more fun, troy weight has more grains to the ounce but less ounces to the pound than avoirdupois - so an ounce of gold weighs more than an ounce of feathers, but a pound of feathers weighs more than a pound of gold.[[/note]][[note]]It's also not as stupid as it sounds when you consider the question asks about ''weight'' and not ''mass'' and is thus affected by gravity. The tallest object (presumably the least dense i.e. cork) will have a centre of mass further away from the ground and thus weigh slightly less than aluminium, which will weigh slightly less than lead - even though all three have the same mass.[[/note]]

Differs from a rhetorical question in that Bob actually expects an answer when posing the question. Compare IsTheAnswerToThisQuestionYes.

* Episode 5 of ''MissionHill'' has [[HonestJohnsDealership Ron]] promote an extremely reluctant Andy to assistant manager (Andy only accepted because he had lost confidence in ever making it as a cartoonist). As part of his "management training", Ron buys Andy an extremely tacky purple suit.