Are you familiar with the expression/question "When did you stop beating your wife?"?

Never heard it so I’d take it literally, too. Odd expression if true.

It means you are in a lose-lose situation where any answer you give will be wrong.

Nope, never heard that one. Back in elementary school boys used to ask each other if they’d told their mothers that they’re gay. They’d say no and…you get it. Same kind of thing I guess.

Oh, childhood, how I don’t miss thee even a tiny bit.

Yup, I’ve heard in many times and never thought it was the slightest bit clever or funny. Seems to me that any alternative to this expression would be equally unpleasant, but in order to come up with one the context of the conversation would have to be defined.

Speaking for myself, I’m sick of gotchas after enduring weeks of pointless finger-pointing coming out of D.C.

I had heard this was a question posed by none other than Abe Lincoln, while in court. The opposing side had argued that any yes or no question could be answered with either a yes or no.
(The question was “Have you stopped beating your wife?”)
So much has been attributed to Lincoln I now doubt whether that story is true.

Edit: I found a source.

Mayor of Calgary got in trouble tweeting that phrase.

The correct answer is “Mu”.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mu_(negative)#.22Unasking.22_the_question

Gah. And I thought that was cliche. What’s this younger generation coming too? So they all have to be asked if they have stopped abusing their spouse or SO to “get it”?

Actually it’s “Have you stopped beating your wife yet?” {Y or N]

It’s an old saw. Been around forever. (@anartist‘s version, that ts.)

before Lincoln used it in a court case to challenge Yes/no questions? [see @filmfan above]

I neglected to mention @filmfann, also. Sorry

Beating your wife? Come on, that is just stupid. I mean, she is your wife! It is like keying your own car!

I’ve heard it as “When did you stop beating your wife?” also and I think it is a pretty good example of a logical dilemma. i have no problem with its usage as an example.

@janbb that avoids the logic trap of yes/no which is at the heart of this

No, it doesn’t. Either you say, “Last January” which applies you were until then or you say “I haven’t.” Either way, you’re implicated.

The correct answer to this question is “The beatings have only intensified”.

@ragingloli Followed by ”...and will continue until morale improves.”

Edit: “implies”

Its even well known here in Norway (The phrase, not actually beating your wife)

In rhetoric, it is an example of a loaded question. Scroll down to section 2.30

Thanbk you all. It degrades your reputation, if said in public, so I don’t know how that is not a serious thing.

@dxs how did you permalink that?

@flo I clicked the link to it in the “Contents” section towards the top.

@dxs thanks.