Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no" as the answer.

You've come to this page because you've asked a question in one of the following forms
and then been surprised when receiving the logical "yes" or "no" answer.

This is the Frequently Given Answer to such surprise.

Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no" as the answer. If you didn't want either "yes" or "no" as the answer, then you should have asked a different question.

Don't ask Does anyone know ... ? questions unless you truly want to know whether or not anyone knows.

Don't ask Can someone ... ? questions unless you truly want to know whether or not anyone can.

If you want to know something else, ask the question whose answer it is that you actually want.

For example :

If you want to know how to capture console I/O in Win32, don't ask

Does anyone know how to capture console I/O in Win32 ?
or
Can someone help me with capturing console I/O in Win32 ?
The answer to both questions is either "yes" or "no". Either people who know how to capture console I/O in Win32 exist or they do not. Either someone in the world can help you with capturing console I/O in Win32, or no-one can.

Instead ask the question whose answer is the one that you actually want:

How do I capture console I/O in Win32 ?

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