Consider this:

Somebody asks you, "What's it like to be punched in the face?"

In response, you punch them in the face.

Have you answered their question?

Yes most defentlly yes, because they have now felt it.

I certainly wouldn't want them to punch me in the face so I can explain how I feel.

One could argue that in asking another human being what it's like to be punched in the face, that you're asking about their own particular incident. Although, I'd believe this were the incident particular and somewhat specific to the person. Being punched in the face is no special incident unlike anyone else's incident. This considered, asking someone what it's like to be punched in the face is asking what a human being feels when being punched in the face, not the person's particular take on being punched in the face. This considered, punching them in the face is in fact answering their question.

On the other hand, a question is answered, not extrapolated. Punching a person in the face is not answering a question, it's offering the person a way to obtain data pertaining to their question in order to answer it for themselves. You yourself did not tell them what it is like to experience the situation itself, as their question implied.

Overall, I'd have to say, yes, you've answered their question.

JediKirby

What's there to debate? Of course.

What if the person asking hasn't got a face?

Then God help us all.

Funny thing is, punching them in the face will answer their question far better than words ever could.

*punches HRJ in the face*

Hahaha

But isn't he/she asking what is being punched in the face like? So, wouldn't he/she be asking, in words, what would be something similar to being punched in the face? Bah, whatever.

I say no. The man is clearly asking for a description of what it is like to be punched in the face, as indicated by the word 'like'. He wants a comparison to something similar so that he has some frame of reference as to what a punch to the face is like, not an actual punch in the face. By punching him in the face, you are showing him what a punch to the face is like, but not describing it to him with a comparison.

So, while the man may now know the answer to his question, it's because he can now answer the question himself, not because the other guy actually answered it.

You have, but not directly.

I agree. Technically, they now know what it feels like to be punched in the face, but I expect they were asking it to be described in words, not physically.

The man has spoken my mind.

What a person expects to get as an answer and what they get as an answer are two very different things.

If I were to ask you the time and you were to pass me a clock, whether I would to know the time or not, you didn't answer my question. You gave me a clock. An object, not an answer.

This is different. With a punch in the face, you didn't technically give them the answer. When you punch them, they then know the answer to their question... sooo you just helped them figure it out for themselves, pretty much.

This is a really stupid and pointless hypothetical question.

This thread rules.

I say yes.

It's just like if they asked "What's it like to watch your own mother die?" and then you shot their mom in front of them. (wow... that's morbid)

Fixed.