What is Loaded Question?
1.
A question that has a hidden purpose behind it's asking. The questioner will usually ask the question to find something out without blatantly asking.
"Hey John, was Chrissy at Matt's house yesterday?"
"Yeah, they're going out... That was a loaded question, wasn't it?"
"Yeah, and thanks."
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2.
A loaded question is a question with a false or questionable presupposition, and it is "loaded" with that presumption.
The question "Have you stopped beating your wife?" is a loaded question that presupposes that you have beaten your wife prior to its asking, as well as that you have a wife. If you are unmarried, or have never beaten your wife, then the question is loaded.
3.
A question that is asked not to find information but with the intent to cause an emotional reaction from the person being asked.
The questioner asks usually in an emotional state provoking an emotional response. The questioner loads the question the way a soldier would load ammunition into a rifle; hence the question is
But Rev. Al Sharpton, what about the
Tawana Brawley case?
Knowing how Rev. Sharpton responds to any mention of that name, any question asking him about her would be a loaded question posed to cause him embarassment.
Question: Why are you such a crybaby?
Answer: You don't really want to know why I am a crybaby, you're just trying to make fun of me!
Do you know how to answer a f!@#ing phone?
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