Amira Hanafi is a writer and artist working with written and spoken language. Her work has been exhibited internationally, most recently at Spazju Kreattiv (Malta), at The Lisbon Summer School for the Study of Culture (Portugal), and at Flux Factory (New York). Hanafi has been supported by the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture, commissioned by Rhizome, and in 2017 she was the recipient of the Artraker Award for Challenging the Narrative.

Miscommunication theory suggests that many incidents of sexual coercion are the result of failure in communication. Reliance on this theory has led to efforts such as assertiveness training for women in which women are instructed to unequivocally say no. After a rape has been publicized, there is often a vocal outpouring to the tune of, “But she never said no.” In fact, saying “no” is a rare occurrence in most linguistic contexts; it is considered socially rude and offensive. Refusals actually play out in a typical pattern: a slight delay, use of words like “well” or “um,” a soothing remark, and finally a socially acceptable explanation. Everything Except Yes is a text-based browser game that takes its player on a serpentine escapade through social pressures and language failures by asking a series of yes or no questions. It creates an exasperating space for reflection on how we say no.