In a worrying development for people in constitutional posts and upper management who take pomp and protocol super-seriously, reports suggest that 'yes men' - a formerly stable species of agreeable bipeds - are beginning to short-circuit after exposure to basic reasoning. Folks who built an entire career by nodding emphatically and continuously are finding themselves out in the cold even in July. Being more loyal than the king has had its virtues. But for bosses now genuinely looking for solutions in these days of wonky stability, the function of yes men - and, yes, yes women, too - 'yes-ing' has become downright risky. Instead of needing someone to buttress and echo his actions and utterings, the bossman now needs 'opinions men'.

Experts blame the phenomenon on the rise of 'cognitive reflux', a condition where suppressed opinions are bubbling up like cheap champagne. Side-effects include furrowed brows, questioning questions and mild truths. With AI and other non-sycophantic repliers on the rise, leaders are increasingly saying no to yes men - unless they are in the US, where things are behind the curve in this respect. Many fallen affirmators are now recovering in special centres from the trauma of not being given the attention and importance they thought continuously saying yes would automatically bring them. Sad, no? Don't answer that.