5 ms·
That seems to be a semantic difference then. The definition of request is usually just the act of asking[0][1], and I think most people would assume that intent
by koube 8y ago
That seems to be a semantic difference then. The definition of request is usually just the act of asking[0][1], and I think most people would assume that intent is baked into an ask. This is not an ambiguous "who will rid me of this turbulent priest" situation, it's an explicit ask and I think the counter claim, that the ask had no intent behind it, has the burden of proof.
[0] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/request https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/request
[1] https://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/request https://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/request
- cgriswald 8y agoIf you're going to get that pedantic, then you have to admit saying, "I hope" is not, in fact, asking.
- koube 8y agoIn 1170 a king once famously said "will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?" The priest in question was soon killed by four knights, and as a result, the knights were sent to the Crusades for 14 years, and the king had to confess his sins, strip his clothes above the waist except for his crown, and allow himself to be struck with rods by all of the Bishops and monks of the church of the dead priest[0]. This the most famous historical example of the concept that weasel words don't absolve you of responsibility. If everyone knows what you mean then you said it directly. James Comey later referenced the quote "will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest" when Trump told him "I hope you can see your way to letting Flynn go." [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Becket_controversy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Becket_controversy