4 ms·
> Not a native english speaker, but this seems like a nitpicky non-issue to me. How is it not the same as "could you please pass me a glass of water" vs. "would
by sigstoat 7y ago
> Not a native english speaker, but this seems like a nitpicky non-issue to me. How is it not the same as "could you please pass me a glass of water" vs. "would you please pass me a glass of water"? Both indicate a request rather than talking about actual physical ability to perform the action.
in the case of something like the glass of water, "could" makes the sentence more indirect, and more polite.
the original post is "it would be great if [huge task undertaken by unspecified persons] could be done". this native speaker would not attempt to polite-ify a request for something like that (and i don't think other native speakers would either), so the original post can't be making a request. it is expressing a hope that the thing is possible. mburns (reasonably) then explains that it is possible. then codesushi42 sort of goes on the rails, and i can't figure out what they're attempting to convey at this point.
- codesushi42 7y agoHuh? I wasn't making an appeal to anyone, so your point is moot. Context is important. Why bother decompiling a game if you have the source already? Of course I meant decompiling games for which there is no source code available on any machine. Nintendo has the source for SM64. What a ridiculous load of pedantry.
- torstenvl 7y agoIt isn't pedantry. Expressing a wish that something "could" be done is ambiguous. "Could" is both used as you originally intended and as an expression of ability. It's not pedantry to misunderstand, and it's not pedantry for GP to explain why the misunderstanding occurred. A misunderstanding occurred. The misunderstanding was clarified, acknowledged, and explained. I'm not sure it contributes anything to make accusations of pedantry.
- codesushi42 7y agoExactly. I have no idea what you are contributing to the discussion.
- Pizzaputer 7y agoYes, this thread right here officer.