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It looks like a straightforward denial and refusal to comment. What is complex or passive-aggressive about it?
by 1123581321 7y ago
It looks like a straightforward denial and refusal to comment. What is complex or passive-aggressive about it?
- DonHopkins 7y agoIt's aggressively passive voice. You do that when you're trying to avoid responsibility. Or in other words: Responsibility was avoided. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passive_voice https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passive_voice It also uses Trump's favorite template: It isn't, but if it is, it doesn't matter. That means it is, and it matters.
- 1123581321 7y agoThe first line uses the passive voice. Despite that it’s a clear statement. The main action in the other two (“we’d take” and “we can’t comment”) are active because “we” is the subject and acts on the object. A negative statement like “cannot comment” isn’t passive voice. Also, passive aggressive doesn’t mean using the passive voice aggressively. It means assenting to some encroachment in a way that signals hidden belligerence. Hopefully that was helpful (passive aggressive! Sorry.)