it's entirely possible to be submissive and literal at the same time. compare "I deserve a bigger raise" with "I do appreciate the raise I was given, but in lig

it's entirely possible to be submissive and literal at the same time. compare "I deserve a bigger raise" with "I do appreciate the raise I was given, but in light of my contributions to XYZ this year, I was expecting a little more. could you please consider increasing it?". the second is still an unmistakable request but is deferential and does not imply that the decision maker was wrong.