4 ms·
> Saying no is hard. It's an admission you can't do something. Saying no is an admission that you won’t do something. You may or may not be able to do the thi
by marcus0x62 4y ago
> Saying no is hard. It's an admission you can't do something.
Saying no is an admission that you won’t do something. You may or may not be able to do the thing: that’s orthogonal. By framing it in terms of ability, you internalize the no by describing it as a personal failing.
- baxtr 4y agoHow do you read "ability" into this? Can't can mean many things, like no I can't do it because I don't want to, I don't have time for this etc.
- hxugufjfjf 4y agoCan't (can not) does not imply won't (will not / don't want to), and vice versa. The words have different implications. Can't implies a lack of ability, and won't implies a lack of motivation. That's why the common statuses are "won't fix" and "can't reprodure", not "can't fix" and "won't reprocedure", even though the two latter would be interesting to see. While writing this reply I realized that able/unable might be better words to use in this context, especially if you want to specifically remove your own motivation from the equation. E.g., by saying "unable to reproduce" or "unable to prioritize" you are implying "can't" as oppposed "I don't want to".
- giaour 4y agoI definitely read "can't" in the passage you quote as expressing something like, "I can't do this because I'm too busy"