General Asylum

Posted by Guy (M) on May 11, 2005 at 06:50:20

In Reply to: continuing the English lesson posted by Bruce from DC on May 11, 2005 at 06:10:37:

but they do net alot of pals (hee-hee). Seriously now: a neutrally worded subject heading is fine. It's done, and I've done it. An argumentative person would counter by saying "the more loaded/leading the question, the more passion is the answer" or some such justification. I imagine lawyers/attorneys know this very well and play this to their advantage: opinionated questions get real opinonated answers. Partiality reveals more partiality. No? Compare, just for fun's sake:
A: "Do you like your mother?"
B: [common answers] "She's great. I love her"
"I may not like her, but I love her"

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

A: "What's to like about your mother?"
B: [common answer] "Why, everything. She's ... and .... and ... (ad
infinitum)
"Well, it's hard to say in words; I guess some
would say ... and some would say ..."

Note: which gets the lengthier more revealing answer.

Note: "Is your mother likable?" falls somewhere in the middle (!)

P.S.: in my original post, by giving the 'easy out' ("I know. Nearly everyone" I think is what I said), it should have made the original question less of a test, less testy.

Respect,
Guy