The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #69657   Message #1197167
Posted By: GUEST,Jim McCallan
30-May-04 - 02:22 PM
Thread Name: BS: Iraqis Beheading Americans
Subject: RE: BS: Iraqis Beheading Americans
"That sometimes a simple question isn't a simple question"

Four words with a question mark after them is a 'simple question', Wolfgang.
With no inflection (as with the human voice, for instance), and when printed with no other contextual qualifier, what great leap of inference needs to be taken for it to become a presuppositional one?

The attitude of the beholder, I would suggest.

"Are you stupid?' is a simple question.
"No" is the simple answer

One can read between the lines too much, you know.
But when it is only one line that is written, one does a disservice to oneself if one doesn't take it at face value. At least initially.

Jim