Poll

In the context of a US government official requesting people who work for him to slow down testing, are the following sentences the same or totally different? “I asked them to slow down the testing.” “I told them to slow down the testing.”

The same
12 (41.4%)
Totally different
7 (24.1%)
Not exactly the same but not totally different
7 (24.1%)
Debatable
3 (10.3%)

Total Members Voted: 29

Author Topic: Ask or tell?Please don’t answer this poll if you have seen the original question  (Read 1782 times)

Offline S209

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Here is the exact question:

In the context of Trump telling people who work for him to slow down testing, do the following sentences mean the same thing or are they totally different?

“I told them to slow down the testing.”
“I asked them to slow down the testing.“
Quote from: YitzyS
Quotes in a signature is annoying, as it comes across as an independent post.

Offline etech0

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I wonder if you'd get the same results about "a hypothetical president of the USA" as you will about "Trump"
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Offline S209

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I wonder if you'd get the same results about "a hypothetical president of the USA" as you will about "Trump"
Changed
Quote from: YitzyS
Quotes in a signature is annoying, as it comes across as an independent post.

Offline Euclid

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When my wife asks me to do something, she's telling me to do it.

Offline yesitsme

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When my wife asks me to do something, she's telling me to do it.
do you want to ............  NO
could you? yes
["-"]

Offline etech0

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A lot depends on the relationship between the asker and the askee
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Offline grodnoking

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A lot depends on the relationship between the asker and the askee
Exactly. Someone with the power of Trump, asking is telling.
I'm not who you think I am.

Offline etech0

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Exactly. Someone with the power of Trump, asking is telling.
And depending who he's telling, being asked may mean being told to do the exact opposite.
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Online username

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A lot depends on the relationship between the asker and the askee
Exactly. For my boss, there's almost no difference if he asks me or tells me to do something. From a random stranger, there is a big difference. And there are levels in between.
^^^

Offline etech0

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And tone of voice can make a difference too
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Offline Jellybelly

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Is that why a previous administration got rid of the “don’t ask don’t tell” policy for the military?

Online Yo ssi

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A lot depends on the relationship between the asker and the askee
And the askan..
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