A conundrum

[Benjamin Barrett]

On Aug 3, 2011, at 7:29 PM, Wilson Gray wrote:

> On Wed, Aug 3, 2011 at 10:08 PM, Benjamin Barrett <gogaku at ix.netcom.com> wrote:
>> f I'm concentrating on something, my answer very well might be no.
>
> That wouldn't help you. You'd already have been asked a question
> before you had a chance to refuse the petitioner permission to ask you
> a question. Asking your permission to ask you a question is asking you
> a question without your permission..

No. Answering the question, "Can I ask you a question" requires a mere check on the brain resources. If, instead, the person runs a complex question through my brain while I am trying to figure out a complex Japanese passage, then I get confused and irritated. I prefer that I be given the option of whether to be flooded with a question requiring thought.

Benjamin Barrett
Seattle, WA

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