Monday, August 28, 2006

The Rhetorical Shield

I was behind a few people in the checkout line at Safeway the other day. Near the end of each transaction, the clerk said, “I’m required to ask you if you’d like to make a contribution to the Muscular Dystrophy Association.”

I thought that phrasing was rather odd, so when it was my turn, I asked the clerk whether he was required to say, “I’m required to ask you...”

It turns out that he wasn’t, so I gave him a suggestion.

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Posted by Richard Bloch

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