Foiled yet again

ickplant@lemmy.world to Lemmy Shitpost@lemmy.world – 1013 points –
13

Had an English teacher that did this. Once asked if I could go to the bathroom and he replied with this statement. So I said "Not if you don't let me." He rolled his eyes and called me a smart ass, like he wasn't. Yoi, I hated that guy.

Funnily enough, assuming that Vampires can only enter a house if they are invited, being able and allowed to enter the house are, in this case, equivalent.

Would not asking if one can come in ask if it is possible or not, i.e. if the one is invited or not. So to ask "can I come in" is not to ask for permission, only what is possible and not, thus not the same?

Can I come in? => Have I been invited?
May I come in? => Can I have an invitation?

The worst thing about this is that the English teacher is wrong too - common usage dictates that this is a perfectly acceptable form of request.

The vampire's ability to enter (whether he can come in) depends on his permission to enter (whether he may come in). So he's right.

Imagine if vampires could only suck the blood of victims that verbally allow them resulting in them loyering everyone to let them eat people