Originally posted by ETOPS01:
What do you do if you are pulled over by a police officer, and s/he says to you, "May I see your drivers' license, insurance, and registration, please?"
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Come ON! Show a little respect... that's what the security guard was giving you by "asking" instead of directing...
"May I see your drivers license?" is a command, but "May I look in the trunk?" is not. That was the whole point of this thread -- that there is a huge difference in seemingly identical statements.
The correct answer to "May I see your drivers license?" is "Of course, officer, here it is."
The correct answer to "May I see your trunk?" is "No, I'm sorry."
But how do you know the difference? They have purposely phrased everything in the same pseudo-question format so that people are misled into thinking they have no choice (while legally covering their butts because they DID give them a choice).
My answer to "May I..." anything is "I would prefer you didn't." Then the ball is in their court to let me know if I really don't have a choice in the matter.
I think the thread asked a perfectly valid question, and I'm more than a little surprised at how willing everyone seems to be to give up all autonomy (even the right to ask questions!) in the name of security.