Those two questions have the same capacity for offensiveness. They have the same content and are compatible with the same presuppositions and connotations. They just use different language.
I am really curious how you can demonstrate equivalence between a question that follows the pattern “Why is (X) the case?” and a question that follows the pattern “Is (Y) the case?”—even if (Y) is arguably equivalent to (X), only phrased in more polite language.
As far as I see, the first one asks for the explanation of something that is presumed to be an established fact, while the second one expresses uncertainty about whether (arguably) the same fact is true. How on Earth can these two be said to have “the same content” and be “compatible with the same presuppositions”?
However, you are quite right that these two questions have the same potential for offensiveness, in that outside a few quirky places like LW, neither the polite phrasing nor the expression of uncertainty will get you off the hook, contrary to what Aris Katsaris seems to believe.
Ah, I see, you’re right; the content of the two questions are different. I noticed there was a substantial difference in language, and assumed that was the point of the example.
I am really curious how you can demonstrate equivalence between a question that follows the pattern “Why is (X) the case?” and a question that follows the pattern “Is (Y) the case?”—even if (Y) is arguably equivalent to (X), only phrased in more polite language.
As far as I see, the first one asks for the explanation of something that is presumed to be an established fact, while the second one expresses uncertainty about whether (arguably) the same fact is true. How on Earth can these two be said to have “the same content” and be “compatible with the same presuppositions”?
However, you are quite right that these two questions have the same potential for offensiveness, in that outside a few quirky places like LW, neither the polite phrasing nor the expression of uncertainty will get you off the hook, contrary to what Aris Katsaris seems to believe.
Ah, I see, you’re right; the content of the two questions are different. I noticed there was a substantial difference in language, and assumed that was the point of the example.