"Steven P. McNicoll" wrote in message
nk.net...

"Mike Young" wrote in message
. ..

I am "unable" to hop like a frog.
I "refuse" to hop like a frog.

There's a distinct difference.


Bad analogy. Is there a distinct difference between saying you're
"unable" to hop like a frog, and saying you "refuse" to hop like a frog,
when you ARE able to hop like a frog?

Yes, I do believe this is at the crux of this thread (rope). The presumption
is that the controller stating UNABLE in any way resembles a pilot's use of
UNABLE. It may or may not be the case that your usage is in fact a
disingenuous refutation of your responsibilities. It may in fact, or might
not, be the case that the DFW approach controller said "unable" when he
really meant "my lazy ass ain't about to clear a path for your lazy ass." I
submit that *that* would be the death knell of the NAS and civil aviation if
it were truly what transpired.

I can frog hop, but in truth, my pelvis, knees, and ankles are quite
different from a frog's. I have a doctor's note that says so. I am very
definitely unable to hop like a frog.

We're down to just the semantics of the controller's statement that he was
*UNABLE* to land the distressed aircraft on the requested runway. We know
where each of us stands as to its meaning, and there's no need to repeat it
yet again. Maybe we can be done with this at last. The sad part is that
after all the angst, there were no lessons or values to take forward from
this.