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You're probably right - although saying the accusations are "nonsense, utterly ridiculous and should be ignored" isn't strictly speaking the same as saying that

by bayes 10y ago

You're probably right - although saying the accusations are "nonsense, utterly ridiculous and should be ignored" isn't strictly speaking the same as saying that they're untrue. GCHQ could believe that (although they happen to be true) it's nonsense and utterly ridiculous for commentators to be asserting so without any evidence, and it would be much better for everyone to ignore the accusation.

SideburnsOfDoom 10y ago
> although saying the accusations are "nonsense, utterly ridiculous and should be ignored" isn't strictly speaking the same as saying that they're untrue. I would think that "nonsense" implies "untrue". I.e. it is "The subset of untruths that also are logically inconsistent" We are splitting hairs of the fine parsing of the wording from GCHQ, when words of any kind are highly unusual.
sealjam 10y ago
I think saying they're "nonsense" is saying they're untrue.
masklinn 10y ago
> isn't strictly speaking the same as saying that they're untrue. It's way beyond just stating that they're untrue.
jgrahamc 10y ago
I'm British, we don't like to overstate things. When you see GCHQ call something "nonsense" and "utterly ridiculous" you can be assured that they are denying it. And I think there's something more. I would read into their statement that they are very angry.
- louthy 10y ago
  > I would read into their statement that they are very angry. This is my interpretation too (as a fellow Brit). As far as diplomatic language goes, it's one step short of saying "He's a bit of a twat".
- alex_hitchins 10y ago
  Yes, this is exactly that I took from it. It's a massive slap in the face. We aren't even going to bother with protocol, you a being a major bell-end.
  - jgrahamc 10y ago
    It's funny how you, me and louthy (in a sibling comment) all read into this "You are a total buffoon (or similar words)". I can imagine someone sitting in Cheltenham just shaking their head.
  - ollie87 10y ago
    American's need to start using bell-end as an insult.
    - alex_hitchins 10y ago
      It would be welcome relief from 'ass-hat'

by bayes 10y ago

SideburnsOfDoom 10y ago

> although saying the accusations are "nonsense, utterly ridiculous and should be ignored" isn't strictly speaking the same as saying that they're untrue. I would think that "nonsense" implies "untrue". I.e. it is "The subset of untruths that also are logically inconsistent" We are splitting hairs of the fine parsing of the wording from GCHQ, when words of any kind are highly unusual.

sealjam 10y ago

I think saying they're "nonsense" is saying they're untrue.

masklinn 10y ago

> isn't strictly speaking the same as saying that they're untrue. It's way beyond just stating that they're untrue.

jgrahamc 10y ago

I'm British, we don't like to overstate things. When you see GCHQ call something "nonsense" and "utterly ridiculous" you can be assured that they are denying it. And I think there's something more. I would read into their statement that they are very angry.

louthy 10y ago
> I would read into their statement that they are very angry. This is my interpretation too (as a fellow Brit). As far as diplomatic language goes, it's one step short of saying "He's a bit of a twat".
alex_hitchins 10y ago
Yes, this is exactly that I took from it. It's a massive slap in the face. We aren't even going to bother with protocol, you a being a major bell-end.
- jgrahamc 10y ago
  It's funny how you, me and louthy (in a sibling comment) all read into this "You are a total buffoon (or similar words)". I can imagine someone sitting in Cheltenham just shaking their head.
- ollie87 10y ago
  American's need to start using bell-end as an insult.
  - alex_hitchins 10y ago
    It would be welcome relief from 'ass-hat'