That phrasing makes me stabby. It sounds manipulative, like a low-key guilt trip. I do think I understand the concept, though, and I like making sure people I request a favor from know that their response will not impact our friendship or my opinion of them in any way (the things that worry me when I need to say no!)

That tactic sounds less to me like giving someone freedom in their response and more like a passive-aggressive form of guilty tripping someone. Not saying it won’t work, it just doesn’t sound like a method I’d be comfortable using most of the time.

Makes me miss Toy Commander for the Dreamcast.

An average 20-pound watermelon will give you about 66 3/4-inch thick wedges

They gave her some Miracle-Gro...