What does the statement "I will neither confirm nor deny" mean?
By catchre
@catchre (407)
Philippines
January 8, 2007 2:30pm CST
In connection with my previous post entitled "Mothers who still like to party," pictures and videos were already supplied by a private investigator who has been following her. And it has been proven that she is having an affair with another man. Aside from the evidence, rumor has it that she got pregnant by that man and that she had an abortion. The story gets more interesting when a friend of her husband confronts her about the issues. When asked if she is having an affair, her response was plain and simple, "I will neither confirm nor deny." When asked if she got pregnant by her lover, she answered, "I will neither confirm nor deny" once again. When asked if she had an abortion, she replied, "I will neither confirm nor deny" and yet again. Either this woman is unbelievably smart or she is unbelievably stupid. What do you think she means when she said over and over again that she will neither confirm nor deny?" Is the statement a silent confession already or is she still worthy of being given the benefit of the doubt?
2 responses
@catchre (407)
• Philippines
9 Jan 07
For me the difference is this - "No comment" can mean that the person has not thought about the issue yet or they don't want to talk about it. Saying "I will neither deny nor confirm" implies that a person is already silently confirming her guilt or her knowledge of the issue. If she is innocent then she can simply say that she didn't do anything. Try to read between the lines instead of analyzing it word for word. Her statement is just a little bit off, would you agree?
@Lil_miz_ice_x (614)
•
8 Jan 07
The term "I neither confirm nor deny" means that she will neither say she HAS commited the crime, or DENY it.
She won't say either way -- it usually means she hasn't worked out whether or not it suits her to just confess.
