Settle another first world problems spousal tiff

If the message can be reasonably interpreted as a question or as an imperative or declarative, then absolutely. If not: not.

Which moves the point of contention to whether the wife’s message in the context of the entire conversation and their entire lives together can be reasonably read as a question?

I have only the context of the conversation, and nothing of their larger life. To me the context says the wife’s message ought to be interpreted as a question first and only as a statement / instruction second. But that’s my definition of “reasonable”, and other reasonable people may have other reasonable interpretations.

The idea the message should be interpreted solely on the words & punctuation in it (or not in it) is what’s bizarre. The entire conversation to that point matters. Yugely.


My ex-wife was infamous for finding offense in everything; even “Good morning.”

To me, either party seeking to take offense is a very bad sign. When both do, that sounds like a miserable existence.

Absolutely context matters sometimes - but it’s kind of hard to imagine
"He’s out so just you & me, go ahead and buy tickets " as a question , just like it’s hard to imagine "He’s out so just you & me, can you buy tickets " as an imperative.

With or without the period I would have read it the same way, I should buy the tickets.

I was more concerned that maybe she intended to add a question mark but hit send too soon. Would you agree it reads different if it says:

“He’s out so just you & me, go ahead and buy tickets?”

Yes, but if that’s what she intended, i would have expected her to follow up with a bare “?” In the next text, which is have gotten before i typed your response.

Did you expect her to buy them, due to your usual ticket-buying habits as a couple?