yes we talk like this
At the Giant Eagle pharmacy:
Me: Here's a prescription, and a gift card from Big Pharma that will pay for three months' worth. If I mail-order it I can get three months' worth at once; can you do that for me?
Her: I don't know; I'm just the front-desk flunky. Do you want to leave it and we'll give you as much as we're allowed to?
Me: Sure.
After I did my grocery shopping I returned.
Her: Sorry, we're only allowed to do one fill-up at a time.
Me: I understand. Have we completed this transaction, then?
Her: Um, yes?
Me: Will you take as given that I walked out through that exit and then came back in, or do I need to actually do it?
Her: Nice try, but you have to wait a month.
Oh well. I have until the end of the year to use the gift card.
Dani: So you can read on Shabbat; can you use a Kindle?
Me: No, because you have to manipulate the controls. It's like changing the channels on TV; technically you can watch it if it's on but you can't change the channel or volume. (Pause.) I suppose if, before Shabbat, you set in motion a smooth scroll at a readable pace, that would be like programming the lights. But it seems unworkable.
Dani: What about software that tracks your eye movements and turns the page at the right time?
Me: Seems like manipulation to me. Next you'll be bringing up sentient lightbulbs again.
Dani: How good does the programming have to be before your software qualifies as a servant?
I have no answer to that. Halacha geeks?
Me: Here's a prescription, and a gift card from Big Pharma that will pay for three months' worth. If I mail-order it I can get three months' worth at once; can you do that for me?
Her: I don't know; I'm just the front-desk flunky. Do you want to leave it and we'll give you as much as we're allowed to?
Me: Sure.
After I did my grocery shopping I returned.
Her: Sorry, we're only allowed to do one fill-up at a time.
Me: I understand. Have we completed this transaction, then?
Her: Um, yes?
Me: Will you take as given that I walked out through that exit and then came back in, or do I need to actually do it?
Her: Nice try, but you have to wait a month.
Oh well. I have until the end of the year to use the gift card.
Dani: So you can read on Shabbat; can you use a Kindle?
Me: No, because you have to manipulate the controls. It's like changing the channels on TV; technically you can watch it if it's on but you can't change the channel or volume. (Pause.) I suppose if, before Shabbat, you set in motion a smooth scroll at a readable pace, that would be like programming the lights. But it seems unworkable.
Dani: What about software that tracks your eye movements and turns the page at the right time?
Me: Seems like manipulation to me. Next you'll be bringing up sentient lightbulbs again.
Dani: How good does the programming have to be before your software qualifies as a servant?
I have no answer to that. Halacha geeks?