The context is a discussion of what explanations NASA owes in a brief public statement. Saying he'd like to know does not clearly denote that he is changing the parameters of the conversation to talk about something else.
Ah, so you're equating mild dissatisfaction (and truly, it is incredibly mild, that's some beige entitlement alright) with demand and a sense of entitlement. I see what went wrong now! Thank you.
As the ultimate progenitor of this tangent I hereby validate thefurdrake’s interpretation. My remarks were intentionally worded to form an inquiring statement of observations and preferences, not a demand for action on the basis of obligation, and the attempt to derive an unstated and unintended sentiment of vituperative entitlement is, indeed, gross.
The unsubtle misparaphrasing of Mark Twain was included as a comedic flourish to provide a light-hearted framing of the comments, but upon review of the subsequent debate, I concede it’s possible that for some, any allusion to statecraft stimulates the adversarial lobes.
