imaginary discussion.
setting: person 1 (p1) is upset about changes to the maintenance budget for the rail system and is trying to gather support from person 2 (p2).
p1: it's a bloody damn disgrace it is!
p2: what is?
p1: they're going to slash the budget for state rail maintenance tomorrow !
p2: oh well.
p1: mate you don't understand. this time tomorrow, the rail system won't be as safe as it was
yesterday.
p2: really? how safe was it yesterday?
p1: what?
p2: you said that tomorrow will not be as safe as yesterday, so the obvious question is "how safe was it yesterday ?"
p1: no....what i want to say is......
p2: hang on! before you go spiraling off on another tangent, you need to explain how "safe" it was yesterday.
p1: i don't know!. what i mean is....
p2: sorry..... if you don't know how safe it was yesterday, then how can you estimate how safe it will be tomorrow?
p1: let's put it this way.. it won't be as safe as you are used to it being.
p2: when? yesterday?
p1: oh alright YESTERDAY then!! !
p2: but i didn't catch a train yesterday...
p1: ANY DAY THEN!! ANY BLOODY DAY!!
p2: i never use public transport.
whatever. i am bored with that thought now.