 Consideration of throffers forms part of the wider question of coercion and , specifically , the possibility of a coercive offer . Determining whether throffers are coercive , and , if so , to what extent , is difficult . The traditional assumption is that offers cannot be coercive , only threats can , but throffers can challenge this . The threatening aspect of a throffer need not be explicit , as it was in Steiner 's examples . Instead , a throffer may take the form of an offer , but carry an implied threat . Philosopher John Kleinig sees a throffer as an example of an occasion when an offer alone may be considered coercive . Another example of a coercive offer may be when the situation in which the offer is made is already unacceptable ; for instance , if a factory owner takes advantage of a poor economic environment to offer workers an unfair wage . For Jonathan Riley , a liberal society has a duty to protect its citizens from coercion , whether that coercion comes from a threat , offer , throffer or some other source . " If other persons ... attempt to frustrate the right @-@ holder 's wants , then a liberal society must take steps to prevent this , by law if necessary . All exercises of power by others to frustrate the relevant individual or group preferences constitute unwarranted ' interference ' with liberty in purely private matters . " 
