 Political philosopher Kristján Kristjánsson differentiates threats and offers by explaining that the former is a proposal that creates an obstacle , while the latter is one kind of proposal ( another example being a request ) that does not . He also draws a distinction between tentative proposals and final proposals , which he feels earlier authors ignored . A tentative proposal does not logically create any kind of obstacle for its subject , and , as such , is an offer . For instance , " if you fetch the paper for me , you 'll get candy " is a tentative proposal , as it does not logically entail that a failure to fetch the paper will result in no candy ; it is possible that candy can be acquired by another route . In other words , if the subject fetches the paper , then they get candy . By contrast , if the proposal was a final proposal , it would take the form of " if and only if you fetch the paper for me , you 'll get candy " . This entails that candy can only be acquired if the subject fetches the paper , and no other way . For Kristjánsson , this kind of final proposal constitutes a throffer . There is an offer to fetch the paper ( " if " ) , and a threat that candy can only be acquired through this route ( " only if " ) . As such , an obstacle has been placed on the route of acquiring candy . 
