negation+by

[azz]

a. I did not give in to their demands by talking to them.
b. I did not give in to their demands, by talking to them.
c. By talking to them, I did not give in to their demands.

What do the above sentences mean?
Which of them matches which of the following ones:

1. By talking to them, I managed not to give in to their demands.
2. I did give in to them.But it was not by talking to them that I gave in to them (it was through some other action...)
3. Just because I talked to them doesn't mean I gave in to them
4. I did NOT talk to them. That would be giving in to them.

 

[Tdol]

I think the basic problem is that the two don't really connect; talking to them would have got them to change or reduce their demands. I can't see how talking to them would be necessary to not give in- a simple refusal would suffice.

 

[azz]

Thanks Tdol.

I think one could negociate and make the negociations drag on till the situation changes etc. Or one could convince them that they are being too demanding.