It has to do with the occasion of the question, its form in relation to the circumstance that brings it about. Neither of you are asking the question backwards. The thing about your casual observation is that she is retaining her context from discourse with Jeeves. To what degree are you within her context, compared to changing the subject by casual observation; therein we will probably find the difference that makes it feel backwards.
Sorry but in my book threats count as violence. Tiassa you really sound like a hothead in some of your posts.
I think that was a threat of metaphorical, not physical, ass-kicking, and by a third party, at a distance. Rather unfairly, I wasn't invited to send a proxy to the debate. Anyway, it's all right - Tiassa just finds me irritating for some reason.