If I ever write a short text on "cybersecurity ethics", it'll start with this. If something ever makes you feel uncomfortable, ask them to put it in writing or an e-mail (e-mails are discoverable in legal proceedings).
https://twitter.com/Shatter242/status/1415820181863952384
It goes both ways. Often times you are wrong about your ethical concern. If they are willing to put their request in writing, then there's probably no problem, and you should move forward.
Either way (they put it in writing or not), they've answered the ethical question. You don't have to argue with them.
As some point out, it's useful for a wide spectrum of disagreements, even non-ethical ones. Employees regularly walk away from verbal encounters with different understandings.
https://twitter.com/haroldsmith3rd/status/1416106767189225473
You've all experienced this. Sometimes a boss, peer, or underlying chronically misunderstands verbal communication. If you are in this situation, the only solution is to habitually write things down, such as in this technique:
https://twitter.com/0x4f47/status/1416106391488524289
Again, it works both ways. Maybe it's you and not the coworker who has the problem. Sending an email saying "these are the takeaways from our conversation" gives them a chance to correct your misunderstandings.
Note that this is usually not anybody's problem: that's why presidents and CEOs are always accompanied by a flunky whose job it is to record every promise they appear to have made to forestall any future understandings.
In other words, while "write it down" isn't common, it's not a breach of politeness when you demand they put it in writing. It's something all of us would be doing more often if we were more rational, responsible, and competent.
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