Nazir 2: Intimating Nazirite Vows

Our first Mishna starts us off with a great debate.  What does one have to say in order to be a Nazirite?  The Sages disagree with Rabbi Meir, who says that one is a nazirite if s/he says that s/he:

• is a nazirite
• will be a nazirite
• will be beautiful, na'a
• is a nazik
• is a nazi'a
• is a pazi'a
• is growing her/his hair
• is a hair-curler
• is obligated to grow his/her hair
• is obligated regarding birds

The Gemara begins by establishing why Masechet Nazir is in the order of Nashim.  We learn that abstaining from wine is significant regarding the halachot of Sota, which is our next Masechet.  The Gemara continues with a conversation about intimations.  There are a number of places where direct statements, such as "I am a nazir," are not the only ways to establish one's status.  Saying something indirect can also assume a new status.  But why is this the case?  Isn't such lenience open to misinterpretations? 

Could it be that a new principle is at hand?  The rabbis question situations where intimations or substitutions take place after statements and where statements or actions take place before intimations/substitutions.  At its core, the rabbis understand that we are speaking about intention.  Does someone intend to state that they will be nazirites when they state one of these vows?  If so, they are obliged to be nazirites.

When people say the vows above or make other intimations to claim the status of nazir, they are also admitting to previous transgressions.  It seems that one claims this status as a way apologizing for past wrongs.