None of those seem to help, Rails just goes to some blank page with either:
a) render :nothing => true
b) head (blah blah…)
I have an ajax request for the server to check something for me but i do not want to be redirected anywhere when I call it…
not to a blank page or some generated template page, I just want the text response
Actually, your app goes to some blank page. The guide I linked to
earlier explains how to control that 
If that's not enough, post your request code and the corresponding method from your controller.
Indeed, you are right! I saw what I was doing wrong.
Thank you,
Josh
“In your wisdom, I am humbled”