[1] I think it's probably less than fully appropriate. Person X might hold that belief (whether or not you say they do) and, if they do, then the mockery will

[1] I think it's probably less than fully appropriate. Person X might hold that belief (whether or not you say they do) and, if they do, then the mockery will be hurtful. It costs you nothing to politely explain, sans ridicule, why an idea is wrong rather than taking on an unnecessary risk of hurting someone's feelings. Still, people should be less sensitive on the internet. [2] Most educated adults, including me, are not lawyers and so do not know precisely when a contract is or is not enforceable, because the legal system is complex and arcane. This is distasteful to many because anyone who takes himself as an authority on what is just/unjust/moral/immoral is naturally liable to feel they should therefore be an authority on what is legal/illegal (since legality is intended to codify justice and morality or something like that). I suspect that many contracts-uber-alles-like sentiments (some of which I have entertained myself from time to time) stem from this unconscious yearning to know a priori what is legal or enforceable. In such cases, the sentiment is not rational, nor is it a tactic for the pursuit of self interest.