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“I better not see anyone here doing XYZ or else I’ll ABC” is the complete construction of the phrase you use. In parenting, this phrase typically replaces ABC
by floatingatoll 7y ago
“I better not see anyone here doing XYZ or else I’ll ABC” is the complete construction of the phrase you use.
In parenting, this phrase typically replaces ABC with “punish you”, “hit you”, “spank you”.
Your construction buries the implied violence of that phrase by leaving off the “or else”, but that does not resolve the inappropriateness of threatening “or else” on this forum.
- remarkEon 7y agoI’m glad to see you enjoy policing language as much as Stallman’s detractors. Most would consider it “rude” to invent something out of thin air that was not actually said and ascribe “violence” of intent to it - but, again, seems right in line with this thread.
- floatingatoll 7y agoPlease complete your construction; it’s missing the “or else” phrase that is required for it to be interpreted without guessing. Your phrase was: > I better not see anyone here lionize Steve Jobs ever again. Without an “or else” construction, this phrase is not parseable English. Why is “better” present if it is not a command-tone declaration upon others? What reason exists to say this if it is not intended to imply “or else you’ll regret it”, either nonviolently or violently? What precise regret do you imply that anyone who “lionizes” will suffer?
- JabavuAdams 7y agoI dunno. I read it as ABC is "call you a hypocrite". I mean it's strong phrasing, but ... your concern seems more of a personal hot-button.
- floatingatoll 7y agoWhether violent ABC or nonviolent ABC, “I’d better not see XYZ or else ABC” is equally inappropriate here regardless.
- dependenttypes 7y agoIs an explicit “I’d better not see XYZ or else ABC” worse than an implicit one? Consider an implicit "you better not have the same opinions as stallman or I will cancel you" for example.