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"So, his words are quite a threat" I resent your use of the word "threat" in this context; a threat implies the pending use of force to harm. Are you sure that
by jobeirne 17y ago
"So, his words are quite a threat"
I resent your use of the word "threat" in this context; a threat implies the pending use of force to harm. Are you sure that you want to equate a man expressing his opinion publicly to the promise of inflicting pain?
- deleted 17y ago[deleted]
- nonrecursive 17y agoThat's not the only meaning: "a person or thing likely to cause damage or danger". There are economic threats (the threat of bankruptcy), social threats (blackmail), etc. etc. I think what's important here is that the boycotters perceive the Whole Foods CEO's opining as an actual threat. In the "battle" for ideas, it makes sense that you wouldn't actively support your opposition.
- jobeirne 17y agoEven so, the word has a devious connotation. There is nothing devious about open speech.
- nonrecursive 17y agoI'm curious: what word would you use?
- jobeirne 17y ago"So, his words are quite a challenge to the agenda of those who would like to see a public health plan."
- scott_s 17y agoIt's pretty clear in English that when we say "threat to X" and X is an abstract concept, we don't heave to mean literal force. It simply means it puts the concept in some kind of danger. For example, "Your capricious coding practices are a threat to the quality of our code base." You're stuck on the first entry in the dictionary for "threat." The parent was using the second entry: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/threat http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/threat
- deleted 17y ago[deleted]