Then, unlike the angelgate people, we'd know you were definitely guilty of a crime.
Violence is illegal, immoral, and quite uncool. You should be ashamed. But for some reason you are proud to say this in public. How bizarre.
And don't reply that you were "just joking" as if that makes it ok. Violent crimes aren't funny. If you think it's funny, you're basically denying it really is a violent crime.
Rape and murder are violent crimes. Smacking someone causes them minor pain that subsides within seconds. It's something you shouldn't do, but it's not violent. Talking about it in an abstract sense is not something that is particularly shameful.
Using this action as a literary device is not offensive. Saying "I want to smack someone" acts to convey a desire to show someone that their actions are wrong, like a parent reprimanding a child for finger-painting all over the walls.
Honestly, in this situation, I find it appropriate. "I think using the suffix -gate to describe a scandal is silly" doesn't have the same emotional and visceral effect as "I want to smack these guys", even though the OP probably means the former.
Writing is about conveying emotion just as much as conveying literal facts and desires.
I never suggested hitting a child. I said the expression "I want to smack..." conveys an emotion like a parent reprimanding a child. The emotion is one of "talking down", not one of hitting someone, even though that's what a literal reading means.
What I hate about HN is that very few people here seem to be able to understand that the written word can be interpreted in many ways. What the words literally mean is not what the combination of those words means.
And that the excuse "hitting children is educational" is false.
But actually, I assume you're just trolling. I know because you are "anticipating" future arguments that have absolutely nothing to do with the comment thread. The OP used a figure of speech. I mentioned parents and kids. Now you want to have a debate on parenting philosophy?
What for? To waste my time?
Well, it worked, but now you have several fewer karma points and I have several more.
If you don't want a debate on parenting philosophy, then don't advocate doing cruel things to children. You brought it up but now you deem it off topic?
As to educational, if you do not consider hitting or punishing children educational, then I'm curious: what is your justification?
Look: I didn't say parents should hit their kids. I didn't say parents shouldn't hit their kids. Nowhere in anything I've said in this thread, did I bring this subject up. I have no opinion on this matter and don't care to discuss it.
Please find some other comment thread to reply to.
Violence is illegal, immoral, and quite uncool. You should be ashamed. But for some reason you are proud to say this in public. How bizarre.
And don't reply that you were "just joking" as if that makes it ok. Violent crimes aren't funny. If you think it's funny, you're basically denying it really is a violent crime.