# Is wishing Assassination allowed? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [January 17, 2017, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-wishing-assassination-allowed/777391 "2017-01-17T15:30:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2017, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-wishing-assassination-allowed/777391/1 "2017-01-17T15:30:05Z")
I have seen posts in multiple threads that wish assassination on Trump, Pence or both. Not “This may happen” or “What if this happens”, but “I want this to happen” and “This should happen”. I’m not linking to any thread in particular because I don’t intend to call anyone out specifically. The questions is, how does this not fall afoul of the “wishing ill on another” rule or, for that matter, the catchall “Don’t be a jerk”? I have seen no Moderator input in any of these threads and there are enough of them that I don’t think they all just slipped by. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2017, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-wishing-assassination-allowed/777391/2 "2017-01-17T15:33:42Z")
It certainly does not contribute to “reasoned debate”. But the thing is, the mods are often reluctant to comment on hypotheticals. A link to one of the posts would be helpful. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2017, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-wishing-assassination-allowed/777391/3 "2017-01-17T15:47:54Z")
Assassination does seem kind of jerkish. Highly disrespectful, at the very least. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2017, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-wishing-assassination-allowed/777391/4 "2017-01-17T15:48:07Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > I have seen posts in multiple threads that wish assassination on Trump, Pence or both. Not “This may happen” or “What if this happens”, but “I want this to happen” and “This should happen”. I’m not linking to any thread in particular because I don’t intend to call anyone out specifically. The questions is, how does this not fall afoul of the “wishing ill on another” rule or, for that matter, the catchall “Don’t be a jerk”? I have seen no Moderator input in any of these threads and there are enough of them that I don’t think they all just slipped by. I’ve also seen similar posts about Kim Jong-Il. Is there–should there be–a different answer for wishing death on the two? Obviously they’re very different, but I think it’s worth considering how a general rule might affect the two different leaders. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2017, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-wishing-assassination-allowed/777391/5 "2017-01-17T15:49:45Z")
Even if it were within the rules and I had the inclination (which I don’t) I’d be chary of continually wishing for Trump’s assassination. Wouldn’t that provoke Secret Service interest or would this be dismissed as the normal cut and thrust of political debate? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2017, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-wishing-assassination-allowed/777391/6 "2017-01-17T15:56:30Z")
While I, personally, avoid publicly expressing a desire that harm befall specific individuals, I was under the impression that the rule here was that such expressions are expressly prohibited only when both the wish-er and the wish-ee are Dopers, and that the only sanction imposed otherwise is that the character of any putative wish-er gets exposed to scrutiny by readers. I’d be grateful for instruction about any updates to the standards we have been given. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2017, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-wishing-assassination-allowed/777391/7 "2017-01-17T16:20:03Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > While I, personally, avoid publicly expressing a desire that harm befall specific individuals, I was under the impression that the rule here was that such expressions are expressly prohibited only when both the wish-er and the wish-ee are Dopers, and that the only sanction imposed otherwise is that the character of any putative wish-er gets exposed to scrutiny by readers. > > I’d be grateful for instruction about any updates to the standards we have been given. From the BBQ Pit Rules: > [@](#): > > **Do not threaten harm or wish death on another poster** > > Do not threaten another poster with physical harm, or wish for their demise. This includes hypothetical statements like “it would make me happy if someone ran you over” or “I hope you say that to [someone prone to stabbing people] and they stab you”. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2017, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-wishing-assassination-allowed/777391/8 "2017-01-17T16:21:44Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > From the BBQ Pit Rules: If Trump or Kim Jung Il starts posting here, I’ll shoot myself. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2017, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-wishing-assassination-allowed/777391/9 "2017-01-17T16:27:35Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > If Trump or Kim Jung Il starts posting here, I’ll shoot myself. Oh, that’s just great. Now we can’t even hope that they start posting here. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2017, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-wishing-assassination-allowed/777391/10 "2017-01-17T16:29:41Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > If Trump or Kim Jung Il starts posting here, I’ll shoot myself. I’m pretty sure you’ll get at least a suspension if you kill yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2017, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-wishing-assassination-allowed/777391/11 "2017-01-17T16:31:18Z")
Part of the[registration agreement.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=650726) [QUOTE=Paragraph 14] You are free to express your views in a forceful manner provided you remain civil. Hate speech, insults, and purposely inflammatory remarks (i.e., trolling) will not be tolerated. Do not post threats or state or imply that any individual or group is deserving of harm. We recognize that this rule cannot be strictly applied in discussions of war, capital punishment and the like but urge users to express themselves in moderate terms nonetheless. If we tell you to refrain from behavior that we regard as uncivil, **or that in our view detracts from productive discussion** , do so or face revocation of your posting privileges. [/Quote] (Emphasis in original.) Now wishing so-and-so would be assassinated counts either as a threat or “deserving of harm” may be a judgment call, but I’d say it’s definitely walking a line. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2017, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-wishing-assassination-allowed/777391/12 "2017-01-17T16:31:26Z")
I’m not wishing Anything. I’m letting the cards fall where they may. I’m not the DUMBASS who pushed for this scenario. ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2017, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-wishing-assassination-allowed/777391/13 "2017-01-17T16:33:09Z")
Since the subject’s come up, I reported [this post](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=19920914&postcount=10280) in the Pit as breaking the “wishing death” rule. It doesn’t yet seem to be moderated; is merely wishing Dopers be victims of unspecified “serious crime” an out to this rule? ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2017, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-wishing-assassination-allowed/777391/14 "2017-01-17T16:52:18Z")
Even for the schmuck about to soil the Oval Office, it’s just wrong to wish harm on the POTUS. The whole idea that the rules apply when Your Guy is in the chair and are suspended when Their Guy is up is at the heart of all of the US’s political problems. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2017, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-wishing-assassination-allowed/777391/15 "2017-01-17T16:59:00Z")
[Moderating] Even more relevant is an earlier portion of the passage **kunilou** quoted: > [@](#): > > Do not post threats or state or imply that any individual or group is deserving of harm. Also relevant is an earlier passage: > [@](#): > > You agree not to post material that in our opinion encourages activity that is illegal in the U.S. If you see any violations of this, please report them. Most often, the reason why a rule violation goes unmoderated is that it just happens that no moderator saw it: We don’t and can’t read every single post. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2017, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-wishing-assassination-allowed/777391/16 "2017-01-17T18:14:28Z")
> [@Revenant\_Threshold](#): > > Since the subject’s come up, I reported [this post](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=19920914&postcount=10280) in the Pit as breaking the “wishing death” rule. It doesn’t yet seem to be moderated; is merely wishing Dopers be victims of unspecified “serious crime” an out to this rule? A serious crime doesn’t have to be murder of course but I think that would fall foul of the ‘wishing harm’ rule. Obviously not my call though. ---
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2017, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-wishing-assassination-allowed/777391/17 "2017-01-17T18:40:20Z")
This question came up long before people were wishing harm on Trump (or at least President-elect Trump.) My understanding, from[this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=770328)is that in the Pit it is OK to wish harm against any off-board person despite this text being quoted from the registration agreement. Whether or not a particular wish of harm to an off-board person in the Pit rises to the level of inciting violence against them is a call the mods would have to make but in general a person of no celebrity, with no public following or other influence - e.g. an anonymous person posting on a messageboard - isn’t in a position to incite violence simply by wishing harm on someone. The linked thread is locked so I can’t quote properly, but: > [@](#): > > Originally Posted by Miller View Post > Crazyhorse, I’m not sure where you got that quote from. The rule in the BBQ Pit is, “Do not threaten harm or wish death on another poster.” You can wish all the cancer you want on Kim Kardashian, and not get into any trouble over it, at least in my forum. Cafe Society might use a different standard. > [@](#): > > Originally Posted by Crazyhorse View Post > I got it from the SDMB registration agreement. > [@](#): > > Ah, of course. I was looking for it in the ATMB stickies. > > Anyway, in situations like this, the specific forum rule overrides the general board rule. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2017, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-wishing-assassination-allowed/777391/18 "2017-01-17T18:46:11Z")
I believe the OP is asking about forums other than The Pit. This one was posted in IMHO: > [@](#): > > I watch a lot less news these days. I don’t watch live, I just forward the DVR though any coverage of the orange-skinned sexual predator. I spend more time on other things. I do check the news sites several times a day, hoping to see an assassination at the top of the screen but so far no luck. The thread is about Trump (I know, there are so few these days…) so the assumption is that the assassination would be of him. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2017, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-wishing-assassination-allowed/777391/19 "2017-01-17T18:51:26Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Assassination does seem kind of jerkish. Highly disrespectful, at the very least. Besides, goading him into a stroke is probably more satisfying. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2017, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-wishing-assassination-allowed/777391/20 "2017-01-17T19:12:29Z")
> [@Penfeather](#): > > Besides, goading him into a stroke is probably more satisfying. **Moderating** Let’s leave political sniping out of ATMB. This is a discussion about the rule. No warning issued. Colibri [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-wishing-assassination-allowed/777391.md?page=2)