# Making Idle Threats Videogaming: How Many Years in Prison Appropriate? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 5, 2013, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-idle-threats-videogaming-how-many-years-in-prison-appropriate/662724 "2013-07-05T15:14:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-idle-threats-videogaming-how-many-years-in-prison-appropriate/662724/21 "2013-07-12T14:26:45Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Loach, would it be too much trouble for you to write full sentences? I got what you meant but it took me a little bit. Also, Ronulan is an awkward adjective to denote libertarian in the style of Ron Paul. I assume it’s meant to mimic Romulan from Star Trek for some reason but I think Ron Paulian or something would be clearer. Phone. Big thumbs little letters. You figured it out. I like Ronulan. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-idle-threats-videogaming-how-many-years-in-prison-appropriate/662724/22 "2013-07-12T14:30:52Z")
There used to be signs in the airport warning people against even joking that they had bombs in their luggage. The reason is that law enforcement has to take these threats seriously. ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-idle-threats-videogaming-how-many-years-in-prison-appropriate/662724/23 "2013-07-12T16:17:03Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > The reason is that law enforcement has to take these threats seriously. No they don’t. No one has to, or even should, take jokes seriously. Regardless of their tastelessness. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-idle-threats-videogaming-how-many-years-in-prison-appropriate/662724/24 "2013-07-12T16:21:42Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Loach, would it be too much trouble for you to write full sentences? I beg you, please don’t discourage brevity when it can be found on this board. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-idle-threats-videogaming-how-many-years-in-prison-appropriate/662724/25 "2013-07-12T16:26:21Z")
Soz. ---
**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-idle-threats-videogaming-how-many-years-in-prison-appropriate/662724/26 "2013-07-12T16:48:42Z")
After thinking it over, if the statement is made during a joking exchange, even a night in jail is pretty ridiculous. The second story sounds like it wasn’t friendly joking, but two people in an angry exchange, and I can see putting more investigation into that one. But **Grumman** , you’re right about the first case. Just in the last 24 hours I’ve read Dopers “threatening” death and dismemberment for telemarketers and bad driving, and I didn’t bat an eye, after all. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-idle-threats-videogaming-how-many-years-in-prison-appropriate/662724.md?page=1)