# The Idle Threat Tread **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 22, 2002, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-idle-threat-tread/129183 "2002-09-22T22:55:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![SparrowHawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac8455/32.png) [@SparrowHawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SparrowHawk)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2002, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-idle-threat-tread/129183/21 "2002-09-23T01:55:39Z")
**If you don’t cut out that shouting, I’m going to knock you into the middle of next week!** (Are these threats idle, or merely futile?) ---
**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2002, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-idle-threat-tread/129183/22 "2002-09-23T02:06:25Z")
There should be an “I’m gonna kick your ass!” smilie. ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2002, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-idle-threat-tread/129183/23 "2002-09-23T02:06:49Z")
If you don’t stop right now, I’m going to sit on you! ---
**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2002, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-idle-threat-tread/129183/24 "2002-09-23T02:07:49Z")
and “:mad:” isn’t a close enough one… Only looks pissed… Not quite the “I’m gonna kick your ass!” kinda mad, though. ---
**Author:** ![monica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@monica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monica)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2002, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-idle-threat-tread/129183/25 "2002-09-23T02:08:49Z")
(for use with SO, use deep, huskey voice) You’d better not do that. You really wanna know what will happen if you do that? I don’t think you want to. You think you do? (beckons) Come over hear and we’ll find out. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2002, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-idle-threat-tread/129183/26 "2002-09-23T02:14:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Spudo \* > \*\*If you don’t stop I’m going to do something, and I don’t know what that is, because everyone has always done what I say! \*\* I’ve always loved this one, and I use it on my own children. I think it’s important to give children choices in order to help foster their proper development. My favorite, since they’ve been old enough to understand the concept of “idle threat,” has always been, “You have a choice. You can knock that off _right now_, or I can kill you.” ---
**Author:** ![Sylkyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@Sylkyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylkyn)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2002, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-idle-threat-tread/129183/27 "2002-09-23T02:24:25Z")
Don’t make me come over there. If you think I’m kidding, just keep up… **just keep IT UP** …I mean it. I have _had_ it. Hey. _HEY!!!_ I’m not yelling just to hear myself yell. That’s it. Just wait til your dad gets home. Noooooo, it’s too late now. Uhuh. Fergitit. Don’t bother with apologies. I _mean_ it. Dammit, I said **STOP!** [sub]For the children impaired, this usually makes a lot more sense when spoken. When written, it’s drivel. It’s drivel, either way, but really sounds good verbally.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![SparrowHawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac8455/32.png) [@SparrowHawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SparrowHawk)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2002, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-idle-threat-tread/129183/28 "2002-09-23T02:26:54Z")
That’s a little extreme, **Legend**. Choices must be developmentally appropriate. Now, if I get any of that “Why should I do what you say?” sauce, I’ve been known to reply “I’ll let you keep your teeth another week. Your choice.” ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2002, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-idle-threat-tread/129183/29 "2002-09-23T03:00:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SparrowHawk \* > \*\*…I’ve been known to reply “I’ll let you keep your teeth another week. Your choice.” \*\* But, you see, when I started using my threat, they still had their baby teeth. This would have been an empty threat indeed, especially given the effect of inflation on the Tooth Fairy. I think we can both agree that there is room for more than one sensible choice in parenting situations like this. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2002, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-idle-threat-tread/129183/30 "2002-09-23T03:03:38Z")
Don’t you two start fighting. DON’T DO IT!!! I’m dialing the police right now and we’ll see how much fighting you do in jail. I’m picking up the handset! I’m dialing 9. . .1. . … Damnit I said stop fighting! ---
**Author:** ![Horseflesh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horseflesh/32/7502_2.png) [@Horseflesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horseflesh)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2002, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-idle-threat-tread/129183/31 "2002-09-23T04:05:28Z")
Hey **SparrowHawk** , c’mere! I caught this really tiny frog. ::Holds up fist, shakes and puts ear up to it:: Yeah, he’s still alive. Wanna see? ::Open top of fist slightly:: Ya gotta look real close, he’s really small. Here, put your eye right up to my hand. _To be continued_… * * * **clayton\_e** , you need to learn how to embellish your smilies. Try this one: {({({({:mad:})})})} This is how I tell other people I’m about to **spontaneously combust** if they don’t CUT IT OUT RIGHT NOW!!! ---
**Author:** ![Skeezix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/839c29/32.png) [@Skeezix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skeezix)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2002, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-idle-threat-tread/129183/32 "2002-09-23T04:27:05Z")
How old are you? Y’wanna live to be (Current age +1)? (Yeah, it loses something in the translation.) You can get that look off your face _right now_, or **I** can do it. Your choice. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2002, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-idle-threat-tread/129183/33 "2002-09-23T04:52:15Z")
hey… hey… HEY… If you Dopers can’t start getting along and posting nice, I’ll turn this thread RIGHT around and take it straight back home! ---
**Author:** ![SparrowHawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac8455/32.png) [@SparrowHawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SparrowHawk)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2002, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-idle-threat-tread/129183/34 "2002-09-23T05:39:14Z")
Yeah, right, **Horseflesh**. I’m not as dumb as you look. _Nobody’s_ as dumb as _you_ look. Whoops. Thread seems to be morphing from Idle Threats to Playground Insults… \ … and I don’t want to hear _another **word** _ out of you, or I’m calling your father. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2002, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-idle-threat-tread/129183/35 "2002-09-23T09:59:03Z")
I’m gonna get on you like white on rice. I’m gonna land on you like a duck on a June bug. I’m gonna knock you into next week. ---
**Author:** ![Tansu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/67e7ee/32.png) [@Tansu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tansu)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2002, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-idle-threat-tread/129183/36 "2002-09-23T10:21:02Z")
If you don’t stop that right now, I shall fart. ---
**Author:** ![papergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aca169/32.png) [@papergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/papergirl)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2002, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-idle-threat-tread/129183/37 "2002-09-23T12:57:18Z")
Okay. Look at it this way, before you decide if you want to use that tone with me again… Do you _really_ want all your friends in marching band to find out that you and your Mommy have [sticking foot out] **matching tennies???** ---
**Author:** ![Kn\_ckers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/96bed5/32.png) [@Kn\_ckers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kn_ckers)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2002, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-idle-threat-tread/129183/38 "2002-09-23T13:15:23Z")
You kids cut it out! If I have to pull this car over!!.. Or my favorite: “I’m gonna reach back there and give you a crack!” This works best in a moving vehicle. It’s a two-fold threat: Not only will I smack you, I’ll probably lose control of the car in the process and we’ll crash into something. So you’d better behave. One for my Evil Boss: If you don’t stop being an arrogant, self-satisfied chuck of donkey mutton, I’m gonna shove this flipping job right back up your ass where it belongs. And I’ll do it sideways! Don’t test me. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2002, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-idle-threat-tread/129183/39 "2002-09-23T13:26:28Z")
If ya’ll don’t stop, I’ll be on you like ugly ohn’ape. ---
**Author:** ![Soup\_du\_jour](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Soup\_du\_jour](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soup_du_jour)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2002, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-idle-threat-tread/129183/40 "2002-09-23T13:59:49Z")
Y’all cut this out! If not, you’ll be punished by having to watch the entire run of _Big Brother 2_, **in reverse order!** [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-idle-threat-tread/129183.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-idle-threat-tread/129183.md?page=3)