zlacker

>>etc-ho+(OP)
The number of people trying to defend what is, at best, extremely childish behavior is fascinating to me. Would you really go up to your city counselor in real life and tell them you wish death on them and their family, and pretend it's OK because it's an obscure reference to 90s rap (mind you the rap song WAS an actual death threat)? Do you think you'd be met with laughter? Do you actually consider that socially acceptable behavior?

If you dislike their politics, so be it - donate to campaigns or personally run against them. Write a letter explaining how you'd like them to vote.. But the amount of absolute crass behavior people allow "because it's the internet" is mind boggling.

>>tw04+ka
This isn't your neighbor, you don't owe politicians any kindness.

>>zeroCa+Wd
Yes, but death threats are a crime, so we owe it to everyone, including ourselves, to not stoop to that level.

>>bdcrav+kf
Just to add some nuance here, Tan's comments weren't a death threat in the legal sense (or at least don't constitue a crime). It is perfectly legal (if inadvisable) to say something along the lines of "Politician X should die a slow painful death." It only becomes a crime if it is a highly specific threat. E.g. "I am going to shoot Politician X on Tuesday evening after they leave City Hall."

>>antogn+Lj
Just because it's legal doesn't mean it's not wrong.

I mean, he can legally say it for sure, and I wouldn't argue that the law should prevent him from that. But once said, everyone else has every right to condemn him for it.