Threats of Violence Debate

Discussions revolve around whether specific comments, tweets, or statements qualify as threats of violence, their appropriateness in online communities like Hacker News, and related moderation or legal implications.

📉 Falling 0.5x Politics & Society
4,049
Comments
20
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#5553
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Keywords

BBC HN IMMINENT FWIW PyCon THREAT threats violence threat death threatening threaten threatened imminent terrorist unwilling

Sample Comments

wai1234 Jul 2, 2016 View on HN

How is this a 'threat'?

bovermyer Feb 15, 2023 View on HN

You're aware that threats of violence, even vague ones, are against the terms of use of this community, right?

Didn’t see any death threats listed, is this relevant?

NiloCK Nov 9, 2023 View on HN

For threats (real or implied), absolutely.

bhaney Sep 16, 2023 View on HN

Can't help but wonder what the verbatim "threat" was

Gtex555 May 30, 2022 View on HN

"threats of violence"...........seriously ?? haha

switchbak Sep 14, 2023 View on HN

I don't think the person making the threat is reading HN comments. Not sure who you're addressing here.

spamizbad Aug 5, 2019 View on HN

Can't believe you're not allowed to threaten to murder people these days. Everyone's so sensitive!

metageek Mar 29, 2011 View on HN

Threats of violence are not appropriate. Adding "Just kidding" does not help.

mrtesthah Oct 10, 2025 View on HN

That sounds like a threat of violence.