Originally Posted by
PTravel
You can't be serious. Tell you what -- use your dictionary to look up the word, "simile." Then start a thread about why it's a good thing to be rigidly literal.
If it's unlikely that he will kick the seat in front of him then I don't understand the reason for your sarcasm and defensiveness.
So please tell me why what you wrote does not constitute an entitlement demand on your part? How does, "my interest in taking my child to see his grandmother is more important than your interest in not having your seat kicked," not constitute an entitlement demand?
And, yes, I'm entitled to not have my seat kicked. What you don't seem to get is that my "entitlement" is satisfied by simply leaving me alone. That's like saying (get ready, this is another simile) asking a bully not to punch me in the nose is an entitlement demand.
Of course I am serious. First you reject out of hand, in a fit of rodomontade, Webster's definition of "assault" ("I know exactly what assault means (and it doesn't mean what you've quoted)") then you state that the very same definition is "rigidly literal". How can can it be both the literal definition and not at all the definition at the same time?
Words have meanings. In order to engage in substantive debate we have to have agree on the definitions of our terms otherwise it is not debate but logomachy. If indeed the colloquial meaning of assault is "well understood" to be "annoying" then you should be able to show a source. If we asked 100 people to describe what it is like to have your seat kicked by a two year old how many do you think would answer "assault"? Is having your seat kicked by a child annoying? Of course! Is it an awful nuisance? Absolutely! Is it assault? No. Clearly you are using this hyperbole to achieve maximum dramatic effect, much to the delight of your partisans.
Believe it or not even though I went to a state school I do know what a simile is. Saying that you are as aggressive as a pit bull is a simile. When I pose the question "So having your seat kicked by a child is a form of "assault"?" and you answer "Yep" that's not a simile (unless you have another "well understood colloquial meaning" ready to spring on me).
I do think that it is very unlikely that my child will seat kick. In the event that he does it appears that it is a big problem as I will have you and your ilk screaming assault. It's like the Sword of Damocles, it's not that it falls all the time but that it could fall at any time without warning despite your best efforts to stop it. And when it does fall it's a big deal.
I still feel that parents are on your side regarding this issue and that we are not entitlement demanders as we do not board with with the intent for our children to seat kick. A bully (who I will assume is a fully enfranchised adult in total control of his actions) has intent to punch you in the nose. Only after repeated "I don't care" and "not my problem" beat downs did we parents lose patience (which is tough to do to a parent - kudos!). While your sentiments are perhaps legitimate I'm not sure they are productive which you should care about but probably don't. I hate to tell you but a world with 100% guaranteed zero seat kicking is a utopian fantasy. If, however, as a result of this debate I can invent a solution that would guarantee such a world I will cut you in for 50% and you can retire the next day!