2006-11-07 07:43:35 · 15 answers · asked by Jeff36 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
When someone tells you off....
2006-11-07 07:45:01 · answer #1 · answered by Ms.Capulet 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Reading the riot act" used to be a literal event. Bobbies in Britain used to read a prescribed proclamation, known as the Riot Act, before they could break up or arrest a crowd. The Riot Act is used in a fashion similar to the Miranda Rights in the US.
The Bobbies would approach the crowd, read the Riot Act aloud, and then disperse or arrest them.
2006-11-07 07:46:15 · answer #2 · answered by The Non-Apologetic Apologist 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Riot Act of 1714 was an act of the Parliament of Great Britain introduced to allow the local authorities to declare a group of more than twelve people to be unlawfully assembled, and thus have to disperse or face punitive action. The Act, whose long title was "An act for preventing tumults and riotous assemblies, and for the more speedy and effectual punishing the rioters", came into force on August 1, 1715, and remained on the statute books in the United Kingdom until its repeal in 1973.
2006-11-07 07:49:20 · answer #3 · answered by Grist 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Riot Act was introduced during a time of civil disturbance in Great Britain. The preamble makes reference to many rebellious riots and tumults [that] have been [taking place of late] in divers parts of this kingdom, adding that those involved presum[e] so to do, for that the punishments provided by the laws now in being are not adequate to such heinous offences.
2006-11-07 07:45:59 · answer #4 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In times of riots the civil authorities can and often do call martial law. That means that whatever they say is in effect the law at that time. It is a suspension of civil law and liberties. Therefore being read the riot act is being told that you will do what they say or you will suffer immediate and possibly severe consequences.
You have no right to argue or negotiate, only to obey or suffer.
2006-11-07 07:48:57 · answer #5 · answered by deno 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the authorities were required to read the proclamation that referred to the Riot Act before they could enforce it, the expression 'to read the riot act' entered into common language as a phrase meaning 'to reprimand severely'. The phrase remains in everyday use in British, Australian, Canadian, and American English despite the fact that the act itself has long since passed into history.
2006-11-07 07:45:08 · answer #6 · answered by bill_the_cockroach 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when you are read the so called riot act you are essentially being told off in the worse kind of way...i have been read the riot act and its no different than just being plain told off
2006-11-07 07:45:59 · answer #7 · answered by kimbersweet 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The riot act for me was when my dad came home drunk and kicked the snot out of me because I didn't clean my room.
2006-11-07 07:46:57 · answer #8 · answered by Donald P 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a ficticious diatribe contrived and amended by many a foul-mouth individual for the reading to insubordinate individuals who may not have otherwise been aware of their transgressions.
2006-11-07 07:46:14 · answer #9 · answered by cabjr1961 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Are you talking about the Pearl Jam album?
2006-11-07 07:46:46 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You need to ask yourself - "Does this have anything to do with religion/spirituality?" - then if not, go somewhere else. Right?
2006-11-07 07:45:39 · answer #11 · answered by jworks79604 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋