Then you don’t know what the real riot act is. It’s British and it is what is read to the populace before the British Army starts shooting civilians.
HOW YA DOIN’?
WHEN I WAS IN THE ARMY (MID/LATE 60’S) AT FT. BRAGG, NC (SOON
TO BE FT. MALCOLM X), I WAS IN A COMPANY THAT SOME CRAZED MAJOR ACTUALLY READ THE RIOT ACT TO. GUY HAD A COMPLETE NERVOUS BREAKDOWN AND GOT CARTED AWAY, BECAUSE HE HAD ANNOUNCED THAT EVERYONE WOULD RUN THE NOTORIOUS “CONFIDENCE COURSE” (OBSTACLE COURSE) EVERY WEEK, ONE PLATOON EACH DAY, STARTING THE NEXT MONDAY.
OVER THE WEEKEND MUCH OF IT WAS TORN DOWN AND BURNED. BURNING PARTS OF IT IS WHAT CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF THE POST AUTHORITIES.
POOR GUY WENT NUTS AS HE LITERALLY READ THE RIOT ACT TO US
AND WE LAUGHED OUR ASSES OFF. MOST OF US HAD JUST HEARD ABOUT IT. HE LEFT THE PODIUM, WENT TO HIS OFFICE, AND LOST HIS MIND. WE NEVER SAW HIM AGAIN, WHICH WAS GREAT.
HAVEN’T THOUGHT ABOUT THAT IN YEARS.
KEEEP THE FAITH.
No I had never read the origins of the term riot act or even given it much thought. You would be correct. I was just recalling my mother always telling me she would read me the riot act. But thanks to this thread I have looked it up and learned something new, so thank you.