XPost: alt.usage.english, comp.lang.lisp   
   From: HenHanna@devnull.tb   
      
   1.  [or I will shoot you] <-- This part is optional  (Modularity)   
      
   2.  (Command)   OR  You'd risk getting....   
      
                  ---  the use of  The Logical-OR   is still fresh.   
      
   3.  it's more like Lisp's OR  (not the (functional) OR of math)   
            because...   
      
      
   ________________________   
      
   [Stick'em up or I will shoot you]   <-- Old fashioned expression?   
      
      
   You're right, "Stick 'em up or I will shoot you" is an old-fashioned   
   expression. It's a classic line used by robbers in westerns and gangster   
   movies, likely originating sometime in the early 20th century.   
      
   Here's why it might be considered old-fashioned:   
      
   Wording: The phrasing is a bit clunky and wouldn't be commonly used today.   
      
   Context: Westerns and gangster films are less prevalent genres compared   
   to the past.   
      
   Here are some more modern alternatives, though they might not be as   
   dramatic:   
      
   "Give me your money!" (blunt)   
   "This is a robbery!" (clear)   
   (waves gun) "Don't move!" (threatening)   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)