shoot or snap

[blacknomi]

Don't ____ the puppy with that rubber band.
1. shoot
2. snap


Why not shoot? Bloody? Violent? :?

[Casiopea]

Originally Posted by blacknomi

Don't ____ the puppy with that rubber band.
1. shoot
2. snap


Why not shoot? Bloody? Violent? :?

I believe it's because weapons such as guns and bows shoot out bullets and arrows, respectively, whereas a rubber band shoots out nothing. It snaps when it's released.

All the best, :D

[blacknomi]

If you're "snapping" it then the rubberband never leaves your hand.
If you're "shooting" it then the rubber band has to fly through the air and hit the puppy.

Both word choices are acceptable, but the action is unlovely. :D

[blacknomi]

Cas, you do sleep late, don't you? :)
When does your school start?

I have to turn in, good night! :D

[Casiopea]

Originally Posted by blacknomi

If you're "snapping" it then the rubber band never leaves your hand.

Good point. Just like when you snap someone with a towel, right? One part is in your hand and the other part is released. snap (onomatopoeia): the sound the towel makes when you aim and release it. Couldn't a rubber band do the same, though? When you aim and release the band, one part stays in your hand and the other part releases, snaps.

If you're "shooting" it then the rubber band has to fly through the air and hit the puppy.

Agreed. :D It shoots through the air; the entire band is released. It functions like that of a bullet or an arrow. Good point.

Both word choices are acceptable, but the action is unlovely. :D

I'm not sure to be honest. The reason being, the sentence in question is ambiguous with 'shoot',

Don't shoot the puppy.... (Don't kill the puppy ~ Don't aim at the puppy)

whereas with 'snap' it's not ambiguous,

Don't snap the puppy... (Don't use the band to hurt the puppy)
Don't snap the puppy with that towel.

However, if the entire band is released, I'd say, "Don't shoot that band at the puppy" ~ "Stop shooting that band at the puppy"; if only a portion of the band is released, I'd day, "Don't snap the puppy with that band" ~ "Stop snapping the puppy with that band."

Try,

..., but the action is not very kind.

All the best, :D