Abstract

This study investigates the use of impoliteness strategies in Reddit discussions concerning tariff policies. Drawing on the impoliteness framework proposed by Jonathan Culpeper and the politeness theory of Brown and Levinson, the research analyzes how users employ face-threatening language in online political discourse. The dataset consists of comments from two Reddit threads posted on April 9, 2025, in which 357 instances of impoliteness were identified.

Using a mixed-method approach, the study combines quantitative frequency analysis with qualitative discourse analysis. Impoliteness strategies were categorized into on-record and off-record types, including positive impoliteness, negative impoliteness, sarcasm, and implicated impoliteness. The results show that on-record impoliteness dominates the dataset (76.2%), with positive impoliteness being the most frequent strategy. Users commonly employ explicit criticism, accusations, and ridicule to challenge the credibility or competence of political actors. Although less frequent, sarcasm serves as an important off-record strategy that allows users to express criticism indirectly.

The findings suggest that impoliteness in Reddit political discussions functions both as a form of interpersonal aggression and as a rhetorical resource for expressing political dissatisfaction. The study contributes to the understanding of how impoliteness operates in computer-mediated communication and highlights the role of online platform environments in shaping confrontational political discourse.

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