Yeah, that's why I'm not sure I buy lionhearted's claim that his threats "worked". Of course threats "work" in the sense that they might get what you want in that moment. The reason people don't use them more often is that it generates resentment in the target of the threat, which will lead them to decrease their positive interaction with you in the hopes of avoiding being in such a position again.

So maybe lionhearted got what he wanted in the very short term, but what about longer-term effects? Should I take his experience to mean that mugging my friends would be a good idea? (Mugging in the sense of armed robbery of a pedestrian, not making out.)