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Mideast War - thought experiment, which is worse?

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MaxE
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03 Jan 2024, 7:43 am

@rse92's clear intention was to say, the IDF is a professional, disciplined military organization whose members don't shoot people without a good tactical reason. Whereas the 11-year-old is a terrorist, which can be assumed by the mere fact that he is armed, and can be thought capable of shooting random civilians.

I'm not endorsing his views, but that's clearly what he had in mind. If you want to shame people on an autism forum for having poor communication skills, go right ahead.


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TwilightPrincess
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03 Jan 2024, 9:42 am

The IDF shoots people all the time without good reason - in the West Bank, in Gaza, and elsewhere. Sure, their hatred is centered on Palestinians and related ethnic groups, but how can one know that the army hasn't been so desensitized and brutalized that they won't shoot others? Consider the way some have handled captives and the dehumanizing statements officials have made.


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BillyTree
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03 Jan 2024, 10:13 am

I am a physically fit man in my 50's that speak english with a European accent and have a western look. The IDF would probably suspect I am a journalist working for a international news network or that I work for Doctors Without Borders, UN, The International Redcross, Amnesty or any other organisation meddling with their affairs and shoot me. The boy I think I could convince that I am no threat to him. So, I would feel a lot safer with the boy.


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belijojo
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03 Jan 2024, 10:41 am

Bad guys and crazy people, neither is good


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AprilR
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03 Jan 2024, 12:20 pm

I do not understand the question. I can't see a child even an armed or brainwashed one equal to soldiers. It is such a weird question to me



funeralxempire
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03 Jan 2024, 2:50 pm

MaxE wrote:
@rse92's clear intention was to say, the IDF is a professional, disciplined military organization whose members don't shoot people without a good tactical reason. Whereas the 11-year-old is a terrorist, which can be assumed by the mere fact that he is armed, and can be thought capable of shooting random civilians.

I'm not endorsing his views, but that's clearly what he had in mind. If you want to shame people on an autism forum for having poor communication skills, go right ahead.


Which is to say, he hoped everyone would share his biases and we'd have a circle jerk over how much less terrible the IDF terrorists are compared to the Hamas terrorists.

It's not a failure of OP's communication abilities that's occurred here, even if some people found an ambiguous wording funny.

What has occurred is OP getting snippy over answers that deviate from his script.


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03 Jan 2024, 4:53 pm

The IDF's willingness to use violence (including summary executions of families) against civilians is widely documented and has been going on for ages.

How could one be so naive as to fall for the intended framing of this thought experiment?

Recent:
https://www.democracynow.org/2023/12/21 ... _gaza_city
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2023/1 ... l-d21.html

2015:
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_ ... xecutions/


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Just a reminder: under international law, an occupying power has no right of self-defense, and those who are occupied have the right and duty to liberate themselves by any means possible.


IsabellaLinton
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03 Jan 2024, 5:29 pm

I have no idea what Joel Osteen's megachurch is, but I'd rather be locked in any space with one person than 5,000.

5,000 people? Really? Who on earth could tolerate that?

If the point is to determine which would be less likely to kill me, I think I'd die from stress being around 5,000 people regardless of who they were.


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funeralxempire
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03 Jan 2024, 5:34 pm

IsabellaLinton wrote:
I have no idea what Joel Osteen's megachurch is, but I'd rather be locked in any space with one person than 5,000.

5,000 people? Really? Who on earth could tolerate that?

If the point is to determine which would be less likely to kill me, I think I'd die from stress being around 5,000 people regardless of who they were.



He's a televangelist huckster, it's huge.

Image

You could comfortably share it with 5000 people and not even realize they're there. It seats nearly 17 000.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakewood_Church


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Just a reminder: under international law, an occupying power has no right of self-defense, and those who are occupied have the right and duty to liberate themselves by any means possible.


IsabellaLinton
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03 Jan 2024, 5:35 pm

JFC - Kill me now. ^

Definitely not 5,000.


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funeralxempire
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03 Jan 2024, 5:50 pm

IsabellaLinton wrote:
JFC - Kill me now. ^

Definitely not 5,000.


That's just the main room pictured. I'd be looking to hide out in an office or the bathroom.

It looks bigger than the arena I play in. Just gotta move those benches out of the middle and we can use it for something worthwhile. :lol:


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If you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing. —Malcolm X
Just a reminder: under international law, an occupying power has no right of self-defense, and those who are occupied have the right and duty to liberate themselves by any means possible.


IsabellaLinton
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03 Jan 2024, 5:52 pm

I think I'd die from stress even if I was alone in there.
It looks soooo uncomfortable with the bright lights and chairs.
Where would you lay down?
Where is the library?

8O


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TwilightPrincess
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03 Jan 2024, 5:53 pm

I doubt the Joel Olsteen crowd are big readers.


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IsabellaLinton
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03 Jan 2024, 5:55 pm

It seems that way!

8O


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funeralxempire
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03 Jan 2024, 5:55 pm

IsabellaLinton wrote:
I think I'd die from stress even if I was alone in there.
It looks soooo uncomfortable with the bright lights and chairs.
Where would you lay down?
Where is the library?

8O


Quote:
ABOUT THE LIBRARY

Mission: The Lakewood Theological Library is a sanctuary of study for the people of Lakewood Baptist Church. Its mission is to cultivate a culture of love and wonder for God’s word by creating a place where all the Lakewood community can come to study.

Any member of the Lakewood community can study in the Library or check out books to take home.


Image

I'm not certain where... but they have one. 8O


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The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.
If you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing. —Malcolm X
Just a reminder: under international law, an occupying power has no right of self-defense, and those who are occupied have the right and duty to liberate themselves by any means possible.


TwilightPrincess
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03 Jan 2024, 5:57 pm

^ Maybe the books contain very small words and sentences.

“God is nice. Give me your money.”


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