(OT) Monte Cook's most recent rant.....

[Zappo]

No need to get hot over the definition of cowardice. In this area, it is a very nebuolus term; it is just normal that some will judge the suicide terrorists cowards and some the opposite.

Personally, the only thing I'm sure of is that they were religious nuts, and that's very bad. That alone makes them completely incomprehensible to me. I feel unable to make any statement about their cowardice or courage or whatever; what goes on in the mind of a fanatic is a mystery to me.

 

[Teflon Billy]

Re: Re: Re: Re: (OT) Monte Cook's most recent rant.....

I totally agree with you, Sigil. There's nothing inherently courageous about suicide, nevermind someone who kills innocent people before killing himself.

I couldn't agree with you more: there is nothing inherent about it. It's all situational.

Is a guy who throws himself on a grenade to save others from death courageous? I think so. What if he just finished killing a bunch of people beofer doing it? Still courageous? I think so too.

But he was saving people on his side of the war and killing the enemy right?

I don't think that impacts valor of this soldier's suicide.

Is the guy who kills his wife and then kills himself courageous? No, he's a coward. He killed himself to avoid responsibility for his actions.

Like I said above, nothing inherent, all situational.

Same with the terrorists. Not only did they choose a course of action which would guarantee they'd never have to face justice for it in life, but they chose a course of action which they believed they'd be REWARDED for in the afterlife. That's makes them cowardly and selfish.

They chose no such action. So may thhings could have gone wrong (things that would virtually guarantee they would have to "face justice in this life") that I am stunend by the enormity of the effort.

This wasn't a guy killing himself and his family. That kind of thing could not really "foul up" unless he (A) wasn't serious about it, or (B) shot himself into unconsciousness.

This was an effort that went beyond simply "crime" to a nearly comic-book level of "Super Villainy". 20-odd men learned to Fly 747's, they snuck weapons aboard the planes, they flew them into restricted airspace. To equate this with a common three person murder/suicide is a gross oversimplification.

 

[Teflon Billy]

No need to get hot over the definition of cowardice. In this area, it is a very nebuolus term; it is just normal that some will judge the suicide terrorists cowards and some the opposite....

Well, that makes sense. I've said about all I wanted to on the subject anyway.

I'll take your good advice Zappo

 

[Joker]

Re: Re: (OT) Monte Cook's most recent rant.....

At least in the First World, we have...law & order

Hahahahahahahahahahah

Hihihihihihihihihihihihihihihihi

Good one.

Law and Order. You're killing me. That's hilarious.

Pfff, good stuff here in this thread. Keep it up.

Tata

 

[Joker]

Also, although I have no sypmathy for ppl that destroy life, I can't agree with the notion that someone who is willing to give their own life, their own future up for their believes is cowardly. You can't be weak of heart if you are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for your cause.

 

[Teflon Billy]

Also, although I have no sypmathy for ppl that destroy life, I can't agree with the notion that someone who is willing to give their own life, their own future up for their believes is cowardly. You can't be weak of heart if you are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for your cause.

Nicely put (and more succinctly than I)

 

[ColonelHardisson]

You have spent too much time on the internet. When the Trade Centers went up - my part of America was in total chaos. Gas shot up to $5.00+ per gallon, grocery stores were out of potable water in hours, and non-perishable goods were shortly behind the water. Fights erupted over all of this. There wasn't even alarm that "the world will end" - just that we are under attack.

I'm in Cleveland. The plane that went down in Pennsylvania was in our airspace. Planes were grounded here. Downtown was evacuated. We're a lot closer to the where the action was than OK, and there was no general panic. No fighting. A bit of price gouging at gas stations (not even $2 a gallon, though) until local TV exposed it, and then it ended. I don't know what was going on in OK, but it sure wasn't going on in Ohio.

EDIT: I have to amend what I said a bit. There was a gas station that started charging $4 a gallon, and the local media pounced on it. It quickly went back down to what it had been.

 

[Valmur_Dwur]

ok, OK! enough. I live in the middle part of america, the part that grows stuff If the meteor hits tomorrow the crops in the field will feed alot of us. Then you can learn why there are seeds in ALL the fruit you eat. They are used to make more fruit And the neat thing is that there are several seeds in each fruit thereby increasing your odds of producing more. Nature itself will adapt rather quickly to changes even during the dustbowl food waas grown just not enough to feed everyone, but that is where SPAM comes in! And like Shark (HI Shark!) I spent some time with the world's finest and one thing those of us that have been through that is to take the rest of you blockheads and straigten you alls out In every time and every culture you have the leaders and the followers why in the Good Lord's name do you think it would be any different? Because I'll miss the next Oprah show? Instead of delivering bread I'll be mashing grain between 2 stones? Maybe it's my Midwestern attitude but the not loonies that you "pick up your pack and follow me" get down to the serious bit of surviving?

 

[Zappo]

If the meteor hits tomorrow the crops in the field will feed alot of us. Then you can learn why there are seeds in ALL the fruit you eat. They are used to make more fruit And the neat thing is that there are several seeds in each fruit thereby increasing your odds of producing more.

Freaky! I thought fruit grew in supermarkets! [suspicious]Are you sure this isn't some sort of genetical engineering thingy?[/suspicious]

 

[hellbender]

Re: Re: (OT) Monte Cook's most recent rant.....

I'm sorry...this is a complete load of bull. People like technology because it IS better. Not because they are brainwashed into believing it. As society advances, we spend less and less time doing what is needed (gathering and growing food, building shelter, etc.) and more time doing what we want (studying science, understanding human nature, enjoying hobbies).

Actually, it isn't bull at all, and many, many people ARE brainwashed into buying useless technology because they think it is better. Subliminal techniques have never gone away, and when you look around, you start to see the subliminal aspects of society as a whole. You may not buy that pancake flipper, but enough people are to keep the advertising campaign going. Now cellular phones are also one of the most useless devices we have, and yet they are everywhere, even when proven health issues have arisen regarding the waves given off (if in doubt, refer to Verizon Wireless in a case in Madrid last December where a school was moved due to its proximity to a cellular phone towere and the rate of cancer among the young students).

Someone else mentioned 'First World' society in a post, which is another of our society's little mythological references. Go and live in a 'Third World' country for a year or two, in society, not in a military situation, and point out the major differences. I have, and you will find that the only difference is that there is no middle class, so, by definition, America is rapidly becoming a 'Third World' country. I have seen technology in the mid-'90's in 'Third World' countries that isn't here yet. Yes, the poor are extremely poor, but the rich are also extremely rich. Among the poor, there is basically no dependence upon advanced technology beyond a television, radio, refrigerator, water filtering device and telephone, in some instances, also a car. And you know what? Plain as day, the poor were happy in general, they did not suffer because of their lack of access to higher technology. Sure, the place was a hotbed for other issues, both race and religious, but in general, the poor were just as happy and healthy with their lack of fancy gadgets.

hellbender