The Ethics of Future Warfare

[Indy]

Ex:

Don't we already see this with drones? Meaning: video game weapons where we kill people from thousands of miles away (not just thousands of yards) and in most instances, we don't care what the "collateral damage" is. In fact, I believe the stated policy is: well, if these guys happened to be near a terrorist then obviously they're terrorists, too!

Same thing as people above noted with "smart bombs" starting with the original Iraq war footage. Boom! Fun!

Yet we are the same country that refuses to show graphic video of people on the receiving end of our munitions, innocent or otherwise. That way Americans can continue to watch the boom! while enjoying a plate of nachos and not see missing limbs, dead children or even what bullets actually do to humans.

So to answer your question: the more automated it gets, the worse it's going to get. Because it becomes impersonal.

I don't think many people would have a taste for killing if they had to stab somebody to death, which is why many use guns. Those who may not like even that option might be swayed by the idea that they're simply pointing something at somebody and pushing a button from a thousand yards/miles away. You don't have to be there to see the aftermath.

[eynon81]

[Indy]

Wow that is a frightening example. Although to be fair, many of those 100,000 if I'm not mistaken were from the civil war which we unleashed, so they were more indirectly because of us?

[eynon81]

[Professor]

[eynon81]

[Indy]

Wait, 37,000 civilians killed and this means we're "getting better"?

[John Galt]

[Indy]

Yeah I guess I am.

Hey, Iraqis! Good news! We're invading and occupying you to "liberate" you from the tyrant Saddam, so you can become free.

Pssssst...

Iraqis: are ya ready for some freedom!?

[Dylan]

Of all the bad posters on all of these forums over all these years, Indy is damn close to the worst.

Is it worth trying to alert him to the fact that better is an inherently relative term? I don't think so either. I'd have better luck explaining it to my dog.

Carry on with the indignation.