Drone pilots could be experiencing 'sniper's syndrome'
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Re: Drone pilots could be experiencing 'sniper's syndrome'
#2The other day a drone in Afghanistan killed 30 civilians. Rather than being ISIS members holding a meeting, they were pine nut farmers gathering around a fire to relax after their day's work.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-afghanistan-attack-drones...
I don't really give a fuck about the psychological condition of the drone pilots except insofar as it puts their children at risk. They and their commanders should feel ashamed to look other people in the eye.
Re: Drone pilots could be experiencing 'sniper's syndrome'
#3The title should be more explicit about the fact that they're talking about "military drones" as opposed to quad-copters, which was my first thought. It's pretty obvious at first glance after the first click, but still...
As far as the article itself, it feels somewhat worrying that the people who implemented these programs didn't think people would be bothered about killing other people. Someone had to have thought of that.
Re: Drone pilots could be experiencing 'sniper's syndrome'
#4Well the US government, bastion of freedom and human rights can't have this can they? Time to replace people with AI and machines and Google is here to help.
Re: Drone pilots could be experiencing 'sniper's syndrome'
#5Love how the perspective of this argument is that instead of drone pilots succumbing to a real sense that what they are doing is unjustifiable, this guy is an "ethicist" that is attempting to say that we need to find a way to train morality out of people so they can push remote kill buttons and feel fine.
Re: Drone pilots could be experiencing 'sniper's syndrome'
#6In other news, murderers experience some guilt. Government neglects Vietnam vets yet allowed to prey on vulnerable high school students.
Re: Drone pilots could be experiencing 'sniper's syndrome'
#7The other day a drone in Afghanistan killed 30 civilians. Rather than being ISIS members holding a meeting, they were pine nut farmers gathering around a fire to relax after their day's work. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-afghanistan-attack-drones... I don't really give a fuck about the psychological condition of the drone pilots except insofar as it puts their children at risk. They and their commanders should…
Then you really lack perspective on what any warfare is: it's always critical, life or death decisions that have to be taken without sufficient information. US civilian to combatant casualty ratio in the recent conflicts have been significantly better than any other modern wars as well.
So, what do you suggest instead?
Re: Drone pilots could be experiencing 'sniper's syndrome'
#8The other day a drone in Afghanistan killed 30 civilians. Rather than being ISIS members holding a meeting, they were pine nut farmers gathering around a fire to relax after their day's work. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-afghanistan-attack-drones... I don't really give a fuck about the psychological condition of the drone pilots except insofar as it puts their children at risk. They and their commanders should…
Then you really lack perspective on what any warfare is: it's always critical, life or death decisions that have to be taken without sufficient information. US civilian to combatant casualty ratio in the recent conflicts have been significantly better than any other modern wars as well. So, what do you suggest instead?
Goldstein is dead. The war is over. Stop killing Afghans. Let me sort their own issues and politics out. If you are worried about them coming to your country and messing with you then stop all Saudis from coming to your country... you can also ban Afghans if it makes you feel better. It's like really what are the hoping to gain from all of this. The people resent you as much as anyone can resent anyone else. The government is a puppet government. The country is fractured beyond repair. It's highly lawless. It's like yes if we can just prevent people from gathering in the Middle of nowhere they can't conspire against us. While most of their enemies came from their greatest ally in which country they can do as they please. This war is a massive Orwellian joke.
Re: Drone pilots could be experiencing 'sniper's syndrome'
#9Love how the perspective of this argument is that instead of drone pilots succumbing to a real sense that what they are doing is unjustifiable, this guy is an "ethicist" that is attempting to say that we need to find a way to train morality out of people so they can push remote kill buttons and feel fine.
that reminds me of a suggestion of where to keep nuclear codes:
> My suggestion was quite simple: Put that needed code number in a little capsule, and then implant that capsule right next to the heart of a volunteer. The volunteer would carry with him a big, heavy butcher knife as he accompanied the President. If ever the President wanted to fire nuclear weapons, the only way he could do so would be for him first, with his own hands, to kill one human being. The President says, "George, I'm sorry but tens of millions must die." He has to look at someone and realize what death is—what an innocent death is. Blood on the White House carpet. It's reality brought home.
> When I suggested this to friends in the Pentagon they said, "My God, that's terrible. Having to kill someone would distort the President's judgment. He might never push the button."
> — Roger Fisher, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, March 1981
Re: Drone pilots could be experiencing 'sniper's syndrome'
#10Well the US government, bastion of freedom and human rights can't have this can they? Time to replace people with AI and machines and Google is here to help.
I doubt it. Google seems to be on an inexorable path towards becoming a corporate nation state. They’re going to need those weapons when the time for secession arrives.