Tor: Illegal Weapons • Hacker News Board

Re: Tor: Illegal Weapons

#31

Post by Snesker » Wed, Apr 08, 2015, 9:37 PM UTC

harshreality wrote: post #25

frapandolf wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think that is a particularly fair correlation. Guns are (historically) tools created with the express purpose of KILLING OTHER HUMAN BEINGS, capitalized for emphasis. Being uncomfortable around them is not indicative of some kind of basic phobia of inanimate objects.

You skipped over the middle of that sentence. If you're afraid that the person you're visiting has guns and is unsafe with them, or will actively try to kill you with them, by all means don't visit them. Most gun owners feel the same way. Allowing people to own guns does not give them carte blanche to handle them any way they want without being criticized, shunned or charged with a crime. They also might accidentally…

>Is it reasonable, then, to be uncomfortable around knives in a kitchen, too?

In Britain it is! Bin that knife, criminal!

Re: Tor: Illegal Weapons

#32

Post by golemotron » Thu, Apr 09, 2015, 3:04 AM UTC

frapandolf wrote: post #21

harshreality wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If someone isn't comfortable in a house with a gun, regardless of the upstanding character of the owner, that might indicate a harmful phobia of certain kinds of inanimate objects, but it's their choice not to visit a gun owner's house and nobody is going to take that choice away from them. A law against gun ownership is vastly different. Plenty of people don't like drugs, particularly banned narcotics and stimulants…

I don't think that is a particularly fair correlation. Guns are (historically) tools created with the express purpose of KILLING OTHER HUMAN BEINGS, capitalized for emphasis. Being uncomfortable around them is not indicative of some kind of basic phobia of inanimate objects.

> Guns are (historically) tools created with the express purpose of KILLING OTHER HUMAN BEINGS, capitalized for emphasis.

I've never been able to fathom that argument. Even if a gun was made to kill people (one could equally argue that a particular gun is made for target practice or hunting and often that is true) the intentions of the maker of an object have absolutely nothing to do with whether you should be scared or not.

As an example, suppose someone hits you on the head with a hammer. As you sit in the hospital with a concussion is it any solace that the maker of the hammer intended it to be used on nails?

Re: Tor: Illegal Weapons

#33

Post by golemotron » Thu, Apr 09, 2015, 3:07 AM UTC

ta82828 wrote: post #24

frapandolf wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think that is a particularly fair correlation. Guns are (historically) tools created with the express purpose of KILLING OTHER HUMAN BEINGS, capitalized for emphasis. Being uncomfortable around them is not indicative of some kind of basic phobia of inanimate objects.

Maybe it's not a basic phobia, but the grandparent poster implied that anyone who likes target shooting and owns guns for that purpose is "odd/unhinged". I don't understand why people can say, "oh he's a farmer, so he's not insane for having a gun" but the moment someone's not a farmer, they're suddenly unhinged or obsessed with violence, as opposed to perhaps, a target shooter or other kind of hobbyist. It's like th…

Agreed. People are very bad at assessing true risk so they go with their feelings. Pointing out how silly it is rarely works.

Re: Tor: Illegal Weapons

#34

Post by Mimu » Thu, Apr 09, 2015, 8:31 AM UTC

harshreality wrote: post #22

Mimu wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The only mean to a gun is to hurt people so comparing it to fruit or other useful tool is not very relevant imo.

Self defense tools are not useful? Sporting use or aesthetics are not relevant? There go javelins, bows and arrows, swords, etc. Hunting is not relevant? I hope you don't eat meat, or perhaps you prefer the ethics of factory animal farming to the ethics of hunting with firearms?

If I talk about how ridiculous speed limit are because of car racing, will you see my point as relevant or not?