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“I just woke up one morning and it struck me that I was a murderer. so I quit.”

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121–130 of 145 posts

Re: “I just woke up one morning and it struck me that I was a murderer. so I quit.”

#121

Post by asdff »

meowface wrote: post #107
bigbubba wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

'Defense contractor' is a euphemism used because mercenaries have been considered a disreputable lot for centuries, if not longer.

"Mercenary" is ambiguous, though. A mercenary is often defined as an entity who does any job for any buyer in the world, if the price is right. A defense contractor generally only engages in deals with certain entities. Mercenaries are more like NSO Group and HackingTeam.

A mercenary is simply a soldier for hire. They can still be choosy who they do business with. I'd say a group like Blackwater is a proper mercenary organization rather than Northrup Grumman, however.

Re: “I just woke up one morning and it struck me that I was a murderer. so I quit.”

#122

Post by robin_reala »

krick wrote: post #92
robin_reala wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That’s not exactly a US-centric viewpoint, but glorification of the military definitely isn’t as prevalent in the EU for example.

Yep. In fact, it feels to me as if you are softening things up quite a bit: sure, glorifying the military is something that every country (read as "government") tries to do, but I don't really know any modern example other than USA, where people actually buy this bullshit. Which is kinda surreal, because, let's be honest: there is absolutely nothing honourable about [strike]serving[/strike] working in the military. I…

I was going to be a bit more strident, but then I remembered countries like North Korea, so toned it down a touch.

Re: “I just woke up one morning and it struck me that I was a murderer. so I quit.”

#123

Post by masklinn »

Ygg2 wrote: post #68
masklinn wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

These would not be qualified as missiles and have their own guidance systems. Having your rocket go and slam into a neighbouring country is not very conducive to putting satellites into space.

Satelite is just a missile that is successful at missing the earth.

It is a rather critical “just”.

Re: “I just woke up one morning and it struck me that I was a murderer. so I quit.”

#124

Post by masklinn »

TeMPOraL wrote: post #95
masklinn wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

These would not be qualified as missiles and have their own guidance systems. Having your rocket go and slam into a neighbouring country is not very conducive to putting satellites into space.

When talking ICBM level, the primary difference between a weapon and a peaceful satellite launcher is the little bit that sits on the tip of the rocket - the payload. Early satellites were literally launched on ICBMs, and if memory serves me right, US military still repurposes ICBMs for launching its satellites.

The platform can be repurposed ICBM but the software is dedicated, ICBMs don’t go orbital and their guidance is written for ground range and precise targeting. The inputs and decision paths would be quite different to a rocket’s.

Re: “I just woke up one morning and it struck me that I was a murderer. so I quit.”

#125

Post by animationwill »

cmrdporcupine wrote: post #74
cycomanic wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the serving in the military seen as honourable is largely due to propaganda. There are different levels to it, but it is very obvious when coming from Europe to the US, where you see "support our troops" signs very regularly.

100% this. As a Canadian it's absolutely flabbergasting everytime I go there, the sheer level of martial obsession in the US. It bleeds over into Canada to some degree, but not dramatically. I suspect in part it comes from the country having its genesis in a war, its first president being a general, and its republic built around a president whose title is "commander in chief." That and its economic supremacy / domina…

It actually changed around the turn of the century with the events of the Spanish war. That’s when the US became an imperial power, there were many against it though

Re: “I just woke up one morning and it struck me that I was a murderer. so I quit.”

#126

Post by bumby »

WalterBright wrote: post #109
andretti1977 wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hitler success among germans is due to the high burden WWI winners imposed on germany. Other countries may have relieved pressure on germany and maybe Hitler may have been stopped before he became something among germans. Don't give people a reason to litigate and they won't fight. Try to consider that countries where there is a common level of wealth and welfare, have lower rates of criminality (i.e. Norway). Have y…

> you have to fight but you can try to prevent it It's prevented if you're stronger than the other guy. I can't think of a single example in history of a country starting a war against a much more powerful opponent that was willing to use that power. Imperial Japan attacked Pearl Harbor because they thought the US would be unwilling to fight a Pacific war with them. Hitler declared war on the US believing the US woul…

>I can't think of a single example in history of a country starting a war against a much more powerful opponent that was willing to use that power.

The Taliban supporting Sept. 11th attacks is an example, although you can argue that it doesn't count because many did not view their government as "legitimate". There's at least some who believe drawing major powers into protracted wars is exactly the point of the offensive.

Re: “I just woke up one morning and it struck me that I was a murderer. so I quit.”

#127

Post by apta »

ewi_ wrote: post #11
hirundo wrote: post #6

As a former writer of telemarketing software it's nice to have missile guidance software developers that I can feel somewhat morally superior to. But in their defense at least missiles can be used in a non-evil way, but I'm not so sure about telemarketing software.

I am curious as to how missiles (or any weapon for that matter) could be used in "non-evil" way

Self defense

Re: “I just woke up one morning and it struck me that I was a murderer. so I quit.”

#128

Post by [deleted] »

ewi_ wrote: post #11
hirundo wrote: post #6

As a former writer of telemarketing software it's nice to have missile guidance software developers that I can feel somewhat morally superior to. But in their defense at least missiles can be used in a non-evil way, but I'm not so sure about telemarketing software.

I am curious as to how missiles (or any weapon for that matter) could be used in "non-evil" way

[deleted]

Re: “I just woke up one morning and it struck me that I was a murderer. so I quit.”

#129

Post by RickJWagner »

I applaud this action.

Not because I agree with the thought behind it. I think national defence is a necessity. I'd have no problems writing the software. But because the coder had the guts to put his money where his mouth is, and leave the job.

I respect that. About a million times more than keyboard SJW who type a lot but change not at all.

Re: “I just woke up one morning and it struck me that I was a murderer. so I quit.”

#130

Post by bigbubba »

meowface wrote: post #107
bigbubba wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

'Defense contractor' is a euphemism used because mercenaries have been considered a disreputable lot for centuries, if not longer.

"Mercenary" is ambiguous, though. A mercenary is often defined as an entity who does any job for any buyer in the world, if the price is right. A defense contractor generally only engages in deals with certain entities. Mercenaries are more like NSO Group and HackingTeam.

Countries have long had laws about what sort of business mercenaries in or from that country are allowed to accept. That doesn't make mercenaries in or from that country 'not mercenaries.'
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