An Appalachian gunsmith’s robot army (2009) • Hacker News Board

Re: An Appalachian gunsmith’s robot army (2009)

#51

Post by seanflyon » Mon, Jul 21, 2014, 9:52 PM UTC

mschuster91 wrote: post #27

lesingerouge wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't really understand how buying your own gun/rifle/whatever would be of any help in surviving a war. The last couple of recent wars (think Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, etc) were fought mostly with "big tech" (airplanes, bombs, tanks, etc) which is pretty deadly to low level mosquitoes like civilians and foot soldiers. And while talking about inequality, I am quite uncertain about how a gun/rifle would help you. You…

> The last couple of recent wars (think Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, etc) were fought mostly with "big tech" (airplanes, bombs, tanks, etc) which is pretty deadly to low level mosquitoes like civilians and foot soldiers. EU vs Russia may not be fought on German territory any soon, but civil wars inside the EU are not that far away (hell, they're hunting down jews and black people already)... Also, I'm not really a suppo…

> they're hunting down jews and black people already

What are you talking about?

Re: An Appalachian gunsmith’s robot army (2009)

#52

Post by seanflyon » Mon, Jul 21, 2014, 9:55 PM UTC

mkr-hn wrote: post #23

aaronem wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, someone's going to do it.

That doesn't mean the person who does it can't think about ways to deal with the social implications.

Once you invent something, it exists; You have little power over the social implications.

Re: An Appalachian gunsmith’s robot army (2009)

#53

Post by mschuster91 » Mon, Jul 21, 2014, 10:55 PM UTC

seanflyon wrote: post #51

mschuster91 wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The last couple of recent wars (think Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, etc) were fought mostly with "big tech" (airplanes, bombs, tanks, etc) which is pretty deadly to low level mosquitoes like civilians and foot soldiers. EU vs Russia may not be fought on German territory any soon, but civil wars inside the EU are not that far away (hell, they're hunting down jews and black people already)... Also, I'm not really a suppo…

> they're hunting down jews and black people already What are you talking about?

Anti-Israel protests escalating in Hitler greets, synagogues being attacked by mobs. Right now. In Germany, in France, probably even more all over Europe.

As for the blacks, there have been multiple attacks of right extremists where they have beaten black people near to death in Germany.

And I don't even want to talk about the anti-Roma sentiments ALL over Europe, beginning from France with the rise of Front National and ending in Hungary with Viktor Orban and his cronies doing NOTHING at all to stop mobs from even killing Roma.

We have in our midst a civil war brewing.

And hey, I'd like to have a gun when the left+right wing extremists are all armed to the teeth with illegal guns, pipe bombs and stuff. Add in motorcycle gangs and the various Mafia clans, and you have a shitload of guys with big guns and no respect for anyone but their own safety and cash.

Re: An Appalachian gunsmith’s robot army (2009)

#54

Post by arg01 » Tue, Jul 22, 2014, 12:59 AM UTC

terhechte wrote: post #41

mschuster91 wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Mark my words: these things will mostly be used against civilians and dissidents--not standing armies. Which is why I (German) really hate our weapons law. War will come back to Europe, we are on the fringe of a fucking Cold War turning into a Hot War with the Russians in Ukraine. Not to mention the rising inequality in Europe - if it blows up one day, it will hit hard. I'd like to be equipped and trained properly…

I really don't understand this kind of reasoning. What do you expect will a couple of lightly trained people with guns do against a huge, well-trained army with tanks, modern weapons, jets, and combat experience. If only it will make things worse because once civillians are starting to fire at will, it will be much easier for soldiers to decide to shoot at civillians, too. I refer you to this beautiful Onion article.…

Well you can look at how the US has done in the middle east for an example of the economic cost of asymmetric warfare. Though I generally agree with your point that it's not going to work out well for the invaded country either unless another state actor comes to their aid. It's also worth noting that the French Resistance was considered important not just for the acts of sabotage and intelligence it gave the allies as they advanced but also in the rapid growth of the FFI after the allies invaded.