• Philosophy Joke of the Day
    Although, if your comedy is anything like your grammar...Sapientia

    Should I try poetry then?

    There was once an old fart from Maryland
    Who considered himself so grand
    He spent his days irritating people on a forum
    Which he did with little decorum
    And with many a comment oh so bland
  • The American Gun Control Debate
    Are you telling me that you genuinely expect me to take those replies seriously? Why would I do that?Sapientia

    See, you did it again.

    You were the one that said no one can dodge a bullet so I figures that the worlds military organizations and I were missing out on something.
    Are you not capable of explaining your own worlds?
  • The American Gun Control Debate
    When you want to have a serious discussion, let me know.Sapientia

    Is this kind of answer some sort of a defense mechanism for your inferiority complex.

    It seems to happen a lot. Especially when you don't have sensible answers or anything of value to add.

    I'm going to count how many times you have given answers like this to people. It might make some interesting statistics.
  • Philosophy Joke of the Day
    This is only a suggestion - but you guys could try telling actual jokes. That's kind of the idea behind this discussion.T Clark

    Do you think that they actually know any?
  • Philosophy Joke of the Day
    It’s Latin for wisdom. That’s not funny?praxis

    Oh yes, that's funny.

    In more ways than one. X-)
  • The American Gun Control Debate
    What do you mean, "innocent" or "nice"?Bitter Crank

    It was just a thought that stuck me, everyone seems to take for granted that all of the people that have died in gun incidents are people that are undeserving of dying. I have not had the time to do any research but it seems to me that a fair number of the people that have died, not in mass shootings of course, might actually have had something to do with their own death.

    Some people are involved in crimes, gangs, drug dealing, and so on, and happen to get shot as they walk down the street, say by rival gang members. Are they "innocent" and "nice"?Bitter Crank

    That might be part of the total, but how many of the deaths are related to them carrying guns with intentions to use them?
  • The American Gun Control Debate
    It is too quiet round here, time for another question.

    Has anyone bothered to check out how many of the people that died because of guns were actually innocent nice people?
  • Philosophy Joke of the Day
    What do you call an ensho painted by a sentimental latin woman?

    A sappy ensha
    praxis

    Why?
  • The American Gun Control Debate
    "Prevention" is the consciously locked gate that has to be opened to get on the property. "Prevention" is silent Rottweiler's that have access to their people's bedroom as well as the property line fence. "Prevention" is the consciously locked solid wood front door.ArguingWAristotleTiff

    And on top of that, prevention should also include the idiots thinking about what kind of trouble they are going to get into.
    Why does prevention always have to be part of the good peoples lives.
    If the bad guys what to stop their own deaths let them be preventive as well.
  • The American Gun Control Debate
    and was not what my statement described - or at least meant to describe - and that should have been clear.Sapientia

    I know someone that claims to be a good grammar tutor if you are interested in improving the way you express yourself.
  • The American Gun Control Debate
    It's physically impossible to dodge a bullet that has been fired in your trajectory. We simply aren't fast enough.Sapientia

    So why do the military need to produce so many millions of rounds of ammunition if the are crack shots. Would it not be easier to send someone to count the enemy and send the right amount of bullets with maybe a few extras?
  • The American Gun Control Debate
    Is that the best that you can come up with? Disappointing. Perhaps you should think it through a bit more.Sapientia

    You say this quite often don't you. Is there some special reason why? Did you never consider the fact that saying something is wrong is not enough, that there should be an explanation there somewhere.

    Please be nice and tell me what is wrong with the post.
  • The American Gun Control Debate
    The thought that owning a weapon would be any kind of defense against the US Department of Defense, if it came to that, is surely a ridiculous fantasy.Wayfarer

    The threat of a real bloodbath would probably forestall any military action against the people. Could you imagine the American government being called out because they sent in the military to battle with the citizens. If there were no guns it would be a completely different story.

    on the other hand, if arms really were to be organised and stored in the service of a 'well-organised militia', in a proper armoury, subject to checks, controls and balances, then you might have a workable model.Wayfarer

    And who would you say should have the job of organizing it? The military possibly.
  • The American Gun Control Debate
    But in any case, that was hundreds of years ago.Sapientia

    Yes that's right, the English have no memories of the rights they once had. The Americans do however.
    And, moreover, why should what the Americans want take precedence over what's in their best interest?Sapientia

    It's their country, if that is what they want who has the right to deny their wishes?

    I'd be strongly against the reintroduction of barbaric forms of punishment, such as hanging, beheading, and being burnt at the stake, irrespective of whether or not that's what my fellow Englishmen wanted.Sapientia

    I'll bet the crime rates were low in those times though.
  • The American Gun Control Debate
    And the armed Americans are going to let that happen? Maybe.
  • The American Gun Control Debate
    And is this a serious consideration worthy of bringing up here? No.Sapientia

    Based on the fact the the American want to keep this from happening to them and that the English have already let it happen, maybe yes.
  • The American Gun Control Debate
    I'm not sure whether you're making a bad jokeSapientia

    If that is what you want to call it. Maybe I could have worded it a bit better.
    Who rules England? The government.
    Who backs up the government? The military.
    They don't need a coup because they already run the place, and could the citizens do anything about if they wanted to. No
  • Blame
    Yes, a reproach for a moral lapse. That's what is not needed.T Clark

    It does not say anything about moral lapse, so either find a definition that does include it or leave it alone.

    If there is no moral judgment, society's reaction to unwanted behavior is more likely to be effective. Punishment, retribution, and revenge make some people feel better, but they are not the best way to handle crime and other damaging behavior.T Clark

    Punishment, retribution, and revenge are not part of moral judgement either. That would be immoral.

    Sometimes yes, sometimes no. That's the way it should be. Justice, fairness, and social control are different from punishment, retribution, and revenge. One focuses on effectiveness in protecting the public, the other focuses on moral and emotional satisfaction.T Clark

    So your local legal system deals out revenge to criminals?
  • The American Gun Control Debate
    I bet making it illegal to not wear a helmet at all times would save more lives, and prevent a lot of head injuries. Don't you want to protect everyone from head injuries? Leaving bed without a helmet ought to be illegal.Wosret

    I am 100% percent in favor of this idea. Draft the bill tonight and we can present to all of the governments in the morning. It is obvious that there are a lot of people walking around that have suffered grievous injuries to the point where their thinking is very unclear.
  • The American Gun Control Debate
    The English army haven't taken over control of the country since the times of Oliver Cromwell, around 360 years ago. That it would happen again any time soon is not a realistic prospect and should not be taken seriously.Sapientia

    I can't resist.
    Of course it is not going to happen, even if they are shit sick of the idiots that rule them. They don't have any guns and the bloody government knows it.
  • Blame
    You don't have to blame someone in order to hold them responsible for their actions.T Clark

    Blame:
    An accusation that you are responsible for some lapse or misdeed
    A reproach for some lapse or misdeed

    Blame leads to punishment, retribution, and revenge.T Clark

    No, being responsible for something leads to punishment, retribution, and revenge.

    What's needed is justice, fairness, and effective social control.T Clark

    Is that not what happens in the justice system when someone is judged to be responsible for some act that is considered to be against public well being?
  • The American Gun Control Debate
    As long as self defense doesn't infringe on the rights of others to live and be free of violence.MysticMonist

    Self defense cannot infringe on the rights of others without becoming offensive and stopping being self defense.
  • The American Gun Control Debate
    I was wondering about the possibility of military takeover in the US, would be possible. Some argue that the constitution provides a method of prevention. It seems that places where there are gun restrictions do seem to have quite a few military coups.

    https://www.quora.com/Why-hasnt-a-military-coup-happened-in-Europe-or-the-USA

    https://historyguy.com/coups_in_europe_since_world_war_two.htm

    I don't know exactly what it means, if the public having guns does stop the military or not, but I think it would be damned hard for the American military to take over if they wanted to. How long would it take for the English army to have complete control of the country?
  • The American Gun Control Debate
    What's the philosophical rationale for an individual right to bear arms?MysticMonist

    Why would one be necessary?
  • The American Gun Control Debate
    all of whom disagree with me (and more than that, think that I'm an evil maniac),Thorongil

    I have had that feeling too. Silly me think it was just about me.
  • The American Gun Control Debate
    If you insist on playing this game, I guess banning guns makes all the rape, murder, and theft that people would have otherwise been able to ward off with a gun okay. I'm sure they'll find some solace in being scapegoats for "the greater good" and the moral consciences of The Philosophy Forum mod team.Thorongil

    Maybe we could arrange for people with those good intentions to go to the US. Then let them go around and take all of the guns off the bad guys. Once they have done that I am sure that the Americans will feel safe enough to hand over their guns.
  • The American Gun Control Debate
    Were the The Kardashians trashy when Deep Space 9 conceived Cardassians??Bitter Crank

    Probably yes, although I am not exactly well up on either of their histories. But if you want to become famous the Cardassians will get you nowhere. And the kartrashians are just about as far into space as the Cardassians.
  • The American Gun Control Debate
    And what do the Cardassians think of all this?Baden

    Kartrashians don't think.
  • The Last Word
    By the way, I notice that your spelling and grammar are showing signs of improvement. Perhaps my grammar policing has had an effect, after all. Keep up the good work.Sapientia

    I told you, if you had bothered to read my post, that as soon as you stopped pointing out stupid little things that have absolutely nothing to do with the topic being discussed I would stop making them.

    If you intend to continue with your silly ways then I shall continue to do everything I can to make you look like the pathetic little nitwit that you are.

    Bey bye.
  • Philosophy Joke of the Day
    What is a joke?

    What is philosophy?

    What is an oxymoron?
  • The Last Word
    So, slippery slope fallacy and false dilemma.Sapientia

    I thought you said that you were finished with the discussion. But you keep on talking rubbish.

    Let's not propagate this unreasonable belief.Sapientia

    Oh dear, goodness me, what a disaster. A bunch of philosophy forum members became infected with the absolutely ridiculous urge to go out and support the gun toting bandits that think they still live in the wild west.
    And what is even worse/better, they have decided to start a protest against the US government in the form of a permanent ban of all American politicians that do not openly support the removal of all gun controls from the forum.

    Who the hell is it going to be propagated to? :P

    Get over these pathetic snippets of quasi-philosophy, morals derived from ignorance and grammar policing.
  • The Last Word
    I just hope ArguingWAristotleTiff didn't see that last comment. I'd much rather we talked about pumpkins. :)Baden

    She would probably ask how you want it served?
  • Invisible Light and Unhearable Sound?
    That's what makes you believe in fairy tales like Relativity and Quantum Theories. :)Hachem

    Not sure where the faeries are there but OK.
  • The Last Word
    Good.Sapientia

    Glad to see that you agree with me.

    Adios amigo.
  • The Last Word
    Some rights are not worth having. If the right to have a gun effectively translates into the right to live in a more violent society and thus the right to suffer a greater risk of harm therein, you can take that right and stick it where the sun don't shine (with all due respect).Baden

    For the Americans all of their rights are connected and erosion of one might lead to complete removal of others. For them it is all or nothing, and they don't want nothing.
  • Invisible Light and Unhearable Sound?
    Of course, if it were merely a technical question. But then, how would scientists make the distinction between those "sound" waves and other kinds of phenomena? Like gravitational waves for instance.Hachem

    That would be a scientific question that would be made on measurements they make and evidence that the come up from observations.

    The metaphysics of space is never very far away, and that is something that concerns philosophers also.Hachem

    I doubt that the philosophers would do more than muddy the waters arguing over the meanings of the words the scientist use.
  • Invisible Light and Unhearable Sound?
    But would something like the LIGO detector notice anything going on in space? Like the LIGO detector, I have no idea whether it would react or not.Hachem

    No idea at all either, try one of the many scientific forums maybe.
  • Invisible Light and Unhearable Sound?
    but before that, nothing?Hachem

    I suppose that sound could be transmitted through the gas cloud, but I have no idea if the density would be sufficient to do so.
  • Invisible Light and Unhearable Sound?
    Would we hear it, or at least feel it?Hachem

    If they were close enough that parts of the disintegrating comets hit the earth yes, if not no.
    By parts I guess you would include expanding gas and solid material that could collide with the earth's atmosphere.
  • The Last Word
    That's what I was referring to, genius.Sapientia

    It is a shame that you did not read the original post. It was comparing the English way of thinking about rights to the American way of thinking. I explained that the English had more historical that personal memories of the fight for the rights that they enjoy where as the Americans have a lot of personal memories of them.

    "England Is old, they people have forgotten the fights for freedom that happened years or centuries ago."
    The reference is to people alive today, not centuries ago. I did not need to be around centuries ago to see it today.

    If you fail to understand what people are saying to you, try asking for clarification of the point in question. It might make your life easier.

    If you are going to insist on nitpicking silly little details instead of talking about the topic under discussion. I have no intention of replying.

    cheerio old chap.