# chula, you are an ass of truly astronomical magnitude **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 16, 2003, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chula-you-are-an-ass-of-truly-astronomical-magnitude/155419 "2003-02-16T08:01:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![tmwster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/57b2e6/32.png) [@tmwster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tmwster)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chula-you-are-an-ass-of-truly-astronomical-magnitude/155419/61 "2003-02-18T01:01:21Z")
**chula** , I’m glad you came back to clear things up a little. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by chula \* > \*\*I believe the arguments do matter, because they’re part of the struggle to get people to understand each other. It struck me as strange that someone would give up on this fight but would be perfectly willing to engage in a real fight. His sentiments sound similar to those of a pacifist: “I’m tired of all this conflict. Why can’t we resolve this peacefully?” and pointing out that irony was the hidden meaning in my statement that so many of you are looking for. > > …My post in no way implies that **Airman** was motivated by some sadistic impulse to kill people. > > …Some of you have read Airman’s post as being about his worries and fears about going to war and leaving his family. I don’t see that. He says that he is upset about the debate over the war, not the war itself. \If those were the feelings that motivated that thread, then I apologize for posting there at all. When people post about their personal problems seeking consolation, they should be able to expect that only people interested in comforting them will respond. \*\* I can see that someone with your POV could read **Airman’s** post and zero in on the issue of giving up on the arguments, particularly in view of the value you appear to place on arguing. I am sitting on the fence right now, and so have no stake in the pro-/anti-war arguments. I listen with interest until it degenerates into hair-pulling and name-calling, then I give up on you all and head over to MPSIMS. I don’t see **Airman** as a pro- or anti-, and perhaps that is the difference that colors how we read his post. Your statement was ambiguous enough to spark an entire thread of arguments over your meaning and intent. I took your post in his thread as a “kick ‘em when they’re down” act. I think I understand you better now, and I apologize for assuming that was your intent. Although I’m not sure what you feel is different between “wanting” to kill people and having a “sadistic impulse” to kill people. > [@](#): > > **Here’s the thing: I never said that he was “excited about fighting.” My perception that he wishes to fight is based on (1) his voluntary enlistment in the military and (2) his strong support for the war.** I just don’t understand why, after reading what he has to say, you persist in such a narrow view of **Airman**? Did you not read his post where he pretty clearly states that he believes that war is the only option? That, though he would prefer it, he believes a peaceful solution is not possible? Can you not see the difference between _wanting_ to fight, and being _willing_ to fight if necessary? ---
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chula-you-are-an-ass-of-truly-astronomical-magnitude/155419/62 "2003-02-18T02:07:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by chula \* > \*\*My post in no way implies that **Airman** was motivated by some sadistic impulse to kill people. It’s pretty clear it comes from a misguided belief that killing some people will benefit the survivors enough to justify the death and destruction. > \*\* What color is the sky on YOUR planet? ---
**Author:** ![Uzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/91b2a8/32.png) [@Uzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uzi)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chula-you-are-an-ass-of-truly-astronomical-magnitude/155419/63 "2003-02-18T05:30:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by chula \* > \*\*It seems that some of you don’t want to deal with the reality that war involves the killing of innocent and not so innocent people. If you support the war, that’s what you support. My post in no way implies that **Airman** was motivated by some sadistic impulse to kill people. It’s pretty clear it comes from a misguided belief that killing some people will benefit the survivors enough to justify the death and destruction. > \*\* Following this logic we shouldn’t have been involved in WW2, also. If Europe had just capitulated to the Germans then far less people would have been killed. I guess the same could be said for any conflict where one side is willing to use force and the other is defending itself. Less people will be killed if you capitulate to the other side. But, why do I think we wouldn’t be posting on this board if we followed such a philosophy? Is it because those people who normally wish to take over other countries are not the sort who usually allow such things? > [@](#): > > \*\*\*Originally posted by chula \* > Here’s the thing: I never said that he was “excited about fighting.” My perception that he wishes to fight is based on (1) his voluntary enlistment in the military … \*\* I joined the infantry (Canadian) for a number of reasons: 1. Economic - no jobs where I grew up. 2. Home situation - father was an alchoholic. 3. A book I read by Robert Heinlein, “Starship Troopers” (not the fucked up movie of the same name). In it to become a citizen you had to be willing to defend your society. The point stuck with me and at 17 years of age, with all the idealism of youth, I joined up and did my 3 years. Did that mean I wanted to kill someone? NO. It meant I was willing to do what was necessary to protect and serve my country. 20 years later I haven’t found any reason to change my opinion. Someone needs to defend your (and just as importantly my) right to speak. Sometimes that means killing others who would attempt to change that if they could. And sometimes even innocents, like idealistic 17 year olds, get hurt and killed, too. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chula-you-are-an-ass-of-truly-astronomical-magnitude/155419/64 "2003-02-18T14:33:08Z")
> [@](#): > > Following this logic we shouldn’t have been involved in WW2, also. If Europe had just capitulated to the Germans then far less people would have been killed. But, don’t you realize, Uzi, that it’s only the United States of America that’s evil. Or so many folks would have us believe. ---
**Author:** ![Uzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/91b2a8/32.png) [@Uzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uzi)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chula-you-are-an-ass-of-truly-astronomical-magnitude/155419/65 "2003-02-18T14:55:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Monty \* > \*\*But, don’t you realize, Uzi, that it’s only the United States of America that’s evil. Or so many folks would have us believe. \*\* Well, being from Canada if you went by some of the venom I read on the local news groups it would seem that is the consensus. I really love it when they say, “I don’t hate the US, I just hate their government”. That one just breaks me up to no end. This from a country where the Senate, Judges, the Governor General, and a host of other positions are all appointed by a single person, the PM. He doesn’t have to consult anyone to do it (no Senate oversight, even if it was he appoints them anyways!). We held an election in Alberta a few years ago for our Senators in spite of him and he refused to honour the results. Great democracy we have here and apparently this is why we are so much better than you?! :eek: This is what I joined the army to protect? :rolleyes: Don’t listen to them, it’s just penis envy. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chula-you-are-an-ass-of-truly-astronomical-magnitude/155419/66 "2003-02-18T16:00:56Z")
Uzi: I very rarely, if ever, listen to people who don’t know what they’re talking about. And, yes, those people really do get offended by that. Tough. ---
**Author:** ![Bongmaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Bongmaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bongmaster)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chula-you-are-an-ass-of-truly-astronomical-magnitude/155419/67 "2003-02-18T21:55:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by chula \* > \*\* It’s funny how Americans who don’t own passports think everyone else in the world is constantly being tortured and that those things don’t go on here. > \*\* Its funny how non-Americans like to make sweeping generalizations about people they really know nothing of. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chula-you-are-an-ass-of-truly-astronomical-magnitude/155419.md?page=3)