# LonesomePolecat: Asshole **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 20, 2004, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-asshole/246189 "2004-05-20T14:42:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2004, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-asshole/246189/61 "2004-05-21T18:53:33Z")
Daniel Regarding Shodan, I reckon it was sexist — if anything. Regarding your son, I beg you to reconsider your advice. Sneaking away from the battlefield might be more dangerous than fighting. Nevermind the prison term or the dishonorable discharge, your son is as likely as not to encounter extremely unfriendly personnel once he abandons the friends he has pledged to protect. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2004, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-asshole/246189/62 "2004-05-21T19:03:24Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > Regarding Shodan, I reckon it was sexist — if anything. I was referring to his calling **Demostylus** racist on the previous page. His screed on this page is too contemptible to respond to. > [@](#): > > Regarding your son, I beg you to reconsider your advice. Sneaking away from the battlefield might be more dangerous than fighting. Nevermind the prison term or the dishonorable discharge, your son is as likely as not to encounter extremely unfriendly personnel once he abandons the friends he has pledged to protect. I’m not saying to sneak away; I’d advise him not to do anything sneaky about it. And yes, he may encounter very unfriendly personnel. He might face prison time. Is it better to face prison, or to take an innocent human life? Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2004, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-asshole/246189/63 "2004-05-21T19:59:13Z")
Daniel > [@](#): > > His screed on this page is too contemptible to respond to. I don’t understand what was contemptible about it. > [@](#): > > Is it better to face prison, or to take an innocent human life? I don’t know that it’s either-or. I don’t have a son, but I have a daughter, and if she were there, I would want her to do everything possible to protect herself from harm. I believe that she would be safer doing what she was trained to do than acting as a lone wolf and deserting. I wouldn’t want her to commit murder, certainly, but if she encountered live fire, I would want her to act on her training and instincts. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2004, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-asshole/246189/64 "2004-05-21T20:17:36Z")
> [@Lynn Bodoni](#): > > **Shodan,** do not use hate speech, ethnic or racial slurs, or similar language on the SDMB. > > Lynn > For the Straight Dope Fuck! I can’t win for trying! _grumble_ Hey **Lynn** , [Joey Tribiani] How YOU doin’?[/Joey Tribiani] ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2004, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-asshole/246189/65 "2004-05-21T20:17:41Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > I don’t understand what was contemptible about it. C’mon, **Lib** , this is a whoosh, right? > [@Shodan](#): > > The only currently certain method of determining is to look for the traditional bucket of shit at every Iraqi wedding. This is used to keep the flies off the bride. Even Shodan has admitted it was out of line. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2004, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-asshole/246189/66 "2004-05-21T20:21:55Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > I don’t understand what was contemptible about it. Then you’ll have to look elsewhere for clarification; it remains too contemptible to be dignified with a response. > [@](#): > > I don’t know that it’s either-or. I don’t have a son, but I have a daughter, and if she were there, I would want her to do everything possible to protect herself from harm. I believe that she would be safer doing what she was trained to do than acting as a lone wolf and deserting. I wouldn’t want her to commit murder, certainly, but if she encountered live fire, I would want her to act on her training and instincts. Even if that might mean taking an innocent human life? Not me. I’d encourage my kids ahead of time not to get in that situation, but once they’re there, their very highest priority is not to kill someone. If they’ve chosen to go that far, then I’ll dearly hope they survive; but I’ll more dearly hope they don’t kill an innocent person. I would hold the same hope for myself in that situation. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2004, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-asshole/246189/67 "2004-05-21T20:49:09Z")
> [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > Due respect, it does answer the question. My advice to my relative would continue to be the same: because you’re ina war with unclear enemies, and the very real possibility that you’ll commit the irrevocable act of killing an innocent person, you need to get the hell out of there.l Well, that sure provides me with a blueprint on how to beat you in a war, dunnit? If I put my troops in civilian clothes, have them live among women and children and only stage hit and run attacks – In short, if make myself “unclear” – your fear of hurting innocents will prevent you from fighting back and I’ll inevitably win. It’s a wonder nobody’s adopted that strategy. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2004, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-asshole/246189/68 "2004-05-21T21:11:02Z")
> [@furt](#): > > Well, that sure provides me with a blueprint on how to beat you in a war, dunnit? > > If I put my troops in civilian clothes, have them live among women and children and only stage hit and run attacks – In short, if make myself “unclear” – your fear of hurting innocents will prevent you from fighting back and I’ll inevitably win. > > It’s a wonder nobody’s adopted that strategy. You’ll find very few wars that I’ll support, **furt** ; your sarcasm is noted and dismissed. Instead, you’ll find me saying in many cases, and **especially** in this case, that war is the wrong strategy to use against the enemy at hand. bin Laden wanted a war, because he knew he could win it. Why the fuck did we satisfy him? Instead, we could’ve stolen his thunder: we could’ve worked with the international community in positive, productive ways, could’ve maintained an unfailing commitment to the human rights of ourselves and other people alike, could’ve spent $100 billion bucks building Afghanistan into a shining city on the hill, instead of spending far more on occupying a hostile country. The fact that guerilla warfare is so effective is one of the primary reasons why I’ll support so few wars. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2004, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-asshole/246189/69 "2004-05-21T21:22:58Z")
I’ll say I was ready to complement **Shodan** until I read the bride bit, tis a shame in an otherwise good (though somewhat ott) pastiche. Oh and **LonesomePollcat** I’m glad you took my barb so well, after making that post I realised it was harsher than intended. **Left Hand of Dorkness** do you advise your relatives to not drive since that also faces them with “the very real possibility that you’ll commit the irrevocable act of killing an innocent person” ? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2004, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-asshole/246189/70 "2004-05-21T21:29:51Z")
> [@Bippy the Beardless](#): > > **Left Hand of Dorkness** do you advise your relatives to not drive since that also faces them with “the very real possibility that you’ll commit the irrevocable act of killing an innocent person” ? Yes, because the risks posed by driving a car and the risks posed by firing off vehicle-mounted automatic weaponry are essentially the same. Good catch! Daniel ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2004, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-asshole/246189/71 "2004-05-21T23:37:54Z")
> [@spooje](#): > > I do not believe my question warrented your sarcasm. > > Again the question was “how do you know the fire is coming _in your direction_”. My apologies. I thought you were being sarcastic. How’s that for a friendly fire incident? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2004, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-asshole/246189/72 "2004-05-22T00:08:26Z")
> [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > Yes, because the risks posed by driving a car and the risks posed by firing off vehicle-mounted automatic weaponry are essentially the same. Good catch! Both risks are very real. But of course not of the same magnitude. If you want to avoid the risk of shooting innocents, don’t join the military services. If you are in the military services then you need follow any legal order, and the rules of engagement. If you fail to do this you will likely endanger more than just a few innocents. As has been pointed out if the tactic of attacking from the midst of innocent people becomes unopposed then that tactic will become commonplace and lead to more deaths. This incident in discussion is unfortunate in the greatest degree, but it is a ‘sad fact of war’ type of incident, I feel it is of so many orders of magnitude less important than the disreguards for the Geneva Convention, and rules of engagement, shown by the soldiers running the Iraqi prisons that it is wrong to pay that much importance to this event. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2004, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-asshole/246189/73 "2004-05-22T00:25:42Z")
> [@](#): > > This is supposed to be about me, and yet here you are talking about actual ideas and issues and stuff. They probably figured the easiest way to hurt your feelings was to keep the discussion over your head. 😉 It seems to have worked. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2004, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-asshole/246189/74 "2004-05-22T02:49:48Z")
> [@Bippy the Beardless](#): > > If you want to avoid the risk of shooting innocents, don’t join the military services. If you are in the military services then you need follow any legal order, and the rules of engagement. No. My ethical system is formed before taking war into account; being in the army doesn’t give anyone an out from behaving in an ethical fashion. Killing innocent people is unethical whether or not you signed up to follow orders; if you’re given a legal order that tells you to do something unethical, then it is unethical to act legally. Many people disagree with me on this, and I have gotten in vituperative arguments over this point, but it is fundamental to what I understand as right and wrong behavior. As I said before, no matter how far you have gone down the wrong road, turn back now. Your compatriots in the army may be endangered in part by your choice, but they may also choose to turn back now as well. The innocent people you may kill do not have that choice. Therefore, it is the innocent people whose lives you must act to protect. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2004, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-asshole/246189/75 "2004-05-22T06:25:43Z")
> [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > No. My ethical system is formed before taking war into account; being in the army doesn’t give anyone an out from behaving in an ethical fashion. Killing innocent people is unethical whether or not you signed up to follow orders; if you’re given a legal order that tells you to do something unethical, then it is unethical to act legally. > > Many people disagree with me on this, and I have gotten in vituperative arguments over this point, but it is fundamental to what I understand as right and wrong behavior. As I said before, no matter how far you have gone down the wrong road, turn back now. > > Your compatriots in the army may be endangered in part by your choice, but they may also choose to turn back now as well. The innocent people you may kill do not have that choice. Therefore, it is the innocent people whose lives you must act to protect. > > Daniel What are you saying? Armys are only meant to protect people? If that were true, there’d be no such thing as war, or armies for that matter. Was that your point? Once a war has been started, you can’t just shut it off like a spigot. The war \* is now a reality\*. Simply stepping away does not seem to be a viable option now. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2004, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-asshole/246189/76 "2004-05-22T06:59:54Z")
**Shodan** , for once I think I will ask rather than assume: 1. Did you post your disparaging comments already knowing that they were inappropriate and racist? On the second question, I _am_ making an assumption: 1. Why would you support a war of liberation for people that you have such little respect for? 2. Can you identify with what the father of the bride might be feeling? I saw your apology and don’t wish to beat you about the head. But sometimes you are an enigma. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lonesomepolecat-asshole/246189.md?page=3)