# What were you THINKING? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 13, 2023, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532 "2023-10-13T19:36:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 117
**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2024, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2321 "2024-04-15T06:19:56Z")
Nah, you fuck off. You’ve already driven too many people away from this board to merit any more than that from me. But go ahead, play the scapegoat if that makes you feel better. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2024, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2322 "2024-04-15T12:13:37Z")
His one-sided presentation was the problem. We all know both sides keep going back and forth. We all know how guilty Iran is in all this shit blowing up. We all know that Iran is run by its religious right and Israel’s religious right has a idiot fucked up puppet in charge hopefully for only a short time more. None of this is simple or one-sided. The shit is horrible. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2024, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2323 "2024-04-15T15:04:02Z")
> [@ASL\_v2.0](#): > > You’ve already driven too many people away from this board to merit any more than that from me. I have? That’s news to me. (Unless you mean the transphobes I was rude to a couple years back; that was a team effort, though). Anyways, you can fuck off with that whining, too. If someone wants to argue that I am supporting of genocide, and then gets so butthurt when I disagree that they run off and leave the site, they can go fuck themselves. Getting accused of genocide isn’t exactly pleasant either, you dumb piece of shit. There’s a reason why you don’t see me or the other Israeli members of the board frequent the threads on the topic anymore; but I won’t complain that I was “driven away”. I’ve just hit my masochism limit. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2024, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2324 "2024-04-15T20:10:46Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > None of this is simple or one-sided. The shit is horrible. We are so used to bullshit “bothsidesism” in US politics that when you have a conflict where both sides are both really terrible, as in war crime terrible, we are conditioned to reject the premise. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2024, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2325 "2024-04-15T20:12:15Z")
That feels like a fair assessment to me. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2024, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2326 "2024-04-16T05:48:50Z")
I thank you ASL for your response. But now I feel like a liar because I’m going to have to reply back, as there is apparently a huge misunderstanding at play here. > [@What\_Exit](#): > > His one-sided presentation was the problem. WTF? I was not being one-sided, but the exact opposite. I literally included a line about how no country is a cartoon villain. I said that whether Iran’s response was appropriate was entirely debatable. That’s not siding with Iran at all. I was arguing against a couple people who were ignoring the nuance, making it about Iran trying to destroy Israel. The fact that Babale said it didn’t bug me, because I expect their emotional reactions now. But it bothered me it wasn’t getting any pushback. In fact, I assumed the reason you were mad at me was that I was pushing back, rather than going along with the “Iran is evil” line. **But it sure sounds like we agree on at least the basics.** * * * Now, again, I do not think this is the place to get into any actual debates on the topic. And I only replied because of the misunderstanding. I’ll admit I’m considering replying to one other post, but I may not. But I was only clarifying, not making new arguments. I still don’t think the Pit is the place to discuss this, because tempers flare too high. And I don’t want to be like other Dopers who (intentionally or not) hijacked the thread because people were talking about them. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2024, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2327 "2024-04-16T12:28:23Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > I was arguing against a couple people who were ignoring the nuance, making it about Iran trying to destroy Israel. The fact that Babale said it didn’t bug me, because I expect their emotional reactions now. But it bothered me it wasn’t getting any pushback. What the fuck are you talking about, @BigT? I didn’t say that Iran tried to destroy Israel in a barrage of missiles. Clearly, a couple hundred missiles and drones is not nearly enough to accomplish something like that. I honestly have no idea what point you’re trying to make, or what point you think I was making. All I said was that if the Ayatollah launches a massive drone and rocket barrage and then says “Oh, I, uh, _meant_ for you to block all those, I didn’t _really_ want to do any damage anyways”, I’m about as likely to believe him as I am if he told me that he has a girlfriend, but I wouldn’t know her because she goes to school in Canada. And if you want to talk about the _why_ - yes, Iran attacked Israel because Israel killed a few Iranian commanders. Israel killed those Iranian commanders because _they were actively coordinating Hezbollah operations against Israel_. They were doing that as part of Iran’s ongoing proxy war against everyone they dislike in the Middle East, inclusing Saudi Arabia and, yes, Israel. And - _according to Iran_ - the end goal of that war is to destroy ~~Israel~~ “The Zionist Entity”, and remove what they see as American influence from the Middle East. I don’t think any of that should be particularly controversial… ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2024, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2328 "2024-04-16T12:46:11Z")
Piece of shit @Crane likes to celebrate brave acts of rapesistance. > [@Discussion thread for the Hamas Attacks Israel thread, October 2023](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-hamas-attacks-israel-thread-october-2023/991317/4057): > > No, these are acts of resistance against colonialism. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2024, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2329 "2024-04-16T16:16:33Z")
I’m surprised someone that age can inline hyperlinks like that. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Crane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crane/32/3495_2.png) [@Crane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crane)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2024, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2330 "2024-04-16T17:53:58Z")
> [@Max\_S](#): > > I’m surprised someone that age can inline hyperlinks like that. Maybe it’s muscle-memory. ---
**Author:** ![Crane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crane/32/3495_2.png) [@Crane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crane)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2024, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2331 "2024-04-16T17:56:21Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > Piece of shit @Crane likes to celebrate brave acts of rapesistance. “Piece of shit Crane” recognizes colonialism. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2024, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2332 "2024-04-16T18:00:53Z")
> [@Max\_S](#): > > I’m surprised someone that age can inline hyperlinks like that. > > ~Max What age is that? ---
**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:** [April 16, 2024, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2333 "2024-04-16T18:07:10Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > And if you want to talk about the _why_ - yes, Iran attacked Israel because Israel killed a few Iranian commanders. Israel killed those Iranian commanders because _they were actively coordinating Hezbollah operations against Israel_. As much as I’ve criticized Israel’s actions in this war, this is one I can wholeheartedly approve of. That’s how war _should_ be fought: go directly after the people committing the acts of violence against you. Iran’s response only injured a little girl, which is appalling. Any bombing so indiscriminate that it primarily injures children and other civilians should be met with full-throated condemnation. Iran may have thought it was their only possible way to conduct war, but that is absolutely no excuse. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2024, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2334 "2024-04-16T18:22:26Z")
Ohhh, I get it. You’re just a troll. > [@Discussion thread for the Hamas Attacks Israel thread, October 2023](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-hamas-attacks-israel-thread-october-2023/991317/4060): > > Though less kind than the Waffen SS, Israel seeks the same ends. ---
**Author:** ![Crane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crane/32/3495_2.png) [@Crane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crane)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2024, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2335 "2024-04-16T18:37:34Z")
Sorry, Babale, you seem unable to understand the posts. Have you followed the links? ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2024, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2336 "2024-04-16T20:06:45Z")
Wow, Crane has gone completely off the deep end. ---
**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:** [April 16, 2024, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2337 "2024-04-16T20:11:26Z")
> [@Crane](#): > > “Piece of shit Crane” recognizes colonialism. Things can be “acts of resistance against colonialism” and also acts of war. Things can be “acts of resistance against colonialism” and also atrocities. Things can be “acts of resistance against colonialism” and also crimes against humanity. And, of course, things can be “defense against terrorists” and also acts of war. Things can be “defense against terrorists” and also atrocities. Things can be “defense against terrorists” and also crimes against humanity. The two sides here aren’t Hamas and the IDF. The two sides are the people that keep killing civilians, and the people who want them to stop. ---
**Author:** ![Crane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crane/32/3495_2.png) [@Crane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crane)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2024, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2338 "2024-04-16T20:21:28Z")
I agree completely. In the current situation it is important to include the fact that the Palestinians are rebelling against colonialism. While we should condemn the killing of civilians by both sides, we should also condemn imperialist expansion. Especially murdering tens of thousands of innocents in order to make way for it. ---
**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:** [April 16, 2024, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2339 "2024-04-16T20:32:19Z")
I quibble with “colonialism” and “imperialist expansion,” because I don’t think those terms apply exactly, and overfitting them is itself a form of ethnocentrism; but I also acknowledge that Israel’s government has been pretty shitty to Palestinians. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2024, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/2340 "2024-04-16T20:44:47Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > What age is that? **Crane** is over 90 years old. He attested to personal recollections of male sexuality in the year 1950, and I think he announced his 90th birthday a couple years ago. I think of my grandparents. My bubbe worked with computers in the FORTRAN days. (She’s younger than **Crane**.) I think of the patients I interacted with when working in The Villages, FL. I just don’t see modern computer literacy as a common skillset for that age group. ~Max [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532.md?page=116) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532.md?page=118)