Recent posts

#31

Off the Record / Re: The AI dooooooom thread

Last post by celedhring - Today at 11:30:29 AM

Rule 34 to achieve new ghastly levels.

#32

Off the Record / Re: Israel-Hamas War 2023

Last post by Tamas - Today at 11:03:34 AM

What was realistically expected of Starmer to do in terms of the Jewish vs Arab shooting that cannot be realistically expected to be done by him regarding the Arab vs Arab shooting?

For starters, pressure the Israeli government to be more careful about what they're shooting at.  It's unlikely to succeed, but at least it's plausible.  As I said, there are some unrealistic and unreasonable demands worked in there (like cutting off Israel entirely, a la South Africa).  I suppose people could go protest Qatar (or, more likely, Western support for Qatar) to try to pressure them to stop supporting Hamas, and it's somewhat fair to call out a lack of that.

That's fine, however the protesters were demanding a ceasefire to be arranged, so in that regard, whatever they thought Starmer can do to make both sides to agree to, it must apply to the Palestinian in-fighting as well since one of the combatants in both case is Hamas.

But again I don't want to be overly Raz about this. I realise it is a different scale. It's just that I feel it is fair to acknowledge that a bunch of Arabs killing each other makes for far less interesting rage-material than Jews killing Arabs. Whether that's because of anti-semitism, or because people are racist and don't assume agency from Arabs, I guess it's a caleidoscope of reasons.

#33

Off the Record / Re: Israel-Hamas War 2023

Last post by Baron von Schtinkenbutt - Today at 10:42:33 AM

What was realistically expected of Starmer to do in terms of the Jewish vs Arab shooting that cannot be realistically expected to be done by him regarding the Arab vs Arab shooting?

For starters, pressure the Israeli government to be more careful about what they're shooting at.  It's unlikely to succeed, but at least it's plausible.  As I said, there are some unrealistic and unreasonable demands worked in there (like cutting off Israel entirely, a la South Africa).  I suppose people could go protest Qatar (or, more likely, Western support for Qatar) to try to pressure them to stop supporting Hamas, and it's somewhat fair to call out a lack of that.

#34

Off the Record / Re: Israel-Hamas War 2023

Last post by Valmy - Today at 10:36:04 AM

The UK is no longer a world power anymore anyway.

#35

Off the Record / Re: Israel-Hamas War 2023

Last post by Tamas - Today at 10:33:54 AM

What was the point of demanding that Starmer arranges a cease-fire?

I appreciate the difference in scale of bombing people's home from the air and shooting them into ditches but apart from that the only difference is who is doing the killing.

The difference, as CC already pointed out, is that Starmer is both someone with power to influence the situation, and someone who could potentially be swayed by protests and demonstrations.  Hamas doesn't give a fuck about Western demonstrations, and won't be influenced by any Western governments, so there's no point in having them.

It doesn't matter that some of the protestors are unrealistic in their demands, and some are disingenuous and using this as cover for their anitsemitism.  The protests are happening because the (non-disingenuous) protestors think they can influence the situation for the better.

What was realistically expected of Starmer to do in terms of the Jewish vs Arab shooting that cannot be realistically expected to be done by him regarding the Arab vs Arab shooting?

#36

Off the Record / Re: The AI dooooooom thread

Last post by Tonitrus - Today at 10:31:41 AM

Based on the many stories I have seen about the evidence collected against criminal suspects using "ChatGPT logs"...I am sure it will be a great idea to hand a powerful private entity a host of blackmail material.

But I predict it will still be popular.

#37

Off the Record / Re: Israel-Hamas War 2023

Last post by Baron von Schtinkenbutt - Today at 10:15:02 AM

They can pressure their governments to ban Hamas, or to encourage the government to work towards destroying the organization.

Hamas has been a designated state sponsor or terrorism, and thus blacklisted in the West, for decades.  Why would people protest to do something that their governments did a long time ago?  Also, short of boots on the ground in Gaza what do you want Western governments to do that they aren't already doing?

#38

Off the Record / Re: Israel-Hamas War 2023

Last post by Baron von Schtinkenbutt - Today at 10:12:22 AM

What was the point of demanding that Starmer arranges a cease-fire?

I appreciate the difference in scale of bombing people's home from the air and shooting them into ditches but apart from that the only difference is who is doing the killing.

The difference, as CC already pointed out, is that Starmer is both someone with power to influence the situation, and someone who could potentially be swayed by protests and demonstrations.  Hamas doesn't give a fuck about Western demonstrations, and won't be influenced by any Western governments, so there's no point in having them.

It doesn't matter that some of the protestors are unrealistic in their demands, and some are disingenuous and using this as cover for their anitsemitism.  The protests are happening because the (non-disingenuous) protestors think they can influence the situation for the better.

#39

Off the Record / Re: Israel-Hamas War 2023

Last post by Razgovory - Today at 10:10:13 AM

To be fair, I don't expect massive London protests with the signs of "stop tribal infighting in Gaza!"

And for good reason, Hamas is a terrorist organization.  What would be the point?

What is the point of the Irish marching in support of Palestine or Canadians against nuclear weapons?

To put pressure on governments. 

Protests to put pressure on terrorists doesn't make much sense to me.

They can pressure their governments to ban Hamas, or to encourage the government to work towards destroying the organization.

But really, the point of those protests is to be seen engaging in a publicly popular position.  It's shoring up moral credentials. 

#40

Off the Record / Re: Israel-Hamas War 2023

Last post by Tamas - Today at 10:05:52 AM

To be fair, I don't expect massive London protests with the signs of "stop tribal infighting in Gaza!"

And for good reason, Hamas is a terrorist organization.  What would be the point?

What was the point of demanding that Starmer arranges a cease-fire?

I appreciate the difference in scale of bombing people's home from the air and shooting them into ditches but apart from that the only difference is who is doing the killing.