Int'l Ban on Autonomous Weapons

[Hobbes' Choice]

Nobody can ban anything effectively.

You stole my thunder because this is what I was going to say. How could such a ban work?

Have you never seen a straw man before?

The gun control lobby want registration and licensing like you'd have a for a car. In this way you make it a criminal offence to own un unlicensed gun, and the privilege can be taken away from criminals.
The ban would work exactly like a driving ban, and transgressors would face immediate detention.

[Skip]

Sure - there are all those vacant prison cells, just waiting for illegal weapons charges...

... in a country where the president gets called worse than Satan for suggesting that exhibitors at gun shows do a background check.
Americans like their fire-power! https://www.google.ca/search?q=picture+ ... 00&bih=698

[Hobbes' Choice]

Sure - there are all those vacant prison cells, just waiting for illegal weapons charges...

... in a country where the president gets called worse than Satan for suggesting that exhibitors at gun shows do a background check.

End the war on drugs and you'll have plenty of spare capacity in the Gaols.

You'll not only end detention for victimless crime but also the main reason for gun violence.

I suppose you are going to tell me that this could never happen because too many Republicans have money invested in privatised prison services?

[Skip]

I could tell you that, but you already know. Instead, I'll tell you only that there is much resistance in the US against reasoning, adult behaviour.
We [in Canada] are expecting a big influx of unarmed American potheads who want assisted suicide available when the time comes.

[Hobbes' Choice]

We [in Canada] are expecting a big influx of unarmed American potheads who want assisted suicide available when the time comes.

I'm not sure why you are saying that.

[Obvious Leo]

End the war on drugs and you'll have plenty of spare capacity in the Gaols.

The US is heavily reliant on the drug business and the crime business to keep its economy afloat, to say nothing of the weapons business. The movie industry seems to be its only other consistently well performing economic driver but technology is taking away the demand for all the extras needed to get killed in them. What will they do with all their superfluous morons?

[Skip]

We [in Canada] are expecting a big influx of unarmed American potheads who want assisted suicide available when the time comes.

I'm not sure why you are saying that.

To illustrate the difference.

[Hobbes' Choice]

We [in Canada] are expecting a big influx of unarmed American potheads who want assisted suicide available when the time comes.

I'm not sure why you are saying that.

To illustrate the difference.

I think you might want to explain what you are talking about.

[Skip]

End the war on drugs and you'll have plenty of spare capacity in the Gaols.

You'll not only end detention for victimless crime but also the main reason for gun violence.

I suppose you are going to tell me that this could never happen because too many Republicans have money invested in privatised prison services?

Those are USian problems. You addressed me as if I were somehow involved in those problems. In Canada, we have relatively strict gun control, far less per capita violence (both with and without firearms), are about legalize marijuana and assisted suicide.

It was a casual remark; hardly worth so much follow-up.

[Hobbes' Choice]

End the war on drugs and you'll have plenty of spare capacity in the Gaols.

You'll not only end detention for victimless crime but also the main reason for gun violence.

I suppose you are going to tell me that this could never happen because too many Republicans have money invested in privatised prison services?

Those are USian problems. You addressed me as if I were somehow involved in those problems. In Canada, we have relatively strict gun control, far less per capita violence (both with and without firearms), are about legalize marijuana and assisted suicide.

It was a casual remark; hardly worth so much follow-up.

I'd not realised that euthanasia was being legalised.

[Obvious Leo]

I'd not realised that euthanasia was being legalised.

Euthanasia and assisted suicide are not synonymous terms. The same debate is occurring in Australia but is being deliberately obfuscated by people who use them interchangeably.

[Hobbes' Choice]

I'd not realised that euthanasia was being legalised.

Euthanasia and assisted suicide are not synonymous terms. The same debate is occurring in Australia but is being deliberately obfuscated by people who use them interchangeably.

I knew that as I typed but did not think I'd be pedanticised. I think they can be synonymous: depends on the context.

Assisted suicide also has negative connotations as 'suicide' is definitively a sin to many people.
Euthanasia is literally a 'good death'. and on that basis what I would prefer to call "assisted dying" should lead to a euthanasia.

Euthanasia as an active verb does not sound so good. But its a game of semantics.

[Obvious Leo]

I knew that as I typed but did not think I'd be pedanticised.

Ordinarily I avoid gratuitous pedantry when the meaning is perfectly clear but I'm rather fastidious on this particular subject because it's such an emotionally laden question in the public debate. Thoughtful and intelligent people have aligned themselves on both sides of this question and their views are entitled to be considered on the assumption that they hold them out of a genuine sense of moral conviction. I find that in my country the hotheads on both sides of the argument seem to have taken centre stage and in many cases they're not even arguing the same question.

Euthanasia as an active verb does not sound so good. But its a game of semantics.

I agree that in a forum such as this the semantic game is not much of an issue because it can be easily resolved through closer questioning. However in the modern world a 30 second media soundbite constitutes a debate and a significant question of social policy can quickly lose its entire focus because of the misapplication of language.

[Skip]

Euthanasia and assisted suicide .... I think they can be synonymous: depends on the context.

No. The fundamental and crucial difference is in who makes the decision. That is in no way interchangeable.

Assisted suicide also has negative connotations as 'suicide' is definitively a sin to many people.

We're no making them take advantage of it.

Euthanasia is literally a 'good death'. and on that basis what I would prefer to call "assisted dying" should lead to a euthanasia.

Greek isn't one of our official languages. Euthanasia, here, means killing gently to spare someone suffering. Yes, it has been done by people to beloved mates, parents and children, and by medical personnel to terminal patients - which is not legal. To pets, it is. So, whether it sounds good or bad depends on the sufferer's species.

But its a game of semantics.

And prejudices.

In my own case, the decision was made on a combination of logic, moral conviction, empathy and self-interest. I'm yearly more aware of the possible obstacles I may face in terminating my own life when (not if) it becomes untenable.

[Hobbes' Choice]

I knew that as I typed but did not think I'd be pedanticised.

Ordinarily I avoid gratuitous pedantry when the meaning is perfectly clear but I'm rather fastidious on this particular subject because it's such an emotionally laden question in the public debate. Thoughtful and intelligent people have aligned themselves on both sides of this question and their views are entitled to be considered on the assumption that they hold them out of a genuine sense of moral conviction. I find that in my country the hotheads on both sides of the argument seem to have taken centre stage and in many cases they're not even arguing the same question.

Euthanasia as an active verb does not sound so good. But its a game of semantics.

I agree that in a forum such as this the semantic game is not much of an issue because it can be easily resolved through closer questioning. However in the modern world a 30 second media soundbite constitutes a debate and a significant question of social policy can quickly lose its entire focus because of the misapplication of language.

Maybe I need to see more populist media, but I see neither term as pejorative.
Can you describe the negative connotations down under to each please.