WE NEED MORE GUNS..

[Harbal]

What makes you any different from all the other loud mouthed trouble makers who pass through this forum? It's easy to cause a punch up, but you're not going to change anything. When folks get bored of you, they'll just go back to what they were doing.

Making people aware that the primary pursuit of philosophers is self-amusement and boredom-avoidance sounds like a worth-while public service.

What's new about that? That's my reason for coming here anyway, as it seems to be for a good many others. As for the rest, they won't take any notice of you.

[Dontaskme]

Am I correct in saying that you are neither pro-gun nor anti-gun due to the grim outlook that neither position can stop the killing within and of itself?

In answer to your question CS....I'm not in favor of guns, but understand there is nothing I can do about the fact they exist in the world in abundance.

My point again, is that no matter whether we arm ourselves with guns or not, it is not going to stop or protect any of us from the determination of human intent to kill or be killed, and have no problem with that attitude.

What do I mean by not having a problem killing others?

Well, let's start with the unlikely idea that guns were never invented, and that they did not exist in the world ever, but I know they do, but just suppose they didn't...So, If a 'human being' still didn't have a problem with killing others, then the killing would continue on, people would still find a way to kill someone whatever method it took to kill them. Biting someone with violent force could easily rip out a jugular vein. People who have no problem killing others, will continue to do so whatever it took to do it.

My point is, is that until all the people in the world do start having a problem with killing others, then the killing will never stop. People will always have to protect themselves from being killed or murdered of course, as long as there are others who intend to kill, if people want to kill someone they will, and no force or weapon on earth will ever protect you while people have no problem killing others. It's only going to be when everybody realises the futility and pointlessness of killing other people that the killing will stop. But then that will never happen as long as there is still just one single person who has no problem with it. Everybody has to have a problem with killing others, or else it's pointless to ever believe anyone is safe in this world.

All the weapons and bombs in the world will not make anyone safe from the human intent to kill or be killed attitude. We can all agree that killing others is stupid, and that even when it seems like you are the helpless victim of someone else trying to kill you, then you too are participating in the killing game if you have managed to overcome the killer by killing your killer before you are killed....and that's my point, it's pointless to even have weapons at all, they just perpetuate and make the problem even worse.

[Will Bouwman]

Of course you admire Philosophy (or as you call it - storytelling), but it's infnitely amusing to me that "Telling stories." is also a South African euphemism for lying.

Well I actually said I admire Philosophy Now, the magazine that hosts and funds this forum. I do admire some philosophers; some I don't. You are fortunate to be so easily amused; we have representatives of many English speaking parts of the world, most of whom I suspect will be able to share your mirth, since story telling is a common idiom.

I am thinking bigger. I am thinking biggest even. This forum is but a symptom of the broader situation.

How big is the biggest?

If people admitted to themselves that they are engaging in rationalisation, and not reason we'd be ahead of the curve... at least then we could have an honest discourse as to what philosophy is good for.

I'm not sure why rationalisation and reason are mutually exclusive, but as someone who openly says philosophy is rationalisation, I'm happy to talk about what it's good for.

[Dontaskme]

Making people aware that the primary pursuit of philosophers is self-amusement and boredom-avoidance sounds like a worth-while public service.

Of course people talk about philosophy for self-amusement, and for the avoidance of boredom, geeeze, no shit sherlock, tell us something we don't know Mr big I am Einstien, Columbo the almighty magnificent master-mind, Mr know it all of human knowledge.

You even volunteer to be a police officer as a way to avoid the the empty nothingness that is the void of being alive. And you only have to observe the life of a cat to know they are dealing quite well, better than you, with the never-ending boredom of living the same life day after day after day, eating the same food and never being able to question it's own existence. Same with trees, look at how they live, I wonder if they had a brain would they think their life was boring too.

[Dontaskme]

No one is protected in life, and you can never take your gun with you when you leave, everyone leaves empty handed. Stop with the attachment to your gun and the idea it will protect your life. It's a futile pursuit leading nowhere, the chase always leads to a dead end, in the end.

[Age]

Try another moral high horse.

Every single one of your armed police officers likely feel the exact same way after taking a life. That's what the therapy is for...


So you would much prefer it if your armed police couldn't pull the trigger to end a terrorist attack?

Have 'you' EVER the SAYING, 'Prevention is BETTER than the cure', "skepdick"?

Of course I have.

That is what I use my gun for - preventing my murder.

Okay. But, ONCE AGAIN, you seem to be completely and utterly MISSING the WHOLE POINT.

Because you can’t cure me once I am murdered.

BUT 'that murder' may have well PREVENTED MORE atrocities from occurring, which you have ALREADY COMMITED.

[Age]

I was anti-gun when this thread began, but Skepdick changed my mind. It makes more sense to arm and train everyone than to collect the guns that are out there.

'This' was EXACTLY what I was referring to, and WHERE the 'flaw in reasoning', from my perspective, EXISTS.

Basically I changed my mind from where I started.

Yes I had REALIZED.

I was being serious.

And the FLAW IS STILL THERE.

[Skepdick]

BUT 'that murder' may have well PREVENTED MORE atrocities from occurring, which you have ALREADY COMMITED.

In a civilised society we don't murder people because they'll be more trouble in future.

We just send them to an island and call it Australia.

[attofishpi]

BUT 'that murder' may have well PREVENTED MORE atrocities from occurring, which you have ALREADY COMMITED.

In a civilised society we don't murder people because they'll be more trouble in future.

We just send them to an island and call it Australia.

..and it's bloody lovely down here, thanks very much ol' blighty!

[Skepdick]

..and it's bloody lovely down here, thanks very much ol' blighty!

Mate, if a prison island full of convicts could arm itself gun control seemss like a futile exercise against law-abiding citizens.

[attofishpi]

..and it's bloody lovely down here, thanks very much ol' blighty!

Mate, if a prison island full of convicts could arm itself gun control seemss like a futile exercise against law-abiding citizens.

Well getting back to the topic, would you prefer to live in a country where the number of guns accessible to anyone outstrips the population count, or in a country where there are only guns available to people in cases of hunting and shooting clubs?

[Skepdick]

..and it's bloody lovely down here, thanks very much ol' blighty!

Mate, if a prison island full of convicts could arm itself gun control seemss like a futile exercise against law-abiding citizens.

Well getting back to the topic, would you prefer to live in a country where the number of guns accessible to anyone outstrips the population count, or in a country where there are only guns available to people in cases of hunting and shooting clubs?

The number of guns has no effect on my preference.

Actually - I am lying. If your country makes it super-difficult to own firearms then I'll probably never live there. I am too invested in the sport.

Which is why I'll never live in the UK or Australia.

Any country which would allow me to own a gun for sport; or hunting but not for self-defence has its priorities up its ass.

[attofishpi]

Mate, if a prison island full of convicts could arm itself gun control seemss like a futile exercise against law-abiding citizens.

Well getting back to the topic, would you prefer to live in a country where the number of guns accessible to anyone outstrips the population count, or in a country where there are only guns available to people in cases of hunting and shooting clubs?

The number of guns has no effect on my preference.

Actually - I am lying. If your country has no guns then I would probably never live there. I am too invested in the sport.

That's part of my point. In my country you get to keep your sport - gun clubs - shooting ranges and also hunting. Also, you can send your kids to school, go shopping and the cinema with EXTREMELY remote chance of being shot to bits.

[Skepdick]

That's part of my point. In my country you get to keep your sport - gun clubs - shooting ranges and also hunting. Also, you can send your kids to school, go shopping and the cinema with EXTREMELY remote chance of being shot to bits.

Any country which would allow me to own a gun for sport; or hunting but forbids me from using the exact same gun for self-defence has its priorities up its ass.

[attofishpi]

That's part of my point. In my country you get to keep your sport - gun clubs - shooting ranges and also hunting. Also, you can send your kids to school, go shopping and the cinema with EXTREMELY remote chance of being shot to bits.

Any country which would allow me to own a gun for sport; or hunting but forbids me from using the exact same gun for self-defence has its priorities up its ass.

No clearly you do (and selfish to the extreme) by allowing to the same extent any nutjob access to easy ways of mass murdering innocents (children and all-n-sundry)