Messages

76

Off Topic / Re: I found myself, also where did everyone go?

« on: March 20, 2024, 12:28:06 AM »

Weren't you banned a few threads ago? Or was that the other guy?

Oops nevermind, I got you mixed up with Kanye Weee

77

Off Topic / Re: IDF VS HAMAS

« on: March 17, 2024, 12:00:40 AM »

It can be very emotionally taxing to watch in real time as more innocent people are being killed on a near hourly basis.
I tried to respond to as many of your points as I could, while at the same time making sure the primary argument I have made, that the Palestinians are currently suffering from an intentionally genocidal act, is pointed out.

I never said that I assumed you were arguing in bad faith. In fact, in my very quote I had assumed that the evidence I provided had swayed you, insinuating that you were not arguing in bad faith.

You are under no obligation to respond to any of the information I provided. I know that I could only find the energy to address a few of your points directly. I do not know if you saw that attempt, but I suppose if you did, I obviously did not do a good enough job to warrant recognizing the rebuttals.

Still, if hundreds of people being massacred because they are trying to line up to receive food handouts is not something that you deem relevant enough to the conversation then I really have nothing more I can offer. I have tried to be civil to the extent that the heightened emotions that surround over a million people actively starving (due to a war that Israel has refused every single ceasefire offer for), and hundreds of thousands of civillians being murdered or severely wounded, will allow.

I am not saying that you are arguing in bad faith, I am merely acknowledging my limitations in being able to provide the exact examples you require to see this ongoing tragedy for what it is. I am sorry I have failed you. I attempted to provide you with as much information as I could to help you make an informed opinion on the situation since you seemed so concerned that I did not provide links in my earlier posts. I had intended to be thorough and it was easier and more organized to tack on more information onto the posts then to just spam the thread with a bunch of new posts.

[edit]
But Also,

Nah I just haven't taken the time to sit down and respond to your edit1: edit2: edit3: new post

You say this like I didn't actively monitor the thread to see when you were viewing it. At no time did post edits occur after you had a chance to view the thread with the previous post. That is why there ended up being a couple double posts there. I could have just collected all this information into one giant post and include it days late but then i am sure you would have complained about some wall of text.

Nah, you know what
Stop being a little bitch. People have only so much emotional capacity. You don't want people to whine about being tired of reporting ongoing genocide? Maybe you shouldnt treat this like a loving game.

78

Off Topic / Re: IDF VS HAMAS

« on: March 13, 2024, 03:46:38 PM »

I have not seen the OP respond in several days now. I hope that it is because he has reconsidered his opinion but does not know how to close out the thread gracefully.

I completely understand, and do not hold it against you, Soukuw. Everyone can only act on the the information they have, and for those of us in America, many news sources deliberately skip over information that would be prudent for us to know if we want to make systemic changes.

If you are willing to consider this "debate" over, I am too.
I would like to leave some closing points based on discussion i have seen arise between others in this thread:


First of all, I want to make it clear, kidnapping civillians is wrong, no matter who does it. However, the problem with the discourse of "what about Hamas" is that it puts the Palestinians in a position where they must denounce the only group of people who are trying to fight for their rights and liberties. Of course the majority of Palestinians would approve of what has been left as their only option for recourse.

The US had previously declined to recognize Palestine as an independent state until they are able to self govern,
however,
even when the US itself is the one to suggest allowing Palestinian self-government, Neyanyahu continues to refuse to hear any discussion about the topic.


Second, it has been discussed here that the Middle-East is and will always be in a perpetual state of war. That there is no peace. That simply is not true. There are people on both sides that want a ceasefire, people on both sides that understand the loss of human life is not worth whatever new land is cleared for development.

The enemy is not the people of Palestine, nor is it the people of Israel. Many Israeli citizens have spoken out and protested over the treatement of their Palestinian neighbors.

Our enemy has, and will continue to be, the Imperialist Ruling Class that continues to benefit from these decisions.This state of constant warfare is not natural, and decidedly avoidable.

Israeli Prime Minister, Yitzhak Rabin had made significant progress on establishing a Lasting Peace with the Palestinian Government.
He won a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts.
Indeed these past couple decades of continued warfare could have been avoided if he were not Assassinated by Far-Right Israeli-Nationalist Extremists in 1995.


Finally, the United States continues to fund and profit from this state-sponsered genocide, yet the American People do not agree to these activities.

In what is the largest disconnect in history between the opinions of voters and the positions of our representatives in congress, 60-70% of All Americans Across Party Lines Support a Ceasefire. Yes, even the republicans.

This is in contrast to the 11% of congress members who support a ceasefire.

Many of the congress members who advocate for the continuing war and genocide recieve funding from AIPAC, an Israeli-state endorsed PAC that influences the policies of our goverment. (This is despite Federal Law Forbidding Candidate Funding from Foreign Governments.) And further, the AIPAC continues to fund opponents of those congressional representatives who support a peace agreement

This has lead to many Disturbing acts of censorship within our very government when people speak out about these atrocities

Your takeaway should be that these are people who's vote relies on us. Our representatives, a body of goverment much more easily changeable than the president, can be voted out of office in favor of those who are actually willing to consider peace.

Please vote. Please call your representatives and demand a ceasefire.


If these facts have swayed you, and you find yourself in the economic position to, you can try to also make donations to aid those suffering in Palestine.
I suggest the Palestinian Children Relief Fund

It's not much, but it's better than nothing while we wait for next election.


And my heart breaks to have to leave with more bad news, but it looks like the Israeli Military is now making plans to launch a final invasion of Rafah, the only remaining safezone to Palestinian Refugees.

Speaking during a visit to Israeli army officers in Gaza City, Gallant warned “those who think we are delaying [the invasion of Rafah] will soon see there is no place we cannot reach.”

79

Off Topic / Re: IDF VS HAMAS

« on: March 13, 2024, 12:26:16 PM »

I don't really have the energy to keep updating this thread with the horrible events in Gaza, but on twitter this morning I learned that
One aid worker was killed and twenty-two others were injured when Israeli forces attacked a food distribution center in Rafah, which, once again, I should point out was supposed to be a safe evacuation area for refugees

[Edit] So apparently these were UN aid workers that were killed in this bombing?
What would Israel gain in their war on Hamas for killing UN aid workers?
I cant think of a single thing.
However, killing aid workers would help if your goal is to deprive the Palestinian citizens from the support they need to not die from starvation.


Oh and again responding to:

As for medical and press, you're gonna have to source that.

in case you weren't swayed when I posted the link earlier of the 95 marked members of the press killed (as of the time i posted that link) because so many of them were were reporters from Israel, Lebanon, and Palestine that you might have thought maybe they were just killed by accident:
Another, Clearly Marked Journalist from Reuters, an international press agency, was purposefully killed by an Israeli Tank when it shot into a group of journalists with clear press markings, in violation of international law



oh my god I had not really been reading the daily updates before last week so I completely missed the

Massacre that occured on Feburary 29th, as 112 people were killed and over 750 injured as they were waiting to receive food aid.

and now the more I read into events that I had missed in the past the less of a benefit of the doubt I can give your attempts at arguing that this is not attempted genocide.


I think for my own mental health, this will have to be my last update on this thread.

If you wish to still support the Israeli "Defense" Force at this point I am going to have to assume you will not change your mind. If there is a specific set of actions that they would have to take to earn your denouncement, then I will leave it up to you to keep yourself informed of their activities and decide when they have finally crossed the line.

80

Off Topic / Re: IDF VS HAMAS

« on: March 11, 2024, 01:43:26 PM »

And as I wrote that I got a new notification that
Aid trucks were turned away because they contained children's medical scissors.


Like, holy stuff.

[Edit] Israeli "defense" forces kill seven Nine (by the latest count) civillians and injure more than twenty waiting for food at aid trucks. Because getting food when you're starving obviously means you are up to no good and should be executed?

Oh and Israel still isn't letting Muslims into historically and religiously important mosques during Ramadan.

81

Off Topic / Re: IDF VS HAMAS

« on: March 11, 2024, 01:39:08 PM »

Just like I said, and like every observer predicted, Israel has begun assaults

I don't really have the emotional fortitude to comment on all the "defending" that occurred last night but here are a few headlines:

Iraeli forces kill even more citizens in the "safe zone" of Rafah after having directed the citizens to evacuate to that area.
Israeli airstrike kills family of aid workers

And their treatment of prisoners violates the geneva convention time and again.
Israeli soldiers drag Palestinian captives through street by rope
These activities are not about fighting hamas. Dragging people through the streets by a rope is not conducive to routing out insurgents.

Understandably
Muslims in Israel fear being able to attend mosques for Ramadan due to violence by the IOF

And clearly not everyone in Israel supports these dreadful actions:
Israeli Civil Rights groups codemn lack of access to humanitarian aid

As members of Israel-based civil society committed to human rights and the rule of law, we condemn the fact that Israel has so far failed to change its behaviour based on the measures imposed by the ICJ, as well as the fact that humanitarian aid to Gaza dropped by 50% in the month following the ruling

while
Children are starving to death due to Israel blocking food aid

Oh and a really nifty one. You know when all those aid workers were arrested a couple months ago with Israel claiming them to be secretly working for Hamas?
Well, turns out Israel lied about aid workers being Hamas plants and threatened them and their families to testify as such

I really hope you will hold to what you said earlier about being able to change your opinion, since I am not sure I have the emotional fortitude to continue to relay examples of the Unnecessary Atrocitities that are being committed by the IOF.

82

Off Topic / Re: IDF VS HAMAS

« on: March 10, 2024, 05:10:08 PM »

So,
That brings me to why I am focusing so much on the issue of displacement. Tonight is the first night of Ramadan. It is also the night of the Oscars. Previous moves by the Israeli Offensive Force have coincided with major relgious events such as Christmas, and cultural events that attract the US's attention such as the Superbowl. There are more than a few people who are concerned that today will mark another attempt to reduce the territory allowed to be occupied by Gazans. Maybe nothing of note will happen today, which I pray is the case. However, hopefully you can understand my concern.

And there we go Just like I said, and like every observer predicted, Israel has begun assaults on what was supposed to be the last safe zone available to Gazans, Rafah, on the first night of Ramadan, the most sacred holiday of the Muslim community, and during the Oscars when most Americans are distracted by the pretty celebrities on tv.

This is literally the last place they can go before being run directly into the Mediterranean Sea.
How much does this

situation

have to

develop

before you notice that hey maybe this is more than a little forgeted up?

[edit]
Reguarding the bombardment of another evacuation zone, supposedly where Israel has promised people will be allowed to stay safe from bombs:
https://aje.io/tsk5ik?update=2764473

Of concern is Israel’s heavy bombardment of the al-Mawasi evacuation zone, where residents were previously ordered to relocate by the Israeli army. Among the dead are at least eight Palestinians who were sheltering in a tent.

This assault on what was deemed a safe area has shattered any remaining sense of security for Gaza’s traumatised population.

[edit 2]
More updates on tonight's attack against Rafah, a supposed "safe zone" for Palestinian refugees to avoid getting targeted by airstrikes. Guess that was a lie. https://aje.io/tsk5ik?update=2764569

[edit 3]
And more attacks on refugee camps tonight: https://aje.io/tsk5ik?update=2764726
And attacks on civillian neighborhoods in gaza city: https://aje.io/tsk5ik?update=2764673
Looks like the IOF is having a very busy night of "defending" israel...

[edit 4]
More women and children (ie, non-combatants) killed in Gaza tonight, https://aje.io/tsk5ik?update=2764871
And Muslims are being denied enterance to mosques on the night of the start of Ramadan https://aje.io/tsk5ik?update=2764776
Which is very strange considering what you said:

Around 18% of Israel is Muslim, weird genocide.

Which, correct me if I'm wrong, was meant to convey some sort of "they are actually not discriminating against Muslims inside of the occupied territories of Israel"? Maybe they didnt get the message.

83

Off Topic / Re: IDF VS HAMAS

« on: March 10, 2024, 03:45:04 PM »

As for medical and press, you're gonna have to source that.

I was planning to first address the issues of journalists and the medical personell being deliberately targeted by the IOF.
The first is a list of at least 95 journalists killed, the second is a statement by doctors without borders of some of their medical personel being killed.

And I realize two links confirming deliberate killing of over a hundred non-combatants will probably not sway you if South Africa, Ireland, and many other country's governments decrying these war crimes didn't.

However, there is one topic that I feel is important to address today as several aid organizations are bringing to light.
Regarding the continued displacement of Gazans in particular.

Since Oct 7th? Or are you talking about all of history? If it's since Hamas hopped the border with the sole mission of killing as many civilians as they could I'd assume you'd would be able to understand this is a developing situation.

Well you have previously stated that the historical claims of Israel over indigenous Palestinian territories are not relevant to the current discussion, as they were done "legally" through "land purchases".
We [ edit ] could [ /edit ] perhaps discuss all of the recent conflicts wherin the IOF assisted in the demolition of homes in the Golan Heights and other territories that were supposed to be left aside for Palestinians, not as a response to offensive activities by the Palestinians, but at the behest of land developers who needed more room for expanding settlements. [ edit ] but that is another conversation which I do not have the energy for right now. [ /edit ]

We will ignore the historiocity of everything and focus on the recent military expansion of the IOF since october 7th in particular.

When Israel decided it was going to start bombing northern Gaza, it gave the citizens, 1.5 million of them, a six hour warning to evacuate the area.
[ edit ] I am including a link here because this is such a rediculous demand by Israel I am sure you wont believe me on my word, so here was there demand as stated by CNN [ /edit ]
 That is like trying to empty the entire population of Philadelphia, (except in much denser poulation per area) In a quarter of a day. International pressure, not Israeli hospitality, ensured there would be a corridor for citizens to leave the area.

Even despite the extended permitted time to leave the area, the actual path for evacuees to walk were considered combat zones except for temporary four hour ceasefires (that only applied to the actual evacuations sites, not even the areas between Gaza City and supposed safe areas of Salah Al-Din) Oh and that "humanitarian corridor" that the UN demanded be in place? Yeah, the IOF was still arresting fleeing civillians

So ok, those Gazans? Not trusted to live in North Gaza. Sure, they still have all of South Gaza that is kept free. Oh wait nevermind
Israel continues to shrink the "safe zone" like the most perverse game of fortnite you've ever seen. More and more Refugee camps were added to lists of places that Gazans had to evacuate. And here is a link to Reuters if you are getting tired of me linking Aljazeera= https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/why-is-israel-attacking-south-gaza-after-telling-people-go-there-2023-10-25/#:~:text=Since%20telling%20Gazans%20to%20head,south%20intensified%20on%20Oct.%2025.

This has lead to the only remaining safe zone for most Gazans being the tiny stretch of land in Rafah, on the egyptian border. That a population of refugees larger than the US's sixth largest city, in a 24.71 square mile space. That is Half The Size of Disneyworld.

Why don't the refugees all just cross over into Egypt? Even ignoring the demands of processing all of the new civillians, that is essentially adding the entire population of a major city that now egypt would have to take care of that there is currently no infrasturcture for.

So,
That brings me to why I am focusing so much on the issue of displacement. Tonight is the first night of Ramadan. It is also the night of the Oscars. Previous moves by the Israeli Offensive Force have coincided with major relgious events such as Christmas, and cultural events that attract the US's attention such as the Superbowl. There are more than a few people who are concerned that today will mark another attempt to reduce the territory allowed to be occupied by Gazans. Maybe nothing of note will happen today, which I pray is the case. However, hopefully you can understand my concern.

Since the start of the Israeli invasion into Gaza, in theory for the sole purpose of finding Hamas fighters, the safe areas for Gazans has decreased to 1/6th of its former area. You say you are open to changing your opinion. Do any of these facts raise even the slightest bit of concern over the lives of the civilians in Gaza for you?


[EDIT 2]
WAIT WAIT WAIT hold up:
I got around to reading what you wrote in reponse to the white phosphorus thing

Principle of proportionality comes into effect here. Pretty sure this isn't true.

And What?
Principle of proportionality my ass, It's a loving warcrime under the geneva convention.
Did you even read the loving link i left last time? Here's another:
https://disarmament.unoda.org/convarms/incendiary-weapons/
and in case you dont want to click it:

The use of incendiary weapons is heavily interlinked with concerns over the respect of international humanitarian law, particularly the prohibition of weapons that cause superfluous injury or unnecessary suffering and regulations to protect civilians from the effects of hostilities.

In 1980, the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects was adopted with the aim to ban or restrict the use of certain types of weapons considered to cause unnecessary or unjustifiable suffering to combatants or to indiscriminately affects civilians. Protocol III of the Convention restricts the use of incendiary weapons.

The Protocol on prohibitions or restrictions on the use of incendiary weapons (Protocol III) aims at protecting civilians and civilian objects from the use of this type of weapons. It prohibits targeting civilians and restricts targeting military objects located within populated areas. The Protocol also prohibits the use of incendiary weapons on forest or other plants unless the vegetation is used to conceal military objects.”

The USA still maintains the right to use them under certain circumstances.

And the  US has  never comitted  a war crime?
(Those are four seperate links mind you. And we are not at all innocent in this most recent attack as the white phosphorus used by Israel was Made in the USA (TM) )

There appears to be a reduction in the usage of White Phosphorus by Israel.

There "appears to be a reduction"?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2023/12/11/israel-us-white-phosphorus-lebanon/
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/10/lebanon-evidence-of-israels-unlawful-use-of-white-phosphorus-in-southern-lebanon-as-cross-border-hostilities-escalate/
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/human-rights-watch-says-israel-used-white-phosphorous-gaza-lebanon-2023-10-12/
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/amnesty-international-shares-proof-on-israels-use-of-white-phosphorus-in-gaza/3020340
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/israel-admits-possession-of-munitions-containing-white-phosphorus/3080426
https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/u-s-probes-israeli-strikes-that-killed-civilians-in-gaza-possible-use-of-white-phosphorus-in-lebanon-b8fb043b
https://scrippsnews.com/stories/investigations-find-israel-used-white-phosphorus-made-in-the-us/
https://www.anews.com.tr/middle-east/2023/10/15/anadolus-images-prove-israel-used-white-phosphorus-in-gaza

There are links for at least two instances of White Phosphorus use on civillians in Gaza and Lebanon each, and concerns over it's continued use.


[Edit 3: Bonus Round]

You understand that's 1 person out of a 120 member parliament right? Does a single member of congress dictate the absolute views of the USA?

Former Director of Israeli Security Agency states that "Netanyahu wants an endless war"
If a US president, say Andrew Jackson, decided we needed to foricibly exterminate or relocate all the indigenous peoples from the east coast, you would say that he is attempting genocide, correct?
If the Israeli government's position is to expunge all Palestinians from the territory, is that any different?

[Edit 4: Moved these from the below post for clarity]
So I have just learned that about 20 hours ago yesterday at the time of this edit, Israel bombed a 15 story residential structure in the supposed safe zone of Rafah "Oh but they gave warning." 30 minutes to evacuate a full 15 story structure where many of the inhabitants are starving or suffering wounds from previous Israeli attacks? It's a miracle more weren't killed or injured. Not to mention those are hundreds of more people without housing who will have to join the general mass refugee camp forming in Rafah.

Where the forget are these people supposed to go? They are literally in the last "safe zone" allowed by Israel and now they are being bombed there too.
Oh and now theres more women and children killed in an airstrike in northern Gaza

84

Off Topic / Re: What happened in your birth year?

« on: March 06, 2024, 04:56:01 PM »

I was born.

85

Off Topic / Re: IDF VS HAMAS

« on: March 04, 2024, 10:44:34 PM »

So I do not currently have the energy to collate all of the information you are requesting, so I want to address, yet again my question:

So are you actually open to changing your opinion or are you just looking for someone to use as an ideological punching bag so you can feel intelligent about defending genocide?

To which you said:

More automatic bad faith assumptions.

If you paid attention, you would note that I did not say you are arguing in bad faith, which, seeing as you use the phrase, I assume you understand to mean, arguing without any intention to hear the other side or allowing for yourself to be swayed.
I will thus simplify my question: What is the point of this thread?
To be more specific:
Are you intending for engaging in a debate where you are willing to change your opinion if presented valid evidence? Is there a threshhold of evidence, (appearantly beyond multiple governments denouncing Israel for genocide) that will persuade you to consider the possibility that Israel is commiting genocide? Or, conversely, did you create this thread only because you knew people would passionately argue against you, without any intention to hear their arguments? That is my question. I made no accusations.

I am not going to put in the effort to write essentially a five page essay to address your grievences unless I can have some assurance that you are willing to consider that you may, in fact, be incorrect.

However, one brief note to leave on that I noticed in passing:

Using white phosphorus isn't a war crime handicap.

Please at least do a minimum of research, particularly before you use disparaging slurs in response to someone _{(weren't you the one who got touchy at someone who called you insane)}

"While in general white phosphorus is not subject to restriction, certain uses in weaponry are banned or restricted by general international laws: in particular, those related to incendiary devices.Article 1 of Protocol III of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons defines an incendiary weapon as "any weapon or munition which is primarily designed to set fire to objects or to cause burn injury to persons through the action of flame, heat, or combination thereof, produced by a chemical reaction of a substance delivered on the target". Article 2 of the same protocol prohibits the deliberate use of incendiary weapons against civilian targets (already forbidden by the Geneva Conventions), the use of air-delivered incendiary weapons against military targets in civilian areas, and the general use of other types of incendiary weapons against military targets located within "concentrations of civilians" without taking all possible means to minimise casualties. Incendiary phosphorus bombs may also not be used near civilians in a way that can lead to indiscriminate civilian casualties."

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/13/what-is-the-white-phosphorus-that-israel-is-accused-of-using-on-gaza

The rights group said late on Thursday that it had verified Israel’s use of white phosphorus munitions through interviews and videos showing the chemical substance was fired on two locations along the Israel-Lebanon border and over the Gaza City port.

“White phosphorous is unlawfully indiscriminate when airburst in populated urban areas, where it can burn down houses and cause egregious harm to civilians,” Lama Fakih, Middle East and North Africa director at HRW, said in a statement.

https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/10/12/israel-white-phosphorus-used-gaza-lebanon

he use of white phosphorus in Gaza, one of the most densely populated areas in the world, magnifies the risk to civilians and violates the international humanitarian law prohibition on putting civilians at unnecessary risk.

“Any time that white phosphorus is used in crowded civilian areas, it poses a high risk of excruciating burns and lifelong suffering,” said Lama Fakih, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “White phosphorous is unlawfully indiscriminate when airburst in populated urban areas, where it can burn down houses and cause egregious harm to civilians.”

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/10/lebanon-evidence-of-israels-unlawful-use-of-white-phosphorus-in-southern-lebanon-as-cross-border-hostilities-escalate/

The Israeli army fired artillery shells containing white phosphorus, an incendiary weapon, in military operations along Lebanon’s southern border between 10 and 16 October 2023, Amnesty International said today. One attack on the town of Dhayra on 16 October must be investigated as a war crime because it was an indiscriminate attack that injured at least nine civilians and damaged civilian objects, and was therefore unlawful, said the organization.

https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/10/12/questions-and-answers-israels-use-white-phosphorus-gaza-and-lebanon

From December 27, 2008, to January 18, 2009, during Operation Cast Lead, the Israeli military fired approximately 200 ground-launched white phosphorus munitions into populated areas of Gaza. Israeli forces relied particularly on 155mm M825E1 artillery projectiles, which send burning phosphorus wedges 125 meters in all directions, giving them a broad area effect. Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the Israeli military used the shells only to create smokescreens. Whatever their ostensible purpose, however, Human Rights Watch found dozens of civilian casualties in the six incidents it documented. The white phosphorus shells also damaged civilian structures, including a school, a market, a humanitarian aid warehouse, and a hospital.

I am responding to this point because it took literally 2 minutes to collect that information.
No, white phosphorus, when used as a illumination or smoke source, away from possibility of inflicting harm directly on persons, is not a war crime.
The use of incendiaries of any sort, including white phosphorus, when used in a way that will directly harm human lives, is forbidden under the geneva convention, making it a war crime.

You can feel free to rephrase your argument on this point if you wish. I will address your other concerns later if it seems worth it.

86

Off Topic / Re: IDF VS HAMAS

« on: March 04, 2024, 12:08:33 AM »

Yeah because his comment was absolutely made in good faith and I shouldn't defend myself at all while he personally attacks me. 3 posts in and we're already acting like crybully victims huh.

I was quoting your original post. I was not commenting on your response to someone making an attack unrelated to your post.
If you notice, what I instead ask is:

So are you actually open to changing your opinion or are you just looking for someone to use as an ideological punching bag so you can feel intelligent about defending genocide?

I nowhere in that statement said you are not allowed to defend yourself.

Care to define genocide?

the deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular nation or ethnic group with the aim of destroying that nation or group.

For more examples:
https://www.un.org/en/genocideprevention/genocide.shtml

Israeli leaders have explicitly stated that their goal is to kill all of the Muslim population in Israel.
Israeli parliment member, Nissim Vaturi, was quoted as saying their goal is to "Wipe Gaza off the face of the Earth", which is easily verifiable with a quick google search. Such statements by government offcials has lead other countries to call for the UN to recognize the attempted genocide of the Palestinian people. For Example.

am I supposed to just feel bad because it's the word "genocide" and I should take it at face value?

It certainly should be cause for alarm and perhaps further assessment of your opinion.

I'd argue the fact Gaza isn't glass is a sign that Israel might not actually be committing "genocide".

Because they haven't resorted to nukes? I want to know if that is your actual defense.
They have intentionally targeted hospitals. Which is a war crime. They have intentionally destroyed food supplies left by humanitarian organizations. Which is a war crime. They have specifically shot and killed marked members of the press and medical corps. Which is a war crime.

They have systematically driven the Gazans into smaller and smaller locations, saying oh this next area you are being restricted to is going to be the safe zone, and then less than a week later bomb said safe zone.

This is not a conflict of Israel vs Hamas. It is Israel vs. the Palestinian people. At least Thirty-Thousand innocent civillians have been killed and over Seventy-One-Thousand greviously injured since this most recent string of attacks against civilians.

They sure do seem to take quite a few actions to avoid civilian casualties.

See above statistics

Unlike Hamas who targets civilians, kills civilians kidnaps civilians and stores munitions under their own civilians.

Hamas was not created in a vaccuum. They were created and continue to gain recruits out of the despiration of people who have suffered nearly a hundred years of western-sponsored occupation.
Of course it is wrong to target civillians, and one should not excuse those in Hamas for doing so. However, such talking points are always brought up in response to people pointing out Israeli attrocities. They kidnapped 253 people, in an attempt to use them as leverage for Israel to return the 4400 political prisoners being held, 160 of them being children. Can you justify holding a child as a hostage? Not when Hamas does it? Ok. What about when Israel does it?

stores munitions under their own civilians.

It is very convenient how nearly every building in gaza, including medical and food supply depots, every single one, also serves as a munitions stockpile. I wonder how they get all these weapons?

The automatic assumption I condone killing civilians seems a little odd, that's exactly the reason I don't like Hamas.

I nowhere stated that you condone killing civilians.

Again all I asked was:

So are you actually open to changing your opinion or are you just looking for someone to use as an ideological punching bag so you can feel intelligent about defending genocide?

So I will put it more plain. Are you actually wanting to have a conversation where you will accept evidence against your belief, or are you just trying to raise an argument for the adrenline with no intention of changing because that would take the fun out of arguing?

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Off Topic / Re: IDF VS HAMAS

« on: March 03, 2024, 05:35:39 PM »

I think I might have learned enough to argue! LETS GOOOO

I'm pro IDF somewhat but pretty damn supportive of them.

So are you actually open to changing your opinion or are you just looking for someone to use as an ideological punching bag so you can feel intelligent about defending genocide?

88

Off Topic / Re: Software engineering trends that annoy you

« on: February 29, 2024, 11:05:07 PM »

Dev teams that don't feature people of color or women, particularly when dealing with technology that uses voice or facial recognition. We still have devices that cannot tell when someone besides a white male is trying to use them and we're already a quarter century into the 2000s. It's embarrassing at this point.

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Off Topic / Re: Forumer of the Year 2023: Swolli wins! (he wins bonus round, too!)

« on: January 26, 2024, 04:04:13 PM »

it wouldn't have been a tie, swholli -1 mld +1 would make it 6 to 5

That is not what abstaining means.

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Off Topic / Re: Forumer of the Year 2023: Swolli wins! (bonus round: swolli vs MLD)

« on: January 26, 2024, 12:58:55 PM »

aw man i woulda kept my vote to yours if i realized it was down to a single vote. your chronology thing is the single greatest thread to prevent mass amnesia of important histoic blockland events (not the wrench events)

woulda been better to abstain cause then it would be a tie and everyone would be [happy/sad] at the outcome.