General Discussion

Flying Squirrel

(3,041 posts)

6. The key word is potential.

Wed Apr 3, 2013, 11:56 PM

Apr 2013

Come on, do you really believe what you're saying here? Nobody can predict the future. Nobody can know what a person is really capable of or really will do in advance. In retrospect, knowing what Hitler did most of us would accept the death of a few innocents to kill him - but only if there were NO other way, (which was not necessarily the case back then and is not necessarily the case now) and ONLY in retrospect since we know without doubt what he would do. No, I don't agree that the killing of innocent people is ever justified in order to take out a POTENTIAL threat.

Furthermore, it's not a simple equation because the killing of those innocents CREATES more potential mass murderers due to the nature of human beings who tend to think emotionally and seek revenge upon those who killed their loved ones. Wars end. Blood feuds carry on for centuries.

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Would you accept the death of a few innocents if it meant taking out a potential mass killer? [View all] Bonobo Apr 2013 OP

We would have to kill half our politicians Arctic Dave Apr 2013 #1

To save 50? Yes. nt Comrade_McKenzie Apr 2013 #2

Well, I at least admire consistency. Bonobo Apr 2013 #3

Until it's your kid. n/t flvegan Apr 2013 #7

What if his kid was to be drafted to fight a battle that a drone could pre-empt? Nuclear Unicorn Apr 2013 #17

Would you be willing to be one of those one or two to save 50? How about your spouse or child? liberal_at_heart Apr 2013 #8

Never. Because it's a fallacy to ever believe the ends justifies the means. Cleita Apr 2013 #4

What if it was 500 potential victims? Llewlladdwr Apr 2013 #5

The key word is potential. Flying Squirrel Apr 2013 #6

In my defense, the OP is a little vague on "potential". Llewlladdwr Apr 2013 #9

The OP is vague, yes.. Flying Squirrel Apr 2013 #10

Agreed, Bonobo LittleBlue Apr 2013 #11

We should not be using drones. RobertEarl Apr 2013 #12

If I could go back in time and kill li'l Hitler at his playground with 4 or 5 of his friends WonderGrunion Apr 2013 #13

If you went back in time, you wouldn't have to even kill Hitler. Cleita Apr 2013 #14

I love alternate history. (nt) Nye Bevan Apr 2013 #15

You are standing outside an elementary school in Leonding, Austria... sarisataka Apr 2013 #16

Empty the pistol and give it back to the man. Cleita Apr 2013 #18

Good answer sarisataka Apr 2013 #20

Is this some kind of trick question where I end up shooting Wittgenstein? JVS Apr 2013 #19

No trick... sarisataka Apr 2013 #22

The answer of course is No, and American lives are of no more value than theirs are! I hate that our Sadiedog Apr 2013 #21

It's not really our government anymore. It's the government of corporate America Cleita Apr 2013 #24

Walking with someone carrying an RPG in a combat zone isn't smart One_Life_To_Give Apr 2013 #23