4 ms·
When X is illegal, only the criminals will have X. Replace X with basically anything.
by conwaytwitty 11y ago
When X is illegal, only the criminals will have X.
Replace X with basically anything.
- aero142 11y ago"When nuclear bombs are illegal, only the criminals will have nuclear bombs." I think your grand unifying theory needs more nuance.
- coldtea 11y agoI hope we don't depend on the unavailability of nuclear bombs to the bad guys on them being "illegal".
- aninhumer 11y agoNo, we depend on the enforcement of that illegality, which is usually assumed when people discuss banning something. (EDIT: Previously said "making something illegal", which I realised was ambiguous.)
- marcosdumay 11y agoWhat, do you plan to make talking about crypto illegal too?
- aninhumer 11y agoI was replying to the general sentiment, not the specific. Obviously banning encryption is ridiculous, but the "Only criminals will have X" argument is just silly rhetoric. EDIT: I just noticed the ambiguity you're more likely responding to in my original post. I'll reword it.
- Quinner 11y agoI think your nit-picking needs more thought, nuclear bombs are illegal for an individual to possess, and if someone had managed to obtain a bomb from say the former USSR, they would most definitely be considered a criminal.
- lholden 11y agoWhen X is anything, criminals will likely try using X for bad things. :D
- andylei 11y agowhen murder is illegal, only the criminals will murder
- biot 11y agoAs a mere point of interest, that is logically equivalent to: When not only the criminals have X, then X is not illegal.