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I think you might be making too much of the connection between rationality and the ability to use modern tools. I don't have a lot of experience with terrorist

by lsc 9y ago

I think you might be making too much of the connection between rationality and the ability to use modern tools. I don't have a lot of experience with terrorist leaders, but my experience with business leaders is that they are way more superstitious than the average engineer or technician working under them. The leader, in a technical team at least, is almost always the person most vulnerable to irrational thoughts about their own abilities. I suspect this has to do with how much most people value confidence in their leaders, and how much better you are at projecting confidence if you actually have irrationally positive beliefs about your own abilities. Add to that, I'd argue that saying "From my cold, dead hands" to the US military or law enforcement is something only someone who doesn't meet my definition of rationality would do.

aj7 9y ago
I think your first two paragraphs were perceptive. They certainly agree with experiences I’ve had but couldn’t articulate. The third paragraph I don’t understand.
- lsc 9y ago
  I am arguing that fighting the US government with violence is unwise to the point where it indicates a lack of rational thinking: first, the US government is very good at violence, and second because the US government doesn't seem to be so good at responding to non-violent attacks, both in mitigating the effects and in retaliating against attackers. The "From my cold, dead hands" was perhaps a bit of a jab at my own fellow citizens who seem to think that a gun makes you more effective when fighting a enemy so overwhelmingly powerful as the US government. (I mean, I interpret the phrase to mean that they will resist law enforcement officers with violence if said law enforcement officers try to confiscate their guns; it's possible they mean it in a different way, but that's my reading.)
  - aj7 9y ago
    We’re in agreement. The psychological basis of gun fantasy-security is an important issue, since it has put hundreds of thousands of assault rifles in the hands of Americans. The vast majority are responsible users. Just like the vast majority of us don’t get the flu. The minority in each case constitutes a public health risk, which I think, in the case of firearms, is driven in part by fantasy among gun owners.

by lsc 9y ago

aj7 9y ago

I think your first two paragraphs were perceptive. They certainly agree with experiences I’ve had but couldn’t articulate. The third paragraph I don’t understand.

lsc 9y ago
I am arguing that fighting the US government with violence is unwise to the point where it indicates a lack of rational thinking: first, the US government is very good at violence, and second because the US government doesn't seem to be so good at responding to non-violent attacks, both in mitigating the effects and in retaliating against attackers. The "From my cold, dead hands" was perhaps a bit of a jab at my own fellow citizens who seem to think that a gun makes you more effective when fighting a enemy so overwhelmingly powerful as the US government. (I mean, I interpret the phrase to mean that they will resist law enforcement officers with violence if said law enforcement officers try to confiscate their guns; it's possible they mean it in a different way, but that's my reading.)
- aj7 9y ago
  We’re in agreement. The psychological basis of gun fantasy-security is an important issue, since it has put hundreds of thousands of assault rifles in the hands of Americans. The vast majority are responsible users. Just like the vast majority of us don’t get the flu. The minority in each case constitutes a public health risk, which I think, in the case of firearms, is driven in part by fantasy among gun owners.