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> Notice the wording - the drone targeted the workers. ... The whole “I’m just doing what the computer said” defense only works in movies. Fair enough, but I w
by justin66 7y ago
> Notice the wording - the drone targeted the workers. ... The whole “I’m just doing what the computer said” defense only works in movies.
Fair enough, but I would not read too much into that choice of words. For example:
“The workers had lit a bonfire and were sitting together when a drone targeted them,” tribal elder Malik Rahat Gul told Reuters by telephone from Wazir Tangi.
I don't believe that Malik Rahat Gul (or possibly, his translator) was attempting to relieve anyone of moral agency or responsibility, do you?
- wstuartcl 7y agoI do see at first glance it could be seen as a simple choice of words, however, I do think it really leaves many readers with a different takeaway. “The workers had lit a bonfire and were sitting together when a drone targeted them,” tribal elder Malik Rahat Gul told Reuters by telephone from Wazir Tangi. “The workers had lit a bonfire and were sitting together when a drone pilot targeted them,” tribal elder Malik Rahat Gul told Reuters by telephone from Wazir Tangi. Small change, large impact on the takeaway.
- justin66 7y agoSomeone needs to tell that guy to choose his words a little more carefully after dozens of his neighbors are killed. I think the person I was responding to was implying that the wording was chosen to downplay what had been done. I don't think that is likely, given the identity of the only person quoted in the article to use that choice of words. > Small change, large impact on the takeaway. Meh.