You're getting some negative reaction because you're missing the points OP was making. 1) At points, they were waging a war that did not rely on terrorist/guer

You're getting some negative reaction because you're missing the points OP was making. 1) At points, they were waging a war that did not rely on terrorist/guerrilla tactics. OP did not claim they don't do 'terrorist stuff' at all. Waging conventional war requires control of territory, which is why this is important. 2) Saying ISIS is/controls a state would have you labeled as a terrorist sympathizer in the media or in conversation. This demonstrates that calling something a 'state' has an implicit moral connotation in popular culture. OP is arguing this should not be true. None of OPs points were a _moral_ judgement of ISIS. I think we can all agree ISIS is bad. For instance, I strongly believe Palestine should be an independent, free state distinct from Israel. However, the UN _recognizing_ it as a state does not mean it magically becomes one. The UN is just making a political point, but sadly one that has little impact on the reality in Palestine.