Of course "collateral damage" (with scare quotes) is on a spectrum as is "consent". Those with sinister motives make sure to emphasize this "spectrum" in order

Of course "collateral damage" (with scare quotes) is on a spectrum as is "consent". Those with sinister motives make sure to emphasize this "spectrum" in order to diffuse and confuse its meaning. They also reject the necessity to be precise with their terms. Collateral damage (no scare quotes) on the other hand, like consent (no scare quotes), has a very precise and important meaning with real, binary values. A civilian death is either collateral or intentional. Consent is either knowingly given or withheld. Let's live in a world where these distinctions are clear.