4 ms·

Apologies to PG if this thread degrades into a political discussion when politics are clearly against the site guidelines (linked on the bottom of every HN page

by jcr 14y ago

Apologies to PG if this thread degrades into a political discussion when politics are clearly against the site guidelines (linked on the bottom of every HN page). The coverage by Peter Kafka of AllThingsD is also worth reading: http://allthingsd.com/20121114/social-warfare-israel-live-tweets-its-military-campaign-against-hamas/ http://allthingsd.com/20121114/social-warfare-israel-live-tw... The social sites used to keep in contact with our families, friends, fans, and favorites are now being used for this? What side you're on is irrelevant; using the communication tech we've created to celebrate and promote death and harm as forms of propaganda and entertainment is just wrong. It was wrong when the Syrian rebels posted video of the execution of 10 Syrian Army members. It was wrong when the Libyan rebels posted video of the execution of Kadafi. It was also wrong for the Israeli Defense Force. And the list goes on and on... Maybe there's some minimal good in just knowing how violent others can be, but when I wonder if our communication tech can be put to far greater and more beneficial uses like promoting peace and resolving differences, I remember the words of Douglas Adams: "Meanwhile the poor Babel fish, by effectively removing all barriers to communication between different cultures and races, has caused more and bloodier wars than anything else in the history of creation."

yew 14y ago
I think rather the opposite is true. People communicate about violence, especially warfare. As Twitter et al transition from 'businesses' to 'methods of communication' this sort of thing will become more and more common. The alternative, of course, is irrelevance. (Or convincing people to stop being violent. Ha.)
mercurial 14y ago
> Maybe there's some minimal good in just knowing how violent others can be, but when I wonder if our communication tech can be put to far greater and more beneficial uses like promoting peace and resolving differences, I remember the words of Douglas Adams: > "Meanwhile the poor Babel fish, by effectively removing all barriers to communication between different cultures and races, has caused more and bloodier wars than anything else in the history of creation." That's a good quote, but I think modern society's take on violence is to make it highly scenarised. A Brave New World kind of violence, where you know where the good guys and the bad guys are. One could hope that increased media coverage would lead to less wars, because people would realize how disgusting it actually is. That is, until you realize the Romans watching the gladiators also got their violence along with the daily bread.
tkahn6 14y ago
Unlike in Europe and here in America, a war is happening in Israel and all Israelis under 45 are either active soldiers or reserve soldiers. I have family in Tel Aviv that was forced to run into a bunker earlier today. I have a friend from high school that is stationed at the Gaza border. It's not an abstract, far away event. The tweets are directly relevant to Israeli society.
- anthonyb 14y ago
  That still doesn't make it right to post tweets glorifying murder.
  - tkahn6 14y ago
    I've been following their updates all day and haven't seen any that have 'glorified murder'.
    - anthonyb 14y ago
      That would be the one in the article: http://nyobetabeat.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/enhanced-buzz-13166-1352930942-9.jpeg http://nyobetabeat.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/enhanced-buzz...
      - tkahn6 14y ago
        I suppose you also believe the raid that killed Osama Bin Laden was murder.
        anthonyb 14y ago
        Yes, yes it was. Why not arrest him and try him for war crimes? Assuming that there's enough evidence to convict - and if not, why is that enough to go and kill him?
        tkahn6 14y ago
maratd 14y ago
> It was wrong when the Syrian rebels posted video of the execution of 10 Syrian Army members. And I'm sure you ran to HN to protest when it happened, right? > It was wrong when the Libyan rebels posted video of the execution of Kadafi. And you were vigorously denouncing it then too, right? > It was also wrong for the Israeli Defense Force. Oh. We finally get to the reason you posted.

by jcr 14y ago

yew 14y ago

I think rather the opposite is true. People communicate about violence, especially warfare. As Twitter et al transition from 'businesses' to 'methods of communication' this sort of thing will become more and more common. The alternative, of course, is irrelevance. (Or convincing people to stop being violent. Ha.)

mercurial 14y ago

> Maybe there's some minimal good in just knowing how violent others can be, but when I wonder if our communication tech can be put to far greater and more beneficial uses like promoting peace and resolving differences, I remember the words of Douglas Adams: > "Meanwhile the poor Babel fish, by effectively removing all barriers to communication between different cultures and races, has caused more and bloodier wars than anything else in the history of creation." That's a good quote, but I think modern society's take on violence is to make it highly scenarised. A Brave New World kind of violence, where you know where the good guys and the bad guys are. One could hope that increased media coverage would lead to less wars, because people would realize how disgusting it actually is. That is, until you realize the Romans watching the gladiators also got their violence along with the daily bread.

tkahn6 14y ago

Unlike in Europe and here in America, a war is happening in Israel and all Israelis under 45 are either active soldiers or reserve soldiers. I have family in Tel Aviv that was forced to run into a bunker earlier today. I have a friend from high school that is stationed at the Gaza border. It's not an abstract, far away event. The tweets are directly relevant to Israeli society.

anthonyb 14y ago
That still doesn't make it right to post tweets glorifying murder.
- tkahn6 14y ago
  I've been following their updates all day and haven't seen any that have 'glorified murder'.
  - anthonyb 14y ago
    That would be the one in the article: http://nyobetabeat.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/enhanced-buzz-13166-1352930942-9.jpeg http://nyobetabeat.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/enhanced-buzz...
    - tkahn6 14y ago
      I suppose you also believe the raid that killed Osama Bin Laden was murder.
      - anthonyb 14y ago
        Yes, yes it was. Why not arrest him and try him for war crimes? Assuming that there's enough evidence to convict - and if not, why is that enough to go and kill him?
        tkahn6 14y ago

maratd 14y ago

> It was wrong when the Syrian rebels posted video of the execution of 10 Syrian Army members. And I'm sure you ran to HN to protest when it happened, right? > It was wrong when the Libyan rebels posted video of the execution of Kadafi. And you were vigorously denouncing it then too, right? > It was also wrong for the Israeli Defense Force. Oh. We finally get to the reason you posted.