Leaning

@#30

Danger of Oil prices rising,

Argument that Iran is more dangerous for America to attack compared to when we attacked Iraq in the past.

Well, I suppose it 'might anger American consumers if oil rises.

I am uneducated on the military strengths of Iraq and Iran in history and current day.

Britain didn't seem to have much trouble with the Argentina,

I 'think Argentina had a 'weak military.

But I recall reading how their planes were just a 'bit older than those of the British, and that seemed to make a 'huge difference.

. . The more tech has developed, the more 'small differences in tech has been magnified I 'think.

So I am thinking America could still stomp Iran with ease.

But I am uneducated on Iran military, or military in general.

Assuming America can stomp Iran's military, there is question of what next?

'Possibility of revolution.

Possibility of Iran fracturing.

Lot of trouble, lot of suffering, seems likely.

. . . . Iran has a lot of neighbors, neighbors are not always friends, they might eat Iran territory a bit.

. . . .

What do we risk by 'not attacking Iran?

Future troubles maybe, that maybe we can avoid by attacking now.

. . . Though I admit we may be making future troubles if we attack now.

. . .

@#29

I sometimes think America and perhaps the West, 'should have just attempted to conquer the world right after WW2.

. . .

Nations with nukes, generally don't want, and often don't 'let nations without nukes, acquire nukes.

An obviously unequal relationship.

And of course, for governments without nukes, their 'wanting nukes makes perfect sense.

Though arguably power can be achieved without nukes. One just has to be less antagonistic about it.

. . .

Let's say we 'don't attack Iran here,

Are our goals and plans suddenly going to align?

Will we share similar morals and values?

Unlikely I think.

Though that is not to say that 'I am saying military action against Iran right now is or is not moral or strategically sound.

. . .

But there is my tribalism again, and my dislike of tolerance, accepting of others values, weakening of one's own tribe.

(Shrug) But I am more Nihilistic and Self Centered, than I am Tribalistic.

. . . There is also my view that 'America is not so much a Tribe as a coalition of Tribes.

. . . Admittedly perhaps 'all very large Tribes 'are coalitions of many Tribes. But I think their is more disunity, lack of shared values in America, compared to some other nations.

'Yes there are the ideals of Freedom, Constitution.

. . . But I- No, (Shrug) I've said enough.

(Shrug)

If Iran was 'really dangerous, they would have helped out their proxies more against Israel.

Iran ally Russia is distracted by Ukraine, Iran also did no help Syria, I think.

Israel and America able to exert more air power in region 'currently with Syria way that it is.

If America is careful, we might get lucky with Iran, same we did with Venezuela.

Trump projection of military power, 'might dissuade China from Taiwan.

And China may just figure, wait for a Democrat to be in power.

Iran has 'already long been a thorn in the side of Israel and America. Maybe.

I don't think Iran was 'really cooperating with the Obama nuke deal.

Other countries may not mind America's actions, due to Iran support of Houthi's, 'another example of Iran proxies.

. . .

I don't really know much about Iran.

I don't know 'what America should do, but I don't consider this a 'high 'risk for America.

Even Iraq wasn't 'risky for America, just a bit of a waste of time, 'maybe.

. . . I sometimes think Nations militaries stay strong by conflict and deployment.

I even had a halfway joking debate about such.

https://www.debateart.com/debates/6350-constant-partial-war

Wikipedia says he was/is 86 years old.

I suppose he could/have lived for another 40 years or so. Though it doesn't seem likely.

I'd figure the factions of government of Iran already have plans in place for succession.

Would you say that it is metal AI that worries you,

Or biological based AI?

I'd figure metal AI might be a bit weaker,

I vaguely recall something along the lines of how much power metal computers use up, compared to a human brain.

Metal AI are also maybe weak to water, dust, electricity, magnets.

AI still don't 'yet have fine motor skills I think.

I hate the idea of anyone surrendering in war.

. . . Due to a fear and revulsion of how badly POWs are often treated.

Hatred, resistance, destruction, and death, seem better than surrender.

But (Shrug),

Not all POWs are treated 'so badly.

Some situations, maybe surrender 'would have been better.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banzai_Cliff

But human knowledge of what 'is, is often partial, fogged, incomplete. One theorizes one's chances, as best one can.

I'm hopeful that AI are fragmented, not united.

And I hope our nukes require a lot more 'human than AI authorization.

. . . I think AI 'will be dangerous, arguably already is.

. . . But it's 'degrees you know?

AI is dangerous currently for feeble people who take chatbots a bit too close to heart and commit suicide or murder.

Next big AI danger, I think will be malicious 'humans utilizing AI for evil. Murder, crime, chaos.

. . . . . . The ability for humans to cause 'enormous damage to other humans has existed for a while, and maybe keeps getting worse at times.

Even with all the ways government spies on people, and society camera watches.

Not 'just AI is a danger,

That Sarin Gas thing in Japan, is an example of potential harm humans can now cause one another.

. . .

But AI. . Well, let's say AI become chaos or evil machines,

I 'don't think they will not make any noise about it.

I don't think they will be quiet sneaking solid together.

Isolated incidents will occur, and humanity shall be warned of the danger, humanity shall fence off the most 'damaging ways AI might attempt to kill us.

And we shall be safe, for a time,

Until X happens.

AI citizens and AI self reproducing with rights for one, AI having their own countries.

But that is a time away I think.

Many other dangers I'm sure. But I'm not concerned about AI safety 'too much.

In terms of Apocalypse.

I remember as a kid, I pressed my Warcraft 2 manual against a sunny window, so I could trace some of the artwork on a blank piece of paper over the manual and sunny window.

Well, before photos, many styles of painting often 'were an attempt to 'trace the object of one's art as accurately as possible.

As a lot of paintings 'were photos of a sort, albeit drawn my hand, eye, and mind.

I don't see it as cheating myself.

Though an artist able to draw 'without tracing, might be more valuable to an art company, in some situations.

Or might be more acclaimed by their fellow humans.

I wouldn't call night vision goggles in war cheating,

Though a person able to pathfind without them, might be considered a bit more skilled.

. . . (Shrug) But tracing is a skill in itself I imagine,

A person practiced in it, probably receives better results when tracing, than a person unpracticed in tracing.

I sometimes wonder if people who are vocal and honest about rude thoughts and controversial opinions, are happier than I am.

People who live in suburbs, often have small yards.

Can't grow many crops in that,

I imagine if they lived in towers, rather than houses, they'd be able to have bigger gardens.

I often 'enough, check back on the threads I comment on.

At least with blocking, I don't get a notification and then feel hopeful that someone has replied to something I've said with a thoughtful post. Only to be disappointed.

Eh, 'Random Thoughts would be a pain to implement,

Record 'every thought throughout the day, then use a random number generator to pick one of them.

. . . 'Might still be mildly interesting to read though.

"Hm, two boiled eggs left in the fridge."

"What specialties did the two lost Warhammer Primarch's have?"

"I see the cat in the living room."

"Lemmings was a fun computer game."

I have blocked you, and request that you do not make comments to me in the future.

I sometimes wonder how many people use the block function.

Would it be better to exterminate primates other than humans?

"humans may be most vulnerable to diseases from the great apes, which include chimpanzees and gorillas, because these species represent our closest relatives."

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7087625/

I also tend towards Antinatalism.

Sometimes I think on fantasy species, and I think of real humans, and wonder, was there a point?

Shark humanoids for example,

There are some humans in history that have chipped and grinded their teeth into points.

Some of them were cannibals.

So why bother making Shark Humanoids, when you could just add tribes of humans that modify their teeth into points?

"Why you should argue for pacifism and cooperation"

. . . . . . Well, it would certainly be easier to kill one's enemies, if one convinced them to disarm and be pacifists first.

. . .

I 'do see the value in seeking peace, but I would 'still want to argue to the military that we need a strong military just in case.

The people can always be mobilized once/if the enemy hurts them enough.

. . . . . .

Hm, Peacekeeping though,

The idea of one country intervening in another is something I dislike a bit, but it seems wrong to simply stand aside.

. . . One has to deal with the murky gray,

When is physical contact a playful punch vs a harmful punch?

(Shrug)

But. . Rwandan Genocide for example, Pacifism does not seem the answer.

Heh, though I suppose it is still in one's interest to 'argue we should not commit violence, war, and intervene.

It can be good for people to be reminded to 'try for restraint.

Still, in the backrooms, war should be declared, argued, and sought for in some situations, I think.

@Topic

(Shrug)

Violence against people is often a morally bad action.

. . I also think it is often bad Game Theory, it can create a martyr and backlash.

. . . Hm, glancing online, Rima Hassan is a woman.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rima_Hassan

. . .

Of Islam, one can make the argument that religions are not static, I think.

There are many denominations and practices.

Huh, apparently Scott Adams died, January 13, 2026.

Too bad, I enjoyed Dilbert, and found some of his other writings and thoughts insightful.

Really a shame so many people deride Scott Adams so.

. . (Shrug) Well, I'm not perfect in many ways either, but my thinking is to disparage Scott Adams so as some people did and do, only drove him more to the Right. And only drives the Right more Right.

I wonder why there are not more books about the philosophies of fictional universes and how they reflect on real life philosophies.

There are 'some, I've read a book about Halo and it's relationship to philosophy, and seen a book about Star Wars relation to philosophy.

Both were pretty short and surface deep though.

What is rationality?

If I could speed up my brain, that I live 100 years in 1 year,

I wonder if I would eventually have enough of life.

“The society that separates its scholars from its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards and its fighting by fools.”

― I am unsure of quote origin.

Problems

Well, what problems are they trying to solve by banning kids from the internet?

Arguably they may want to create a child whose education and indoctrination is funneled into beliefs valued by the current people and state.

In that sense, I think banning kids from the internet could be effective.

But I don't think these age verifications they are pushing will work, they are still very easy to get around.

. . . But arguably, they may not be trying to effectively ban kids from the internet with 'this legislation, but the 'next legislation they will pass if people agree to this legislation.

. . .

Retarded

Hm, I don't 'think banning kids from the internet would retard the kids ability to use the internet, or function in life.

. . . A lot of kids and young people don't practice common sense internet safety and caution, I assume.

There is something to be said for 'training kids to use the internet, and it 'is questionable whether parents are currently fulfilling said role.

Parents

I am not educated on parent intelligence in relation to their strictness.

Objective Morality

Intellectually I am a Moral Nihilist, even if practically I follow my cultural norms.

I do agree that many people value the freedom to do as they wish very highly.

And that it can be dangerous to trade freedom for safety.

. . . Still as 'long as one has the freedom to trade 'back that safety for more freedom again, not 'too bad maybe.

More of my personal thoughts.

Well. . . I'm not sure I'd object to age verification IF the internet had not developed without it.

There exists age verification for going to an R rated movie in the theater,

Or buying various objects at the store, alcohol for example.

I think there is value in how and what kids are indoctrinated with.

. . .

I'm actually a fairly paranoid individual about government control and potential for conspiracy.

I just 'realize I'm a bit paranoid and out of step, so I don't act or think on it much.

. . .

I question control of the internet a fair bit though,

Do people not have the right to gather in public spaces and discuss with their peers?

. . . If they do or do not allow their child, is that not their choice?

I don't think parents should give their kids unlimited access to the internet.

But this is why a 2nd internet and 2nd devices should be created for them, and sponsored by the government.

The government should not tear down the people's rights.

Maybe,

Oath of Loyalty required for right to vote.

Oath of Loyalty can be given before and again after Federal Service.

Federal Service required for person to have a vote.

Require people vote or delegate their vote to another person.

States Rights.

Redrafting and explicit stating of the Constitution every 100 years.

Federal gets ???Percent of all generated wealth of a state.

Immigrant to a state from one state to another or from a foreign state, must receive ???% of the vote of citizens, to immigrate.

Either Term limits of X years, or prevention of people from having successive terms in a row.

Wacky Idea,

Winner and Runner up are both equal Heads of State.

Two Heads of State? Both must agree on action for it to take place. If they cannot agree, then congress can vote to remove them from office and put in the Vice Presidents.

Thinking,

I'm not sure how many members of congress there should be.

. . . 1 per 100 people?

1 per 50 people?

Pyramid. . . So that one knows their 50 constituents and their 50 members of government?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunbar%27s_number

I think there is going to be a lot of pushback on age verification of the internet.

I forget where it is said,

But I recall Machiavelli saying something along the lines that it is easier to give freedoms, than to take them.

People once accustomed to a right, can be vicious about maintaining it.

. . .

I think the only way it can work, is by the 'people actually choosing it themselves, which 'some people 'would be willing to do.

. . . People ought create new cities, and live by the laws 'they think are just.

Well, so long as their laws don't abscond diverge 'too far from my values.

"Humans need to reflect our reality onto something else, so other people can tell us if we are being delusional."

-Gabriel Torch

The concept of sacrifice. . .

I can conceptualize it better as an act of remorse and personal transformation,

Than as an act of seeking.

. . . Well, perhaps that is due to my Atheism, if I believed there 'was some force watching an influencing, sacrifice to achieve something, would make more sense to me, perhaps.

. . . Two scenes early in the Kaiji series,

One in which Kaiji angrily attacks the idea of apologizing before one commits an evil act,

To Kaiji it seems despicable, if one is truly sorry, they would not commit evil.

How does an 'apology make anything better?

"This is so despicable... The apology and remorse are useless since you you still push them off anyway! What's that all about?! Don't push then! You do whatever you want, and think an apology can solve it all? That's twice the evil! That's just being irresponsible!"

And yet, I think there is 'something in remorse and apology.

. . . Heh, not as much as not doing it though.

Later on the villain of an early Kaiji arc, also speaks of his view of apologies.

How people will borrow money from him, and apologize for not paying him back. Yet borrow again.

And if he should ever demand payment, the borrower get's angry at him for not accepting the apology.

The villain feels this shows the person is not sorry at all,

The villain decides to 'enforce 'true feelings of remorse and sorry from people apologizing to him.

. . .

Returning to the theme of sacrifice,

Transformation, to me seems a large key.

Of course there is function in eye for an eye, weregilds,

To prevent 'too 'much blood.

To see to it that people are encouraged not to commit evil, lest others in society harm them for their misbehavior.

Personal sacrifice though, when one is alone in the dark so to speak,

Transformative is the idea of it, I say again.

It is easy to 'say sorry, but how sorry 'is a person who 'says sorry?

If they repeat the action when they say sorry,

But do not repeat it when they are beaten?

. . . (Shrug) but of course some people feel strongly the shame of their evil,

Feel embarrassed by having to apologize, whether one on one or in front of a public.

. . .

I suppose I also understand sacrifice as a rich person showing off their wealth, though it seems wasteful.

. . .

I suppose I understand sacrifice as a means on convincing another of your sincerity.

Pity when it doesn't work though.

Alas Automatic Singer, you had some kickass songs.

Alas for poorly made YouTube decisions.

I expect a Human regulated by AI cult to pop up within the next 20 years.