Skip to content
  • Categories
  • Recent
  • Tags
  • Popular
  • World
  • Users
  • Groups
Skins
  • Light
  • Cerulean
  • Cosmo
  • Flatly
  • Journal
  • Litera
  • Lumen
  • Lux
  • Materia
  • Minty
  • Morph
  • Pulse
  • Sandstone
  • Simplex
  • Sketchy
  • Spacelab
  • United
  • Yeti
  • Zephyr
  • Dark
  • Cyborg
  • Darkly
  • Quartz
  • Slate
  • Solar
  • Superhero
  • Vapor

  • Default (No Skin)
  • No Skin
Collapse
Code Project
  1. Home
  2. Other Discussions
  3. The Back Room
  4. The US as a banana republic

The US as a banana republic

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved The Back Room
htmlcom
90 Posts 16 Posters 0 Views 1 Watching
  • Oldest to Newest
  • Newest to Oldest
  • Most Votes
Reply
  • Reply as topic
Log in to reply
This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
  • I IamChrisMcCall

    BoneSoft wrote:

    And his legal team seems to think that "sensory deprivation, sleep deprivation & enforced stress positions" constitutes torture.

    Sensory or sleep deprivation is torture. So are enforced stress positions. You know this, but you pretend it's no big deal to ease your conscience. If those techniques were not torture, why would they be used to extract information? Making someone slightly uncomfortable is not going to accomplish anything and you know that, too. But, sure, it's like being at the DMV. Whatever helps you get through the day as a torturer by proxy. Be careful, though, torture breaks down the torturer as surely as it breaks down the victim.

    B Offline
    B Offline
    BoneSoft
    wrote on last edited by
    #28

    Some have argued that being nice to people is the best way to extract information. By your definition, does that make being nice to people torture? Or does any method of extracting information constitute torture? Does that make it wrong to extract information at all? Give me a break. Even with sleep and sensory deprivation and stress enforced positions, they're more comfortable than your every day homeless person. I sleep just fine knowing that that's happening to people that want me dead.


    Try code model generation tools at BoneSoft.com.

    1 Reply Last reply
    0
    • O oilFactotum

      BoneSoft wrote:

      seems to think that "sensory deprivation, sleep deprivation & enforced stress positions" constitutes torture.

      They don't just 'seem to think it'. They are crimes under US law.

      BoneSoft wrote:

      I should be able to sue the bank and the DMV for making me stand in line.

      X| I honestly hope you don't really believe that.

      B Offline
      B Offline
      BoneSoft
      wrote on last edited by
      #29

      Come on, I'll agree with you that water boarding can be considered torture, but sleep and sensory deprivation? That happens in prison daily and nobody has a problem with it. Anybody with a child under 2 is subjected to that, constantly.


      Try code model generation tools at BoneSoft.com.

      O 1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • I IamChrisMcCall

        BoneSoft wrote:

        And his legal team seems to think that "sensory deprivation, sleep deprivation & enforced stress positions" constitutes torture.

        Sensory or sleep deprivation is torture. So are enforced stress positions. You know this, but you pretend it's no big deal to ease your conscience. If those techniques were not torture, why would they be used to extract information? Making someone slightly uncomfortable is not going to accomplish anything and you know that, too. But, sure, it's like being at the DMV. Whatever helps you get through the day as a torturer by proxy. Be careful, though, torture breaks down the torturer as surely as it breaks down the victim.

        B Offline
        B Offline
        BoneSoft
        wrote on last edited by
        #30

        Yep, after reading that again, as written you are saying that torture is the only way to extract information. And if that were true I'd say torture the crap out of them. But if that were true, anybody that hands you a form to fill out or asks you what time it is is torturing you. I suspect that wasn't your intent, but what you write is all I've got to go on, and you definitely see things from a different perspective than I do so I don't dare guess at your meaning.


        Try code model generation tools at BoneSoft.com.

        I 1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • I IamChrisMcCall

          BoneSoft wrote:

          Ask virtually any Japanese about that and they'll tell you that it was justified and it almost certainly saved lives.

          You've got to be kidding me. Saved lives, maybe, but we dropped those bombs on civilian targets. The nation of Japan has been in a state of cultural mourning for the victims of the attack ever since it happened.

          B Offline
          B Offline
          BoneSoft
          wrote on last edited by
          #31

          Yes they make it a point to always remember, but more in the context of 'this is what happens when we do horrible things to other people'. And they still recognize that it was probably the only thing that would have ended the war.


          Try code model generation tools at BoneSoft.com.

          I 1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • S Stan Shannon

            So impeach him. Whats the problem?

            The only conspiracies that concern me are the ones I am completely unaware of. By the time I find out about it, its probably a done deal. Nothing in the entire universe is more useless than morality without authority. A morality free of hypocrisy is no morality at all.

            O Offline
            O Offline
            oilFactotum
            wrote on last edited by
            #32

            When did you come up with the quaint notion that I am the House of Representatives?

            S 1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • B BoneSoft

              Come on, I'll agree with you that water boarding can be considered torture, but sleep and sensory deprivation? That happens in prison daily and nobody has a problem with it. Anybody with a child under 2 is subjected to that, constantly.


              Try code model generation tools at BoneSoft.com.

              O Offline
              O Offline
              oilFactotum
              wrote on last edited by
              #33

              BoneSoft wrote:

              water boarding can be considered torture,

              Not 'can be considered', it is torture. The other two, I'm not going to research whether or not they are considered torture, but they are both illegal under US law as I stated, so it doesn't matter that they rise to the level of torture.

              BoneSoft wrote:

              Anybody with a child under 2 is subjected to that, constantly.

              No, they aren't. And like I said before, I can't believe you actually believe that.

              S B 2 Replies Last reply
              0
              • O oilFactotum

                When did you come up with the quaint notion that I am the House of Representatives?

                S Offline
                S Offline
                Stan Shannon
                wrote on last edited by
                #34

                What do you think the term "representative" means?

                The only conspiracies that concern me are the ones I am completely unaware of. By the time I find out about it, its probably a done deal. Nothing in the entire universe is more useless than morality without authority. A morality free of hypocrisy is no morality at all.

                O 1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • O oilFactotum

                  BoneSoft wrote:

                  water boarding can be considered torture,

                  Not 'can be considered', it is torture. The other two, I'm not going to research whether or not they are considered torture, but they are both illegal under US law as I stated, so it doesn't matter that they rise to the level of torture.

                  BoneSoft wrote:

                  Anybody with a child under 2 is subjected to that, constantly.

                  No, they aren't. And like I said before, I can't believe you actually believe that.

                  S Offline
                  S Offline
                  Stan Shannon
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #35

                  oilFactotum wrote:

                  but they are both illegal under US law as I stated

                  So lets change the that law. Stupid laws need to change.

                  The only conspiracies that concern me are the ones I am completely unaware of. By the time I find out about it, its probably a done deal. Nothing in the entire universe is more useless than morality without authority. A morality free of hypocrisy is no morality at all.

                  B O 2 Replies Last reply
                  0
                  • O oilFactotum

                    BoneSoft wrote:

                    water boarding can be considered torture,

                    Not 'can be considered', it is torture. The other two, I'm not going to research whether or not they are considered torture, but they are both illegal under US law as I stated, so it doesn't matter that they rise to the level of torture.

                    BoneSoft wrote:

                    Anybody with a child under 2 is subjected to that, constantly.

                    No, they aren't. And like I said before, I can't believe you actually believe that.

                    B Offline
                    B Offline
                    BoneSoft
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #36

                    oilFactotum wrote:

                    they are both illegal under US law as I stated

                    I've never heard of any law against them, which granted doesn't mean much, but sensory deprivation is done in every prison in the country every day. And sleep deprivation is on page 1 on the interrogation manual, sensory deprivation is on the cover. You may be right, and if so I'd like to know, but I have a hard time believing it. But I certainly wouldn't consider them torture, they're not harmed, have no permanent effects, and there's no chance of them dieing from it. If you want information from bad guys, and smacking them around isn't OK, what other option do you have? You do want information from bad guys don't you?

                    oilFactotum wrote:

                    BoneSoft wrote: Anybody with a child under 2 is subjected to that, constantly. No, they aren't. And like I said before, I can't believe you actually believe that.

                    Spend 3 - 4 hours in the dark every night with a baby on your shoulder. 4 hours of sleep every single day for months on end is pretty serious sleep deprivation. I think I'd rather be forced to stay awake for 3 or 4 days in a small empty room while being asked the same questions over and over again than go through that again. That would probably be healthier too.


                    Try code model generation tools at BoneSoft.com.

                    B O 2 Replies Last reply
                    0
                    • O oilFactotum

                      http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2007/12/this-is-a-banan.html[^] "We live in a country where the government can detain indefinitely, torture in secret, and then secretly destroy the tapes of torture sessions to protect its own staff"

                      P Offline
                      P Offline
                      peterchen
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #37

                      I am not sure about the "republic" part, though :cool:


                      We are a big screwed up dysfunctional psychotic happy family - some more screwed up, others more happy, but everybody's psychotic joint venture definition of CP
                      My first real C# project | Linkify!|FoldWithUs! | sighist

                      B 1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • S Stan Shannon

                        oilFactotum wrote:

                        but they are both illegal under US law as I stated

                        So lets change the that law. Stupid laws need to change.

                        The only conspiracies that concern me are the ones I am completely unaware of. By the time I find out about it, its probably a done deal. Nothing in the entire universe is more useless than morality without authority. A morality free of hypocrisy is no morality at all.

                        B Offline
                        B Offline
                        BoneSoft
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #38

                        I agree, if it actually is illegal, I don't think it should be. Sensory deprivation does nothing but make people more eager to engage and increases suggestibility. Sleep deprivation won't do them any harm, but it's real incentive to cooperate. Same with forced stress positions.


                        Try code model generation tools at BoneSoft.com.

                        S 1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • P peterchen

                          I am not sure about the "republic" part, though :cool:


                          We are a big screwed up dysfunctional psychotic happy family - some more screwed up, others more happy, but everybody's psychotic joint venture definition of CP
                          My first real C# project | Linkify!|FoldWithUs! | sighist

                          B Offline
                          B Offline
                          BoneSoft
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #39

                          That's just a side effect of being WAY out in left field. You should have read the warning label.

                          Lefties

                          If recommended dosage is exceeded, patients report bizarre ideas that wildly diverge from reality. A small number of cases experience mental illness as a result of taking Lefties. Do not give to children under the age of 80. Other side effects include vomiting, crying, bleeding heart syndrome, irrational argument syndrome, feeling sorry for bad people getting what they deserve, anal leakage, and paranoia generally aimed at the government and or George Bush personally. If any of these side effects lasts more than four hours, consult a doctor.


                          Try code model generation tools at BoneSoft.com.

                          P 1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • S Stan Shannon

                            What do you think the term "representative" means?

                            The only conspiracies that concern me are the ones I am completely unaware of. By the time I find out about it, its probably a done deal. Nothing in the entire universe is more useless than morality without authority. A morality free of hypocrisy is no morality at all.

                            O Offline
                            O Offline
                            oilFactotum
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #40

                            I know what it means and it does not mean that I am the House of Representatives.

                            S 1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • S Stan Shannon

                              oilFactotum wrote:

                              but they are both illegal under US law as I stated

                              So lets change the that law. Stupid laws need to change.

                              The only conspiracies that concern me are the ones I am completely unaware of. By the time I find out about it, its probably a done deal. Nothing in the entire universe is more useless than morality without authority. A morality free of hypocrisy is no morality at all.

                              O Offline
                              O Offline
                              oilFactotum
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #41

                              It's a smart law meant to stop stupid behavior.

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • B BoneSoft

                                That's just a side effect of being WAY out in left field. You should have read the warning label.

                                Lefties

                                If recommended dosage is exceeded, patients report bizarre ideas that wildly diverge from reality. A small number of cases experience mental illness as a result of taking Lefties. Do not give to children under the age of 80. Other side effects include vomiting, crying, bleeding heart syndrome, irrational argument syndrome, feeling sorry for bad people getting what they deserve, anal leakage, and paranoia generally aimed at the government and or George Bush personally. If any of these side effects lasts more than four hours, consult a doctor.


                                Try code model generation tools at BoneSoft.com.

                                P Offline
                                P Offline
                                peterchen
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #42

                                C'mon, take it like a real man. ;P


                                We are a big screwed up dysfunctional psychotic happy family - some more screwed up, others more happy, but everybody's psychotic joint venture definition of CP
                                My first real C# project | Linkify!|FoldWithUs! | sighist

                                B 1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • O oilFactotum

                                  BoneSoft wrote:

                                  First off you're wrong. Replace "WMD's" with "atomic weapons" and you're correct.

                                  I'm curious about your meaning. If atomic weapons are not WMD's then nothing is.

                                  B Offline
                                  B Offline
                                  BoneSoft
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #43

                                  No they are. What's incorrect is that the US is the only country to ever use WMDs. Saddam & his mustard gas comes to mind, but I'm sure there are other instance. Actually now that I think of it, the Japanese used biological weapons in WWII, and I know some others have as well. So it would be correct to say that the US is the only country to use atomic weapons, but not WMDs.


                                  Try code model generation tools at BoneSoft.com.

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • O oilFactotum

                                    I know what it means and it does not mean that I am the House of Representatives.

                                    S Offline
                                    S Offline
                                    Stan Shannon
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #44

                                    They speak for you. If they are not prosecuting your agenda, that means you lose.

                                    The only conspiracies that concern me are the ones I am completely unaware of. By the time I find out about it, its probably a done deal. Nothing in the entire universe is more useless than morality without authority. A morality free of hypocrisy is no morality at all.

                                    O 1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • B BoneSoft

                                      I agree, if it actually is illegal, I don't think it should be. Sensory deprivation does nothing but make people more eager to engage and increases suggestibility. Sleep deprivation won't do them any harm, but it's real incentive to cooperate. Same with forced stress positions.


                                      Try code model generation tools at BoneSoft.com.

                                      S Offline
                                      S Offline
                                      Stan Shannon
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #45

                                      Precisely. The fact that some people get more bent out of shape by depriving someone of sleep than they do of mass murder tells you everything you need to know about them.

                                      The only conspiracies that concern me are the ones I am completely unaware of. By the time I find out about it, its probably a done deal. Nothing in the entire universe is more useless than morality without authority. A morality free of hypocrisy is no morality at all.

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • P peterchen

                                        C'mon, take it like a real man. ;P


                                        We are a big screwed up dysfunctional psychotic happy family - some more screwed up, others more happy, but everybody's psychotic joint venture definition of CP
                                        My first real C# project | Linkify!|FoldWithUs! | sighist

                                        B Offline
                                        B Offline
                                        BoneSoft
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #46

                                        I know plenty of people that can vouch for my manhood... But what am I supposed to take? 'The US isn't a republic' is even more fantastical than the 'imperialism' crap argument. Anybody without a head wound and/or not in desperate need of medication can see through them.


                                        Try code model generation tools at BoneSoft.com.

                                        P 1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • B BoneSoft

                                          oilFactotum wrote:

                                          they are both illegal under US law as I stated

                                          I've never heard of any law against them, which granted doesn't mean much, but sensory deprivation is done in every prison in the country every day. And sleep deprivation is on page 1 on the interrogation manual, sensory deprivation is on the cover. You may be right, and if so I'd like to know, but I have a hard time believing it. But I certainly wouldn't consider them torture, they're not harmed, have no permanent effects, and there's no chance of them dieing from it. If you want information from bad guys, and smacking them around isn't OK, what other option do you have? You do want information from bad guys don't you?

                                          oilFactotum wrote:

                                          BoneSoft wrote: Anybody with a child under 2 is subjected to that, constantly. No, they aren't. And like I said before, I can't believe you actually believe that.

                                          Spend 3 - 4 hours in the dark every night with a baby on your shoulder. 4 hours of sleep every single day for months on end is pretty serious sleep deprivation. I think I'd rather be forced to stay awake for 3 or 4 days in a small empty room while being asked the same questions over and over again than go through that again. That would probably be healthier too.


                                          Try code model generation tools at BoneSoft.com.

                                          B Offline
                                          B Offline
                                          BoneSoft
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #47

                                          Aww, some little jackass is voting all my posts a 1. Gee, I wonder who that could be... :~


                                          Try code model generation tools at BoneSoft.com.

                                          I 1 Reply Last reply
                                          0
                                          Reply
                                          • Reply as topic
                                          Log in to reply
                                          • Oldest to Newest
                                          • Newest to Oldest
                                          • Most Votes


                                          • Login

                                          • Don't have an account? Register

                                          • Login or register to search.
                                          • First post
                                            Last post
                                          0
                                          • Categories
                                          • Recent
                                          • Tags
                                          • Popular
                                          • World
                                          • Users
                                          • Groups