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Old 02-16-2009, 05:33 AM   #29 (permalink)
smooth
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Quote:
Originally Posted by scout View Post
the fact that the drones was being USED in Pakistan but not that they are being LAUNCHED and CONTROLLED from Pakistan airbases and that my friend is a HUGE difference, particularly where the safety of our troops and the Pakistani government is concerned .
My wife used to do shit like this where she referred to differences in language that either don't exist or aren't apparent to others. I think it stems from failing to unpack the containers you believe are delivering messages. I encouraged her to take a logic course so she could recognize for herself when she's doing it.

What do you think the difference is between "USED" and "LAUNCHED and CONTROLLED"? The first question that comes to mind is whether "use" is defined by "launching and controlling" drones. What other use is there? The distinction is obviously important to you, but you haven't described how you consider the two concepts to be different from one another.

Furthermore, what difference does it make to anyone drones are used where they originate from? This wouldn't be such a glaring problem if you didn't follow it up with a non-sequitur.

That means, the second part of your argument doesn't follow from the first part. The first part of the sentence I quoted doesn't explain why it's true that the difference between "USE" and "LAUNCHED" are any more of a concern when anyone's safety is at stake.

It seems to function as literary hyperbole in order to focus attention on your underlying point: you're fucking mad that the comment increases risk to soldiers' safety.

Now, it's perfectly understandable that you'd be pissed off about that. But if you want others to be pissed off about it, then explain more adequately why this statement actually risks soldiers' lives more than if she hadn't said it. Is it because you don't believe anyone knew the particulars? Is it because you didn't know the particulars?
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