News Terror attacks in Mumbai!

[Urwumpe]

This "scifi thinking" is the same initial thinking of reverse engineering of a detective.

I would prefer hearing a real PI on this one, but I strongly doubt that speculation is a good strategy to find results. You don't do anything, you don't have evidence for. Without evidence, a theory which is logical in your head will not survive the critical questions of a judge.

 

[RichWall]

The day when Columbia burned, 7 astronauts died. That very same day 40 real people in India died. Who care about those poor people? I did. I did not forget that media thought 7 astronauts were more important than 40 poor in India.

I wouldn't transfer the focus and priorities of the editorial media on to the general population as whole.

Of coarse, the loss of each and every life is equally tragic.

 

[Ghostrider]

I would prefer hearing a real PI on this one, but I strongly doubt that speculation is a good strategy to find results.

Actually, speculation is something to avoid right away. Investigative work is scientific in nature, one must act as neutral observer and refrain from advancing theories unless there's hard evidence to back it up. The old "cui prodest" thing may be a nice intellectual game but it's a bad way to conduct an investigation, for instance.

 

[GregBurch]

Actually, speculation is something to avoid right away. Investigative work is scientific in nature, one must act as neutral observer and refrain from advancing theories unless there's hard evidence to back it up. The old "cui prodest" thing may be a nice intellectual game but it's a bad way to conduct an investigation, for instance.

Yeah -- we have to look at all the possibilities. Who could possibly be behind this? General Dynamics? Buddhist monks? Romance novelists? Colombian drug cartels? Presbyterian ministers? Let's not jump to conclusions! It could be anybody, right? And there's just no way to know what their motives might be! Getting into the Guiness book of world records? Protesting whaling? Boredom? It could be anything!

 

[Ghostrider]

In order to involve General Dynamics, Buddhist monks, Romance novelists, Colombian drug cartels, Presbyterian ministers and/or Vampires, we'd need evidence those groups could be involved. So far, no evidence to those ends has surfaced. As for motives, we'll know as soon as they have suspects.

Because, you see, some conspiracy nuts will cry loud on teh interweb that the eeeevil CIA did this. They don't need any evidence, of course, and were quick to throw away all of the evidence gathered on 9/11, electing instead to come up with their ridiculous "controlled demolitions" claim.

 

[Master of Blades]

[...]not all religions become breeding grounds for fanatics.

Name one that isn't...

 

[Andy44]

I go away for a few hours and this thread turns into yet another argument over a foolish conspiracy theory. The shooting's not even over, last time I checked the tube. Just ignore nonsense and move on, already. And keep the victims in our thoughts.

The people responsible for this will be revealed soon enough once it all sorts out, and I suspect it will be no big surprise to those of us with some grasp on reality.

 

[Ghostrider]

Of course. And I suspect it won't be weapons manufacturers.

 

[RichWall]

Name one that isn't...

I know what you mean.

Even when the girl scouts come around selling their cookies, You had better buy a box or two.

 

[Ghostrider]

Even when the girl scouts come around selling their cookies, You had better buy a box or two.

Is it true that if one bites you, you become one of them?

 

[Andy44]

Is it true that if one bites you, you become one of them?

There's a lesbian witch joke in here, somewhere, but it's getting off-topic...

 

[eveningsky339]

Name one that isn't...

Taoism and the Amish have always been fairly pleasant. Of course some religions seem to produce more fanatics than others, such as right-wing Christianity and Islam. Even atheistic philosophies manage to turn out a few nuts.

But, the point is, if a girl scout bites you, you will become one.

 

[Andy44]

My own personal (and therefore probably stupid) theory is that belonging to a religion is in some ways like belonging to any other group of humans. Tribalistic tendencies set in when times get tough and people tend to view the "other" as an enemy, and twist the religious doctrine to facilitate carrying on the conflict. Like I said, probably a stupid theory.

 

[eveningsky339]

My own personal (and therefore probably stupid) theory is that belonging to a religion is in some ways like belonging to any other group of humans. Tribalistic tendencies set in when times get tough and people tend to view the "other" as an enemy, and twist the religious doctrine to facilitate carrying on the conflict. Like I said, probably a stupid theory.

Doesn't sound too stupid to me. I attended a Baptist church growing up and this sort of mindset was very much present. Non-christians were referred to as "lost people". Even missionary work was tainted. Our missionaries wouldn't do anything without trying to get "lost people" to join our little club, so to speak.

Nowadays, though still a Christian, I find myself in agreeance with St. Francis of Assissi: "Preach the gospel. Use words if necessary." And I don't believe that God drop kicks 99.9% of humanity into hell.

But I fear I am getting off topic...

 

[GregBurch]

Of course some religions seem to produce more fanatics than others, such as right-wing Christianity and Islam. Even atheistic philosophies manage to turn out a few nuts.

But, the point is, if a girl scout bites you, you will become one.

As long-time readers here will know, I am a stone-cold atheist. But I find the cliche of always grouping "right-wing christians" with "muslims" when acknowledging the obvious truth that some religions do indeed breed more violence than others to be comical. Even if one is ideologically disposed to fear being labeled an "islamaphobe," eventually the statistical facts ought to mean something.

 

[Andy44]

As long-time readers here will know, I am a stone-cold atheist. But I find the cliche of always grouping "right-wing christians" with "muslims" when acknowledging the obvious truth that some religions do indeed breed more violence than others to be comical. Even if one is ideologically disposed to fear being labeled an "islamaphobe," eventually the statistical facts ought to mean something.

Agreed. Political correctness makes it imperative to always attack christians whenever criticizing other religions. It's the religious equivalent of saying "some of my best friends are [insert minority here]".

 

[eveningsky339]

As long-time readers here will know, I am a stone-cold atheist. But I find the cliche of always grouping "right-wing christians" with "muslims" when acknowledging the obvious truth that some religions do indeed breed more violence than others to be comical. Even if one is ideologically disposed to fear being labeled an "islamaphobe," eventually the statistical facts ought to mean something.

I should have been more clear and I apologize. I meant to say that right-wing Christians tend to produce more "fanatics" than other groups. Consider the bombing of abortion clinics and the occasional beating of a homosexual couple. These events are almost exclusively the work of the far right.

Allow me to clarify that Islamic factions and right wing Christians are entirely different animals, Islam having much more blood on its hands.

Being a Christian I am aware that mainstream Christianity is the default target of political correctness, though I no longer associate myself with mainstream Christianity.

 

[tblaxland]

My own personal (and therefore probably stupid) theory is that belonging to a religion is in some ways like belonging to any other group of humans. Tribalistic tendencies set in when times get tough and people tend to view the "other" as an enemy, and twist the religious doctrine to facilitate carrying on the conflict. Like I said, probably a stupid theory.

Not so stupid. As a member of the Order of Orbiter, I know you have witnessed the occasional Holy Flame War against proponents of other sims

 

[Ghostrider]

Not so stupid. As a member of the Order of Orbiter, I know you have witnessed the occasional Holy Flame War against proponents of other sims

Man, have you ever seen the kind of stuff that goes between Windows, Linux, BSD and Apple users? Won't be long before we see some Apple ph4nboi walk into a some computer store wearing an iBelt...

 

[Urwumpe]

Won't be long before we see some Apple ph4nboi walk into a some computer store wearing an iBelt...

Yeah, some people would even use an iToilet.

And do astronomy with an iPiece.

and try to find iCeage in the local media store.

Also, no flamewar is as gory as emacs vs vi.


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Update: The attackers arrived with small boats and at least one kidnapped trawler from Pakistan. The had with them dried food, lot's of ammo and grenades, and CD-Rs with photos of the hotels. They first established fortified HQs in the hotels, that's why in the beginning many tourists had been ignored by them.

When asked by Indians on their arrival, what they are doing, they replied "We are students". Looks like Indian students typically arrive with boats during the night, carrying large bag packs with weapons.

Now that the link to Pakistan exists, the fun can begin. Where was the training camp? They had to have one.