A Conversation

For context, I would like to point to a short conversation that took place in the commenting section of another article I wrote. The person attempting to argue is named Sydorov, and he ended the conversation hoping Hamas would come to get me in “a dark alley somewhere.” I’m not making this up.

“Do you believe that Israel has right to exist?” ~ Sydorov

I believe Jews have the right to exist. Nations are more complex, especially when they wield power in the worst ways.

^Note the distinction I made there. The fellow continued:

“What a great person you are! You believe that Jews have right to exist…What about tight to self defence? Should Jews be allowed to defend themselves from those who want them murdered? ~ Sydorov

This is a bit of a loaded question. If I asked you, “Should I be allowed to defend myself from those who want them murdered,” And you then say “sure,” that answer shouldn’t give me a license to beat the shit out of — or murder — a 5yr old kid.

Because the kid does not have the POWER to be an actual threat. That answer shouldn’t give me the license to commit genocide.

^As I’m a man who observes logical fallacies and rhetorical devices, I wasn’t falling for that one. I can tell a bullshit question when I see one. The guy didn’t like how I didn’t fall for his bullshit:

Answer, Sister! Answer! This is simple question. Yes or No will suffice. Then we can discuss the extend of self defense. ~ Sydorov

^I don’t know why he thinks I’m a woman, but it wasn’t anything big to correct on the spot. The bigger picture is how Sydorov got butthurt over how I ducked his loaded question. People who give bullshit, loaded questions love to suggest it’s a “yes or no” deal. They like to give complex issues little to no nuance. They like to throw an over-simplification trap onto people. Simply put, his question isn’t a yes or no deal, because committing genocide isn’t self-defense.

My U.S. Army Warrant Officer brother said it best when we were in his car: “You cannot…