Billy Ockham: Interesting images

Thursday, April 03, 2008

Interesting images

Oleg Volk takes both beautiful pictures and thought provoking ones (sometimes simultaneously). A gun-control site picks up the images and calls them terrifying. Much commentary follows.

7 comments:

kahn265 said...: I looked at the site and started the State Your Views quiz, which I could not complete.

First of all, One of the questions -

Given a choice, I would prefer to defend myself with...
1. my bare hands
2. an ineffective weapon, such as pepper spray
3. an effective weapon, such as a firearm

He undermines his argument by colouring the argument of item #2. I don't feel pepper spray is ineffective. He would have been better served in providing some response after selecting item #2 WHY he believed pepper spray was ineffective instead of asking a leading question.

Secondly, the questions here indicate that people are always under the threat of physical attack at all times.

I have a real problem with the arguments that seem to rely on fear mongering to give weight. Admittedly a gun is a weapon with a specific purpose of self-defense, but I'm tired of having my fear button constantly mashed to get me to see someone's point of view.

Third, this questionaire loves to use the "All criminals" type of argument. Do I believe that gun control would eliminate all gun crime? No. Do I believe that it would reduce the number of guns in circulation thereby greatly reducing criminal access to guns? Yes.

If gun control opponents wish to change the minds of gun control advocates, the arguments need to be restructured more critically.

I'm aware that gun control advocates do not always have critical arguments, but that is not an excuse. Whenever someone attempts a coercive change of my opinion, I automatically cling to my opinion more vehemently or alter it so as to be more against my opponent.

Give me critical arguments and statistics if you want to change my mind. After all, my understanding is that gun ownership is illegal (or at least heavily regulated) in the UK, any stats from there?; 1:11 PM
Brian Dunbar said...: Ha - I love Oleg's work. Thanks for linking.; 2:16 PM
Brian Dunbar said...: I don't feel pepper spray is ineffective. He would have been better served in providing some response after selecting item #2 WHY he believed pepper spray was ineffective instead of asking a leading question.

I have not been the target of pepper spray, but I have snorted a fair amount of tear gas; I'm told the two are similar in effect.

When I was enlisted every Marine went at least once a year for NBC training. If you do not have an effective seal, tear gas seeping inside your mask will let you know.

Tear gas does a job on your sinus. If you breathe deep you will feel it burning in your lungs. It hurts. It is not fun. But a determined person can overcome all of this and function.

In short, pepper spray and tear gas can annoy a person but it cannot incapacitate them without their permission.

Oleg's test makes the assumption that people understand this.

I look at it this way; a gun is a tool the same way that a jack and tire iron are tools.

I keep a road kit in my car just in case I have a flat or need to perform other minor work on my car; I have AAA motorist coverage so the wrecker is there if I need it but .. being able to change my own tire beats just waiting on the side of the road for the AAA wrecker to show up.

I rarely have a flat tire - but the tools are there 'just in case'.

In the same manner - most people will never be confronted by violence. But having the tools available to assist yourself can mean the difference between living and dying.

Give me critical arguments and statistics if you want to change my mind.

Those are freely available elsewhere - you have only to look. Oleg's work is what it is, and it's what he does like few others can.

We all have our niches in life.; 2:39 PM
Brian Dunbar said...: Give me critical arguments and statistics

Rachael, if you read the comments in the 'these terrify me' post you'll find more than a few links, statistics and so forth that you're looking for.

Or - at risk of being a tiresome bore - look them up yourself. Then you'll know and won't be taking someone's word for it.

.; 4:09 PM
mousestalker said...: Rachael,

As you know, I take sloth to a new level of achievement, so I'm not going to have the time to do as I said, however here is a link to a lot of commentary, some even with facts, about gun control and such.; 7:14 AM
Kevin said...: Rachael:

Give me critical arguments and statistics if you want to change my mind.

If you're serious, I'm game. Drop me an email - gunrights@comcast.net; 7:28 PM
Kevin said...: (Three days later...)

Rachael? Are you still there? Rachael?

(*crickets*); 8:11 PM