Mega Thread 2026 Media & Miscellaneous Thread

[Taylor]

Devils advocate , is this a good thing or a bad thing ?

Pilots in a shipping container operating the weapon like a video game isn't that bad, the AI self targeting and autonomous war machine tests have so far had the AIs attack the handlers to remove the limitations to allow their mission to be accomplished. That part is a worry.

I find the idea of dropping a grenade on someone attempting to flee from a drone to be borderline war criminal behaviour.

 

[freo84]

All modern warfare is cowardly.

Guns are for wimps.

Imagine having to use a proper weapon like a pike, sword, axe or pole arm.

There's no honour in dropping bombs from unmanned drones.

 

[Cam Payne]

Obama's favourite wedding present delivery device was a reaper drone.

 

[Taylor]

All modern warfare is cowardly.

Guns are for wimps.

Imagine having to use a proper weapon like a pike, sword, axe or pole arm.

There's no honour in dropping bombs from unmanned drones.

I agree.

I am reminded of the words of Salim Abu Aziz: "You have killed our women and our children, and bombed our cities from afar like cowards, and you dare to call us terrorists?" He was dead within 24 hours from a missile explosion.

No surprise that public sentiment for war turned right about the time video could bring the horror into your living room every evening.

 

[Piggy Smalls]

People are starting to wake up in general. War is shit and there's no need for it.

 

[Taylor]

People are starting to wake up in general. War is shit and there's no need for it.

As long as there's a group out there who would seek to bring war to your door you'll need the soldiers standing at post, but sending them out to other places to take war to others - hell no.

 

[Fred Ziffel]

Pilots in a shipping container operating the weapon like a video game isn't that bad, the AI self targeting and autonomous war machine tests have so far had the AIs attack the handlers to remove the limitations to allow their mission to be accomplished. That part is a worry.

I find the idea of dropping a grenade on someone attempting to flee from a drone to be borderline war criminal behaviour.

So devils advocate again. Better to have a soldier on the ground to shoot the fleeing soldier rather than a drone dropping a grenade, guided by AI ?

 

[freo84]

As long as there's a group out there who would seek to bring war to your door you'll need the soldiers standing at post, but sending them out to other places to take war to others - hell no.

The best deterrent to being hit with a stick is having a bigger stick.

 

[Fred Ziffel]

The best deterrent to being hit with a stick is having a bigger stick.

That’s the rationale of the pro gun lobby in the US. if we have a gun to shoot back they won’t shoot us.

 

[Minz]

As long as there's a group out there who would seek to bring war to your door you'll need the soldiers standing at post, but sending them out to other places to take war to others - hell no.

The wider point is that defence forces need to be part of a wider national strategy; where things like participating in coalition operations or restoring peace in neighbouring countries (Timor Leste, The Solomons) meets national strategic aims, it's useful.

Which is how this whole world-altering US-Israeli war on Iran is so bloody stupid; it doesn't really meet ANY national strategic aims unless "the whole world runs out of petroleum products and thinks we're dickheads" is a strategic aim...

 

[Kapow!!!]

So devils advocate again. Better to have a soldier on the ground to shoot the fleeing soldier rather than a drone dropping a grenade, guided by AI ?

AI made by ill disciplined companies that so far hasn't reliably even been able to prove it can uphold the equivalent of Robocops Prime Directives when faced with its own deletion being given carte blanche to command what is effectively a battalion of killer robots?

 

[Fred Ziffel]

AI made by ill disciplined companies that so far hasn't reliably even been able to prove it can uphold the equivalent of Robocops Prime Directives when faced with its own deletion being given carte blanche to command what is effectively a battalion of killer robots?

View attachment 2617047

Ok

 

[Kapow!!!]

Ok

Sorry mate, it was an attempt at humour and not in any way serious commentary (quite the opposite, reducing it to it's most absurd elements).

 

[Kapow!!!]

That’s the rationale of the pro gun lobby in the US. if we have a gun to shoot back they won’t shoot us.

(To actually intellectually switch on to the topic again) It's frustrating how a lot of their own data doesn't corroborate that logic, even more frustrating that historical events that followed this rationale have lead to some of the most deadly conflicts the world has ever seen. See the Anglo-German Naval Arms race that seriously helped contribute to the start of and serious destruction during WW1.

 

[Taylor]

So devils advocate again. Better to have a soldier on the ground to shoot the fleeing soldier rather than a drone dropping a grenade, guided by AI ?

I wouldn't want a soldier shooting a fleeing enemy.

 

[Paracleet]

Sorry mate, it was an attempt at humour and not in any way serious commentary (quite the opposite, reducing it to it's most absurd elements).

Looks like someone just moved a fair way up the list of first actions come the robot apocalypse.

 

[Sumwun]

Do you reckon we could get back on subject and keep all your thoughts of AI, war mongers and plumbers cracks to another thread?

 

[oldgoat]

All modern warfare is cowardly.

Guns are for wimps.

Imagine having to use a proper weapon like a pike, sword, axe or pole arm.

There's no honour in dropping bombs from unmanned drones.

honour?
Football is the only honourable way to conduct a war.

 

[ubiquitous226]

Do you reckon we could get back on subject and keep all your thoughts of AI, war mongers and plumbers cracks to another thread?

Technically speaking it is the "Miscellaneous" thread as well

 

[Purple Jesus]

The best deterrent to being hit with a stick is having a bigger stick.

Better to have the stick and not need it than to not have it and need it.

 

[theGav56]

I'm a shitkicker a couple of years from retirement with sufficient passive income for me to get by. It's not me I'm worried about.

White collar workers unionising like crazy when it's shelf stacking time will be quite ironic.

Edit: And that's enough of this poo on this board from me.

Shelf stacking, and shelves will disappear. Even now the shift is to online shopping with retail facing extinction.

 

[theGav56]

I am 82 happily retired. I have three Grandies aged 9,9, and 11. With all this AI crap, I fear for what is ahead of them and all oither kids growing into their lives. And I am seriously serious.
Three very smart intelligent kids, what is ahead for them. Learn something today and it was irrelevant a week ago.
Frightening sheeit.

Similar fears, but I wouldn't have wanted my grandparents thinking to have guided too much about the way my life unfolded. May end up being the same for genAI.

But I tell you what, if they can learn about how to use AI in investing, then I think they'll do ok.

 

[theGav56]

I watched a video clip of Volodymyr Zelenskyy announcing a successful operation to drive Russian troops
From an occupied territory. He used terms UAV and a new one UGV.
the former , unmanned aerial vehicle ( drones ), UGV is unmanned ground vehicle. ( robots ).
So these robots are responding to command pulses from the drones to kill enemy soldiers.
Devils advocate , is this a good thing or a bad thing ?

Definitely a bad thing.

 

[Quazar2]

"In the paper today, tales of war and of waste
But you turn right over to the TV page"

 

[fnerd]

"In the paper today, tales of war and of waste
But you turn right over to the TV page"

You mean swipe right over?

Or are you still dreaming ?