Possible solution to Islamic overreaction?

[Lefty 0]

Saw this Onion article today and it got me wondering. What if, instead of walking on eggshells around the topics of Muhammad, Allah, etc., we completely saturate the media with every form of depraved religious parody we can think of?

I really think those religious types who are prone to overreaction would simply be desensitized to it all after a while. Or at least run out of energy. Either way they'd quit making a fuss.

Provoking a reaction isn't the same thing as saying something meaningful.
-Calvin

[billvon 3,173]

One result is that you'd give more power to the extremists. "See? The west DOES hate us! Now you see the truth of the jihad . . . " Not sure if that's such a good idea. In general, respect goes a lot further than antagonism when it comes to trying to live with someone different.

[Marinus 0]

You give power to the religious extremists the moment you start to care about their silly sensitivities. Islam is one of the most retarded religions to ever scourge this planet, so please let us treat it that way.

[wolfriverjoe 1,523]

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One result is that you'd give more power to the extremists. "See? The west DOES hate us! Now you see the truth of the jihad . . . " Not sure if that's such a good idea. In general, respect goes a lot further than antagonism when it comes to trying to live with someone different.

I agree that respect tends to work better than antagonism, but what about when the other party has no respect for you?

The Taliban destroyed any and all representations of other religions while they were in power in Afghanistan. Including centuries old statues of Budda. Complete and total antagonism towards anyone else.

To many, not responding to that behavior shows weakness, not respect.

But, as has been said, if enough people take an "Eye for an eye", before too long, everyone's blind.

"There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy

"~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

[billvon 3,173]

>I agree that respect tends to work better than antagonism, but what about
>when the other party has no respect for you?

Then nothing you can do matters.

However, if what you are suggesting is that "Muslims have no respect for the West" that's demonstrably untrue. 99.9% of Muslims are reasonable people. as respectful as anyone else. Insulting 1.6 billion people because a subset of a million won't care is, IMO, a bad idea.

>The Taliban destroyed any and all representations of other religions while
>they were in power in Afghanistan. Including centuries old statues of
>Budda. Complete and total antagonism towards anyone else.

Agreed. They are good examples of the worst that religion has to offer. We should not try to emulate them, IMO.

[Lefty 0]

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One result is that you'd give more power to the extremists. "See? The west DOES hate us! Now you see the truth of the jihad . . . " Not sure if that's such a good idea. In general, respect goes a lot further than antagonism when it comes to trying to live with someone different.

If the extremists can dig up an obscure piece of trash on the Internet and use it as a reason (or so we're told) to incite riot and murder, I think their control over the masses is pretty much secured for the short term.

Still, that's exactly why we couldn't implement my plan half-assed. It would have to be a very long-term PSYOP campaign. They have to see that their beliefs are open to parody and criticism just like anything else on this planet.

Provoking a reaction isn't the same thing as saying something meaningful.
-Calvin

[champu 1]

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I really think those religious types who are prone to overreaction would simply be desensitized to it all after a while. Or at least run out of energy. Either way they'd quit making a fuss.

You're missing the problem. For Islamic hard-liners, many forms of insult from the west are unforgivable. Satirizing their Prophet or desecrating a copy of the Quran is actually worse than murder. There are places in the middle east where people can simply be paid off to go away if you were to... say... kill their parents. But if you burn that same person's Quran then they must see you dead.

So from that frame of reference your above statement is akin to suggesting that they just keep killing westerners indiscriminately until we all eventually stop getting so bent out of shape over it.

I made a similar post over in one of the other threads about Iranian nuclear facilities but I don't think anyone read it.

[Lefty 0]

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So from that frame of reference your above statement is akin to suggesting that they just keep killing westerners indiscriminately until we all eventually stop getting so bent out of shape over it.

They're doing it already. With that exact goal in mind, actually, when you boil it down to the basics.

Provoking a reaction isn't the same thing as saying something meaningful.
-Calvin