BigV, I associated placebo with noncombatants.
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Originally Posted by BigV
I do not agree with your glib dismissal sexobon. ... I sincerely doubt that for those in combat, those members of countries or movements wealthy enough to have others fight and die for them, who themselves are fighting and dying, consider Laws of Land Warfare a placebo. ...
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You disagreed; but, by associating placebo with combatants.
Apples and oranges.
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Originally Posted by BigV
... Are there no such soldiers who believe in and benefit from laws of war? ...
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Soldiers of most militaries are indoctrinated into believing things that will give them a perception of moral superiority to enhance their motivation and resultant combat effectiveness.
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Originally Posted by BigV
... Real rules for real situations? ...
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Someone's been watching too many reality TV shows.
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Originally Posted by BigV
... That sounds like the opposite of a placebo to me; ...
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Applying what I said about noncombatants to combatants sounds like the opposite to me.
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Originally Posted by BigV
... Are there not laws that are more than some purty words to salve the consciences of those who are able to avoid the real pain of fighting? ...
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Yes, as I explained above, soldiers [combatants] of most militaries are indoctrinated into believing things that will give them a perception of moral superiority to enhance their motivation and resultant combat effectiveness. The same laws which enable this also provide a placebo effect for noncombatants. Two birds with one stone.
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Originally Posted by BigV
... Is it an imaginary benefit that we receive for mutually agreeing to not use chemical weapons? ...
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When the shit hits the fan, those agreements won't be worth the paper they're written on.
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Originally Posted by BigV
... Or are you saying that the benefit might be real, but the word "law" is an illusion, just as I might find my headache cured by a sugar pill? ...
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Laws can be rescinded, superseded; or, suspended (simply not enforced). The leaders of most nations (incl. ours), or movements, already have the autonomous authority to do this in the interest of national security.
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Originally Posted by BigV
... I think "placebo" is inappropriately cynical and harsh.
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In the case study of one dwellar, placebo was entirely effective in diminishing the participant's reading comprehension to the point he was able to rationalize that apples and oranges are the same without suffering any of the ill affects associated with being a pumpkin head.