Is violence the last resort of the incompetent?

Question

So... everyone's thinking that loners should come out and talk to people if they have a problem, right, and not go out into the world, guns blazing, and kill people... ever.

But is that the message we're really promoting when we invade Iraq to kill off a "bully" like Saddam Hussein? Does that promote a message that it's okay to use violence as a last resort?

Or is violence truly only the last resort of the incompetent?

Pedestal42: that is one of the most lucid, thoughtful, and thought-provoking responses I've ever heard on Y!A. I am really impressed. :)

Answer 1

"Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent." was Isaac Asimov's proposal, on which H. Beam Piper commented: "Only the incompetent wait until the last extremity to use force, and by then, it is usually too late to use anything, even prayer."
(another source gives it to Larry Niven)

No, violence is not that tidy so that it's always wrong, nor always tool of first choice.
Often violence breeds violence.
Heinlein suggested that "an armed society is a polite society" (SF is great for speculative debate)
But it means a lot of bloody weeding out of the idiots who can't be polite, having to be polite to rude bullies who happen to be good with a gun, and accepting a good number of casualties amongst innocent bystanders. Hmm.

On the whole, I'd prefer a duel of wits...
But sometimes a military option is required.

(As a loner, should I be locked up immediately, or just forced to have friends?)

Answer 2

Ghandi was a man of peace, though he did agree that sometimes violence could be used only as a last resort. Meaning : you have tried to persway the other person in a peaceful manner, but they refuse to lisen to reason (the peaceful manner) and so you end up having to take the more direct approach (violence).
The Shalion are the same way : reason first. Give them fair warning, letting them know the monk wishes not to fight them, but will if they refuse to back down. At this point a stand off may occur, but not always (unless the other person is stubern and needs a bit of disaplenting). But if violence is needed, they will give a whole new meaning to the word 'pain'! The Shalion are monks and are peaceful, but they have had their share of trouble with violence in China's history.

Answer 3

I find your comparison to be rather incompetent. Mountains and mole hills, Sweetheart!! Though an incompetent may jump to extreme measures (VT) a forward and competent thinker will know, in the big picture, when violence is to be visited on those who have, or will, do him harm. A man pulls a gun or even lunges at me with a knife I will draw and shoot. A country or fanatic group shows, or does, actions of the similar: America draws and shoots. Perhaps at least one competent should have shown violence on the VT perpetrator at the start; or would that have made him/her an incompetent?

Answer 4

Violence is the first resort for the incompetent. It's the last resort to the wise man.

In the case of Iraq/Saddam, he was given 15 years to abide by conditions set forth in the treaty he signed to end the Gulf War. He broke every condition.

What we did in 2003 is what we should have done in 1998. That administration lacked the intestinal fortitude to stand up to him, however.

Answer 5

If one person, just one, would have acted "violently" to the "loner" while he was on his rampage, instead of trying to communicate with him, may be the death toll would not have been in the 30s, but much lower. Sometimes the only way to respond to a violent action, is a equally violent reaction.

We didn't slaughter thousands of Curds, and other Iraqi citizens Saddam did, we simply reacted by taking him from power.

My comment is in no way designed to disrespect the memory of the students who died in VT. Their deaths are a real and terrible tragedy.

Answer 6

Violence may become necessary if used in defense. All other avenues should be exhausted first. Sometimes however the cards must fall where they will.

Answer 7

I wouldnt cut it off like that. Ive been thinking on this honestly thinking on this. You'd like to understand why someone would do something like that and apparently not want anything out of it but to hurt. Sometimes, there really isnt a reason.

Answer 8

Well no its never okay to use violence...but do we make it too easy for some crazy kid to just go to a store and pick up a gun....does anyone really care what happens. I do believe we send out a very mixed message to our youth.

Answer 9

The best way to fight violence is with violence. That turning the other cheek stuff only gets your whole face slapped.

Answer 10

No, not the incompetent, only the unforgiving.

Saddam Hussein killed and tortured and SLAUGHTERED people like ANIMALS. He used violence because he was an unforgiving, cold-hearted, EVIL scum. We used violence because we cannot forgive his sins.