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  • Posted by mminnick 4 years, 8 months ago
    Dependeds upon your definition of initialing violence. If I walk u and hit you in the face, that's wrong. If you are walking toward me with a knif yelling I'm going to get you. If at all possible I'll hit you first and as violently as possible if I can't get away.
    Question is who initiated the violence?
    It is never cut and dried or simple to allply as saying initialing violence is always wrong..

    I know I'm picking examples that really stretch you statement but just trying to show that a clearer definition of initiating is needed.
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    • Posted by j_IR1776wg 4 years, 8 months ago
      Do you think that Ayn Rand had a clear definition when she wrote "...no man may initiate—do you hear me? no man may start—the use of physical force against others..." Remember she had Dagny shooting a guard who had not initiated violence against her?
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      • Posted by $ CBJ 4 years, 8 months ago
        Wasn't the guard part of a group that was using force to imprison John Galt?
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        • Posted by j_IR1776wg 4 years, 8 months ago
          Yes but I don't remember Ayn Rand giving a clue as to whether the guard knew that the others were employing violence in torturing John Galt. Do you?
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          • Posted by $ CBJ 4 years, 8 months ago
            The guard was a willing enforcer for a government that had become corrupt and tyrannical long before he faced Dagny. So whether he knew the particulars of what was going on in the room he was guarding was irrelevant. She gave him the choice of obeying her at gunpoint or being shot. From her point of view, she would have been risking Galt's life if she had allowed the guard to alert his superiors about her rescue attempt. I would say her actions were a justified use of defensive or retaliatory force.
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    • Posted by Orwellian 4 years, 8 months ago
      So if I go to an ANTIFA demonstration with a conspicuous "Red Hat" on am I initiating violence or just looking for trouble. If I "finish" the trouble when it finds me am I the cause or simply defending my rights?
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    • Posted by 4 years, 8 months ago
      “Violence” is defined in the Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition as “1. physical force used to injure, damage, or destroy; extreme roughness of action.” A threat is not “physical force”.
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      • Posted by DrZarkov99 4 years, 8 months ago
        So, does he wait until the perp stabs him before he retaliates? Assuming he can't avoid the conflict.

        I'm sorry, but if a deranged or violent person approaches, and refuses to back off, particularly if he is armed, I have the natural right to defend myself. I'm not waiting until I'm injured.
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      • Posted by j_IR1776wg 4 years, 8 months ago
        So how should someone confronted with an intimidation robbery respond? What if the would be robber is carrying a holstered handgun? Is implied physical force the same as physical force?
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  • Posted by $ WilliamShipley 4 years, 8 months ago
    There is a difference between force and violence. If I am standing in the doorway so that you can't leave the room, I have initiated force -- even though I haven't touched you. I am using the threat of violence to force you to remain.

    You are perfectly free to respond to this force by knocking me down as you leave.
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    • Posted by $ gharkness 4 years, 8 months ago
      Me too (agree with brucejc04 and you). That's the only sane response, it seems to me. Otherwise, I'd have to wait until you actually hit or otherwise injured me at which time it might be too late (perhaps you broke my leg, etc.)
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  • Posted by DrZarkov99 4 years, 8 months ago
    This has become an issue in dealing with the social justice warriors, because they have been taught to equate offensive (to them) speech to physical violence, and have been told it's OK to assault the person who engages in "violent" speech. It's interesting to see the shocked look on their faces when apprehended and told they've committed a crime.
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    • Posted by exceller 4 years, 8 months ago
      Yes, I watched some videos on their shock when apprehended. There was a college student for example, who removed anti-abortion signs then was surprised when she was arrested.

      Maybe the left should educate these "warriors" that they still live in a society of laws and even if it is OK for them to live in anarchy, the country is not there yet, thank God.
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  • Posted by edweaver 4 years, 8 months ago
    Depends on the circumstances so I say the statement is incorrect. In the case of self defense, the use of force (violence) may be justified. Not initiating force may result in the loss of your own life or the life of a family member. It is a judgement call.
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  • Posted by chad 4 years, 8 months ago
    Seems there are a lot of attempts to introduce a gray line suggesting that unless and until another individual has caused harm or damage the victim has no right to respond. If outnumbered and the gang is threatening violence to wait would not be prudent to ensure survival. A recent news story about an elderly man in upstate New York had shot and killed to home invaders landed him in jail for using an unlicensed gun. No consideration given for the circumstances leading up to the killing, the only thing the state was concerned with was a weapon it had not authorized. There may be circumstances where someone reacted too soon, that is something the defending individual must determine, no one else.
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  • Posted by mia767ca 4 years, 8 months ago
    responding to violations of individual rights is morally correct...anyone or group who violates individuals rights voids any claims their own individual rights...otherwise individual rights are meaningless...
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  • Posted by dcarthemasta 4 years, 8 months ago
    as all else in life anything can and possibly will occur.
    as humans our mere existence is predicated on the use of force. the social contract we choose to live under or are born in defines the APPROPRIATE levels of force and whence it may be used. posting generalities about situations is is simply wargaming and unless based on the reality we inhabit means nothing
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  • Posted by Owlsrayne 4 years, 8 months ago
    It seems that Ayn Rand didn't foresee the amount of legally own firearms in the US and the conceal carry permits sanctioned by many states. Unfortunately, when you have the state of Washington initiating gun control laws and hamstringing the police from doing their job you have Antia creating violence. If that were to happen here in Az, the attacker would be laying in the street with a bullet hole in him or her.
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    • Posted by $ 25n56il4 4 years, 8 months ago
      There was violence initiated in my back yard this a.m. My Shih Zhou (Lionel) found a possum in the Canna lilies and came out unscratched. Every dog in the neighborhood joined in the barking spree! Last seen the possum had the pedal to the metal.
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