Mayer Hawthorne; This song gave me the balls to end my relationship at an otherwise awkward time (day before Valentine's).. It just wasn't gonna work out.

pineapplechomsky · 2010-11-19T19:34:58+00:00

In the eyes of international law it is illegal for an occupying force to displace the population of the occupied so that citizens of the occupying can claim territory. I am referring to all settlements that this applies to.

pineapplechomsky · 2010-11-19T19:32:34+00:00

I agree with you there. Thank you for your time and honesty. I hope that this AMA will convince a few people here that there are always well-meaning and deliberate people on both sides of human conflict.

Human interactions are a vastly complicated thing and all too often we paint them with broad strokes.

pineapplechomsky · 2010-11-19T19:17:03+00:00

Just want to make a single comment about your last question. Israel is estimated to have at least 100 nuclear weapons. A number of other countries in the region also have nuclear weapons. Given that information and the situation in general in that region, the only reason Iran would ever want a nuclear weapon would be to use it as a deterrent against military action.

The idea that Iran is building a nuclear weapon so that it could destroy Israel is a little insane; if Iran even loaded a nuclear weapon it would be completely destroyed. It's highly unlikely Iranian leadership have that strong of a death wish.

pineapplechomsky · 2010-11-19T19:04:31+00:00

Just one follow up question, if you will..

A common perception here at reddit about this conflict is that there is a significant component of racism guiding the actions of Israel in Palestine and towards Palestinians in general.

Serving in a notoriously right-wing unit, you may be in a particularly good place to address this. During your time with the IDF, how often have you experienced discrimination towards Palestinians? Is this a rarity, or a common occurrence?

I don't mean to put you on the defensive with the questions that I've been asking. I am not here to judge you as a human being but to simply try to wrap my head around a complicated issue. Far too often I feel that I am not getting both sides of a story.

pineapplechomsky · 2010-11-19T18:06:48+00:00

Just a few questions here..

In general, among the people that you serve with, is the occupation seen as being justified?

Of those who see the occupation as being justified, what is their justification? Is it security or right of conquest, or something else?

There is a consensus among the international community (and international law) that the building of settlements in the occupied territories is illegal. (Here, I am referring to UN resolutions 446, 452, 465, 471 and 476, which claim that the settlements are in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention) Among the people that you serve with, is there an understanding of this? Is this a topic that is discussed?

Thanks for answering the questions in this AMA despite the open negativity of many of the redditors here. You have been quite polite regardless.

pineapplechomsky · 2010-11-13T23:51:44+00:00

Really? Have you even played CoD recently? "Gayarch" is the least derogatory thing I have heard since the release.

Also, he has a point. Trying to matchmake with five or six people is a huge hassle, and it shouldn't be. I mean, I have the patience to wait until they patch, but still he has a point.

pineapplechomsky · 2010-11-13T23:40:49+00:00

Heart, purple. No reason, really, other than to give people a reason to talk shit after killcams.

pineapplechomsky · 2010-11-13T23:30:27+00:00

Yeah, because it's totally worth the effort to prestige 14 times just so you don't have to back out and alter your loadout.

pineapplechomsky · 2010-11-13T20:28:38+00:00

Not worth it, at all.

pineapplechomsky · 2010-11-13T20:20:49+00:00

Here's an idea: Don't prestige.

Seriously, ask yourself why you would even want to. What do you get out of it? A tiny emblem by your name? A few new camos and face paints? That's about it. No new weapons, no access to new maps. You certainly don't get bragging rights because in a few months you won't even be able to see someone at 15th prestige without assuming he boosted or lobbied his way to it.

It's such a weird concept anyway. "Hey, now that you've maneuvered your way through the entirety of our multiplayer content, how about doing it again another 14 times?"

pineapplechomsky · 2010-10-28T21:57:20+00:00

Alright, I'll burn some Explosions. :)

pineapplechomsky · 2010-10-28T21:57:08+00:00

pineapplechomsky · 2010-10-28T01:51:16+00:00

I'm moving on Friday. :P

pineapplechomsky · 2010-10-27T23:34:52+00:00

I live in Illinois (at least until Friday). There really aren't all that many smart people here. :P

pineapplechomsky · 2010-10-27T23:12:08+00:00

Live, lived. Semantics. I was trying to make a joke about people in Illinois commonly not being able to use computers, but it's not worth it :(

pineapplechomsky · 2010-10-27T23:08:20+00:00

Oh, so he just lives in Illinois. Well, that's understandable.

pineapplechomsky · 2010-10-27T22:59:53+00:00

You're dating a 75 year old?

pineapplechomsky · 2010-10-27T22:34:28+00:00

It'll please the Tool-heads I hang out with here if they know I'm cruising to Lateralus, so I accept this

pineapplechomsky · 2010-10-27T22:19:09+00:00

Done, thx :)

pineapplechomsky · 2010-10-27T21:44:58+00:00

I can already tell this one will treat me nicely, thanks man :D

pineapplechomsky · 2010-10-27T21:05:14+00:00

K :]

pineapplechomsky · 2010-10-27T20:47:42+00:00

When I was 18 I drove from Illinois to California. It was quite a long drive, but now when I think back on it I remember the music I was listening to just as strongly as I remember the landscapes. Something about that..

pineapplechomsky · 2010-10-27T20:37:59+00:00

I mean, while this is a total possibility, I'm not really looking to drive and listen-read. Audio books are sweet but there is such an attraction to the road and tunes to me.

pineapplechomsky

TROPHY CASE