Kyle Rittenhouse’s sister Faith is seeking $3,000 on a crowdfunding website in a bid to prevent the eviction of herself and her mother Wendy from their home, citing her “brother’s unwillingness to provide or contribute to our family.”

  • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
    22·
    5 months ago

    Well, the guy I replied to who said:

    I’m contradicting the ridiculous argument that existing in public while armed, in an open carry state, is somehow, in and of itself, provocation.

    is certainly talking past everyone else since literally no one made that argument.

    And then for some reason you criticized me for telling them that no one made that argument, despite that being a fact.

    • TheFonz@lemmy.world
      22·
      5 months ago

      Yeah I think you’re saying that --correct me if I’m wrong-- him

      bringing the AR to the protests is an act of provocation

      while the person you’re arguing with said

      open carry is not uncommon and no one felt provoked

      At least that’s how I read it. Maybe I’m wrong. I can see how both statements could be true to some extent. Many protesters were from out of state and possibly not familiar with the open carry laws in WI so it’s possible they felt threatened immediately. I’m no longer living in the US, and I never lived in an open carry state, so the sight of an AR strapped to a kid would make me uncomfortable in that situation. However, I’ve also lived in the middle east were the sight of soldiers walking around not in uniform carrying semi automatic rifles was very common and that did not make me uncomfortable. So context is important.

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
        32·
        5 months ago

        This is Kenosha, not Fallujah. If you think people walking around with ARs is a common or non-worrying sight there, you really know nothing about this subject.

        • TheFonz@lemmy.world
          21·
          5 months ago

          I don’t understand this response. There are several states in the US where open carry is quite common. There’s a whole subreddit dedicated to pictures of dudes walking around like para militias. What’s your point in comparing it to Fallujah after I already conceded that it likely made many protesters uncomfortable. No need to go all agro on me man, I’m just pointing out the two perspectives that’s all.

          • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
            22·
            5 months ago

            Sorry… you’re taking anecdotal pictures from a subreddit to argue that people walking around Kenosha with ARs is a common sight?

            I live in an open carry state. I drove through Wisconsin in March. I didn’t see a single person walking around with an AR then and I never see them here either.

            • TheFonz@lemmy.worldEnglish
              11·
              5 months ago

              You took my position:

              open carry is not uncommon in Wi

              and transformed it into

              people walking around Kenosha with AR’s is a common sight

              These are two completely different statements. Is the opposite of uncommon by default common? Even after I conceded that it would still alarm some people. I don’t get it. Is there a different way I should explain myself? I’m so lost :( What am I doing wrong? Maybe I shouldn’t have used the word uncommon. There has to be a better word. Maybe surprising?

              • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
                21·
                5 months ago

                Okay, if it is not a common sight to see people carrying ARs in Kenosha, then it makes sense that people at a protest would take that as a threat and act accordingly. I really don’t know what you’re saying here other than doing some ridiculous “both sidesing” when only one side committed murder.

                • TheFonz@lemmy.worldEnglish
                  11·
                  5 months ago

                  I don’t really remember any more because I had to translate my position through several iterations since it kept getting twisted. I have to figure out how to make my points more direct and succinct. It seems no matter how much preamble and explanation I offer, my position gets twisted one way or another.

                  All I’m trying to say is that when we argue with the other side (in this case conservatives that defend Rittenhouse) we should be mindful if we are addressing the ethical argument or the legal argument. Typically, conservatives will overstate the legal argument and dismiss the ethical argument.

                  If I had an elevator pitch it would be this:

                  >> It’s helpful to steelman the opposition to be able to refute it better. <<

                  That’s all. I need to go walk my dog now.