Comments on: Nonlethal weapons

Nonlethal weapons

RichLyon — Thu, 22 Jul 2004 06:03:07 -0800

Does a mindboggling inventory of nonlethal weapons (pdf) depress you as further evidence of man's inhumanity to man? Or does it offer you the welcome relief of knowing there are enforcement options more palatable than "Time to get mediaeval on yo' ass, mofo"? (via John Robb)

By: kozad

kozad — Thu, 22 Jul 2004 06:52:37 -0800

What a list! The weapons here range from the comical (project a hologram of a dead rival to cause death-by-fright of a "drug leader with a weak heart") to the creepy (biotech) to the quizzical (Curdler: breaks up "singing, clapping and dancing" - good for those rogue Hare Krishnas, I guess) to the Maxwell Smart-type weapons (a mine that, instead of blowing up the enemy, throws a net over him!). I think I'll order me up a calmative fog bomb, load it up with Special K and take it to my next trance dance warehouse get together.

By: milovoo

milovoo — Thu, 22 Jul 2004 07:24:48 -0800

A thread with additional info and links for non-lethal weapons here.

By: grabbingsand

grabbingsand — Thu, 22 Jul 2004 07:54:07 -0800

Antilethal, Food Bomb -- replaces anti-personnel bomblets with concentrated food pellets. Wow. Not a bad idea, though the pellets might sting a bit. On the other hand, I find Agents Blue, White and Purple a bit disturbing ...

By: biffa

biffa — Thu, 22 Jul 2004 08:04:36 -0800

Contributors: Mr Jaime H.Caudros is the founder of Arts and Engineering, a firm dedicated to the study and development of less-lethal kinetic energy projectiles and weapons; together with the art of watercolor painting. Just how does that work? And where does he get his inspiration? Homer: Now, this next one's for the ladies. How many times have you gals been late for a high-powered business meeting, only to realize you're not wearing make-up? Marge: That's every woman's nightmare. Homer: That's why I invented this revolutionary make-up gun. It's for the woman who only has four-fifths of a second to get ready. Close your eyes, Marge.

By: Songdog

Songdog — Thu, 22 Jul 2004 08:58:37 -0800

<offtopic> Did anyone else read "mindboggling" as "mindblogging?" I'm sick, I tells you, sick! </offtopic>

By: chicobangs

chicobangs — Thu, 22 Jul 2004 09:30:02 -0800

- Biotechnical, Genetic Alteration. The act of changing genetic code to create a desired less-than-lethal but longterm disablement effect, perhaps for generations, thereby creating a societal burden. - [High Power Microwaves] can also cause human unconsciousness without permanent maiming by upsetting the neural pathways in the brain and/or death. Oh, pick me, I have a question. How is death non-permanent? Some of these non-lethal weapons seem pretty lethal from here. Just saying.

By: LairBob

LairBob — Thu, 22 Jul 2004 09:54:51 -0800

Messed up as it is, chico, I don't think "non-lethal" in this context means "guaranteed not to kill"--I think it means more "not designed to kill", with the stipulation that there might, of course, be fatalities. (Witness the current debate over tasers, for example.)

By: Grod

Grod — Thu, 22 Jul 2004 09:55:47 -0800

What a great list. I want one of each. Except the plant ones. I have no need to attack plants.

By: chicobangs

chicobangs — Thu, 22 Jul 2004 10:23:17 -0800

You may be right, LairBob, but still. The gadget geek in me is totally overshadowed by the part that's imagining seeing any of these in action on actual people. (What's it called when you can't stop shuddering?)

By: LairBob

LairBob — Thu, 22 Jul 2004 11:20:37 -0800

"Heebie-jeebies"?

By: stet

stet — Thu, 22 Jul 2004 11:40:13 -0800

In HTML. Am I the only one that lacks the patience to download pdfs? And I want an antilethal, camoflauge-active. It'd be just like playing Deus Ex.

By: FormlessOne

FormlessOne — Thu, 22 Jul 2004 12:38:50 -0800

You know what'll be fun? Watching the confusion as military and law enforcement folks gas, electrocute, microwave, deafen, blind, and and soak folks, then have the gall to look surprised when folks get mad because they say "What? It's non-lethal! It's not like we shot them or beat them with metal-cored wood sticks or something." Given the recent press regarding the use of Tasers as a way of ensuring compliance (instead of a tool for subduing hostile suspects) on everyone from kids to seniors, the warning signs are disconcerting.

By: rudyfink

rudyfink — Thu, 22 Jul 2004 16:09:03 -0800

Appraisal of Technologies for Political Control Despite the physical pain of "non lethal" weapons. I feel the real risks are to liberty and the free soul.

By: homunculus

homunculus — Sat, 24 Jul 2004 23:32:46 -0800

The Pentagon is developing a new class of sci-fi-like "nonlethal" weapons. But will they make war any safer or easier?