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Culture War Roundup for the week of April 6, 2026

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It reads like I said it was about as measured and controlled as Israeli actions. Maybe you missed that part of my reply? Here, let me highlight it for you:

It was a revenge attack for deaths caused by Israel in Lebanon and Palestine. It was about as measured and controlled as Israeli attacks often are.

Here you go. I'd rank that attack as being pretty bad as a representative of how Iran handles things with regards to America. Given that this was a retaliation against Israel. A better example for how they deal with America would be their response to Operation Midnight Hammer. Where they gave advanced warning. Demonstrating capability, rather than signaling intent or want for war.

But as a response to Israel, as I've told you numerous times already, that conflict is very messy. Israel has already dictated the rules of engagement and Iran plays by those rules when defending itself and its interests. Conflating Iran's dealings with America and Israel is not valid, and you should stop trying.

Hopefully that clarifies my position on the topic for you. I'd implore you to read more than one sentence at a time. It gives a better overall picture and minimizes confusion on your half, and the need to reiterate everything on mine.

That creation of a lot of rubble does not necessarily mean that the rubble-creator has a "complete disregard for human life."

Then what is your issue with Iran retaliations against Israel? Please try to form a coherent standard that can apply to both Israel and Iran. I can accept a standard that says both parties have been reckless and bad, or that they are both playing by the same ruleset.

Then what is your issue with Iran retaliations against Israel?

There are two issues. First, Iran intentionally targets ordinary civilians while Israel does not. But more importantly, Iran is the bully in this situation. It could easily have an uneasy peace with Israel as is the case with Egypt and Jordan but it chooses to relentlessly stir the pot.

It reads like I said it was about as measured and controlled as Israeli actions. Maybe you missed that part of my reply?

I'm pretty sure I missed nothing. Rather, I asked you a very simple yes or no question, and you evaded it with whataboutism.

Although our discussion is about to end, I will summarize it for any lurkers.

(1) You said the following:

Iran has shown through actions that it retaliates in measured and controlled ways to defend itself.

(2) I asked if you believed Iran's terrorist attack on the Jewish Community Center in Argentina (which killed 85 innocent people) counted as "measured and controlled" "retaliation" to "defend" Iran.

(3) You evaded the question, instead trying to change the topic to a discussion of Israel's supposed bad deeds.

In any event, I do not engage with people who evade or misrepresent, which you have done both here and in another exchange.

Accordingly, this discussion is concluded. Feel free to have the last word -- I will not be reading or responding.

Israel is functionally targeting civilians in Lebanon and Palestine. Along with directly targeting civilians when they deem them important enough to kill.

I'm pretty sure I missed nothing. Rather, I asked you a very simple yes or no question, and you evaded it with whataboutism.

How two combatants interact with one another is not whataboutism. If group A attacks civilians and group B also attacks civilians then claiming that group B is bad because it attacks civilians whilst neglecting to mention or flat out denying that group A also does that is wrong.

By the actions of Israel bombing Palestinian and Lebanese civilians, Hezbollah bombing Israeli civilians is par for the course. I don't like it, but those are the rules of engagement between the two. Especially considering how many civilians Israel has killed compared to Hezbollah.

To that end, whilst I don't like the attack, it's definitionally controlled and measured in context with Israel dropping bombs on residential areas.

(3) You evaded the question, instead trying to change the topic to a discussion of Israel's supposed bad deeds.

I should have called this out right away, but 'Deny Guys' like you are not worth conversing with. Couching everything in 'Do you deny?! is just a rhetorical vehicle to drive any honest engagement you get towards a dumb point like this.

As an example:

'Do you deny being a liar?'

Well, yes, I'm not a liar, you would say.

'So you've never told a lie?'

Well, I definitely have, but I wouldn't consider myself a liar...

'Hah! so not only are you a liar, you were lying just now when you said you weren't a liar! Proving that you were and are a liar!'

I can't say I lament being blocked by one.