Comments on: Ya Think? http://striderweb.com/blog/2005/07/ya-think/ It's all about where you draw the line Fri, 09 Jan 2009 14:33:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Strider http://striderweb.com/blog/2005/07/ya-think/comment-page-1/#comment-296 Strider Tue, 02 Aug 2005 00:15:01 +0000 http://www.striderweb.com/blog/154#comment-296 In this particular case, however, the point that authorities were trying to distinguish is whether or not the bomber committed suicide in the act of setting of the bombs (as opposed to planting them and leaving). Whether or not it was homicide is not in question. In more general terms, you have a good point. Personally, I think that the word "bomber" itself sufficiently suggests the sowing of destruction, mayhem, and indiscriminant death inherent in this particular act. If I set off explosives in an uninhabited area, is it a "bombing" or merely an "explosion"? If I blow up somebody's mailbox in the dead of night, it's "vandalism"; but if I rig the same mailbox to blow when someone opens it, it becomes a "bombing" (and "murder", and perhaps "assassination"). In this particular case, however, the point that authorities were trying to distinguish is whether or not the bomber committed suicide in the act of setting of the bombs (as opposed to planting them and leaving). Whether or not it was homicide is not in question.

In more general terms, you have a good point. Personally, I think that the word “bomber” itself sufficiently suggests the sowing of destruction, mayhem, and indiscriminant death inherent in this particular act. If I set off explosives in an uninhabited area, is it a “bombing” or merely an “explosion”? If I blow up somebody’s mailbox in the dead of night, it’s “vandalism”; but if I rig the same mailbox to blow when someone opens it, it becomes a “bombing” (and “murder”, and perhaps “assassination”).

]]> By: Cerberus http://striderweb.com/blog/2005/07/ya-think/comment-page-1/#comment-295 Cerberus Mon, 01 Aug 2005 04:49:22 +0000 http://www.striderweb.com/blog/154#comment-295 It is totured language, but of course the term suicide bomber is somewhat of a misnomer as well. A bomber who blows himself up (because he is the delivery system) happens to also commit suicide in the course of mass homicide. Some seem to think that the term "suicide bomber" has come to be a term that focuses too much on the bomb delivery system and not his/her victims. What other term could we use? Deranged madman with a bomb strapped to himself is too long to ever be in vogue with the media. Human bomb might work. It is totured language, but of course the term suicide bomber is somewhat of a misnomer as well. A bomber who blows himself up (because he is the delivery system) happens to also commit suicide in the course of mass homicide. Some seem to think that the term “suicide bomber” has come to be a term that focuses too much on the bomb delivery system and not his/her victims.

What other term could we use? Deranged madman with a bomb strapped to himself is too long to ever be in vogue with the media. Human bomb might work.

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