4_toteachus: (To teach us)
4 ([personal profile] 4_toteachus) wrote in [community profile] re_alignment2012-11-12 02:35 am
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[Text]

[It's been a while since Four's done some information gathering! And this is a topic he knows most here are well aware of. He doesn't write it out right away however, he takes the time to think about it, since he's personally aware that it's a sensitive topic.]

War is an unavoidable part of humanity, in the sense that it seems that those who are sentient have trouble avoiding it. Conflicting ideals come together and creates something that harms everyone, it is how most civilizations are built. When I first saw war with my own eyes, I thought it was the most terrible monster I've ever seen. This much hasn't changed for me. I have mentioned before that it's the purpose of me and my twin to gather information related to humanity, and to one day understand it.

Knowing why and when a war starts and finishes is one thing. Understanding is another, and I believe I'm starting to understand. There's still a lot I don't know however.

Can anyone explain war to me?

What is it like from your point of view?

If someone values life, how can they fight in a war?
percept: (pic#4119369)

[personal profile] percept 2012-11-12 11:10 am (UTC)(link)
Sometimes you must fight to protect and preserve life. There are times when inaction and nonparticipating may lead to more loss of life.
rstlsslegsyndrm: by lylith_st (i'm converse wit u)

[audio]

[personal profile] rstlsslegsyndrm 2012-11-12 02:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Basically, war is the offspring of politics gone awry or unresolved - well, some wars. Two opposing groups who cannot compromise or find a way to peacefully negotiate things end up fighting one another. Sometimes war isn't so much "evil vs. good" or "black and white", as it is one giant congealing blob of grey and... So much more.

To answer your last question: it depends on which "side" you ask. But usually it has to do with either protecting and preserving or evolving and changing. Or, again, a mix of both or neither at all.

[sigh] War has usually very basic roots and explanations, but then emotions and ulterior motives and power come into play as they are wont to do and things just get ridiculously messy.
sword_redemption: (determination)

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[personal profile] sword_redemption 2012-11-12 11:38 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm not sure anyone can explain it. I am not sure anyone really knows.

[At least, Drift doesn't.]

Sometimes you fight because the cause you're fighting for means more to you than your own life.
shutupndrive: (Stoic)

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[personal profile] shutupndrive 2012-11-13 12:26 pm (UTC)(link)
You have to stand up for what you believe in. If you value life, then you don't fight to kill--you fight to stop your opponents, the ones oppressing. You fight to uphold your values and morals and you do what you have to in order to uphold them.

[He shifts a bit, fully believing what he's saying but, well...war still sucks.]

It's not fun, it's never fun...but sometimes it's all you have left.
angleofscience: (agnostic scientist - disregard no angles)

[Video]

[personal profile] angleofscience 2012-11-13 05:02 pm (UTC)(link)
Contention.

[Jetfire's frowning faintly, optics slightly dim as he thinks.] You have at least two sides, each of which is strong enough, at least initially, to realise their part, and as long as neither is defeated nor can agree, you have war.

In the simplest of terms and reaction-action patterns, war simply means one party was attacked, whatever the underlying reason, and the other party defended theselves. No one would simply accept taking lethal force without attempting to keep alive.

[He shakes his helm, looking away for a moment.]

If I didn't value life, I'd stand aside and let others fight it, Four. The war has touched other planets, or even those of our species that didn't want to be involved. Many of us feel we have at least attempt to hep protect those who would otherwise be affected.
tearsofsteel: (Are friends electric?)

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[personal profile] tearsofsteel 2012-11-13 05:22 pm (UTC)(link)
[Oh boy, here we go. 004 sure knows more about war than he's like to know.]

I have some friends who'd argue the 'unavoidable' part, but I'm not sure.

Guess the best way to explain it is that war is a misunderstanding. People get blinded by what they want so bad that they don't care who they hurt to get it. Sometimes it's whole countries. Sometimes it's the world.

And there are those who know this, so they wait for a misunderstanding to sell them the weapons to make wars. Those kind of people don't care which side wins or loses, just as long as they get something out of it. Sometimes they hurt people to use them. Those people are the worst.

War is horrible...I'm sorry you had to go through it. No one should.
treacherous_widow: (I'm listening.)

[personal profile] treacherous_widow 2012-11-13 09:00 pm (UTC)(link)
It's the survival of the most powerful. The idiots get scrapped and the ones with power are those that survive.
knightofdarkness: (rm; far away and out of sight)

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[personal profile] knightofdarkness 2012-11-14 12:32 am (UTC)(link)
'Humanity' and 'sentient' are not synonymous...

...but one can fight because they value life, and because others do not. If they did not fight...even more life would be lost.
tearsofsteel: (Need to recharge)

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[personal profile] tearsofsteel 2012-11-14 04:57 pm (UTC)(link)
[Ouch, a whole world? That's a real sobering fact...004 doesn't want to betray any of his emotions right now, though.]

People like to say they go to war for the right reasons...but it's all the same, anyway.

I'm really sorry to hear that. Wish my friends and I could have helped save it.
Edited 2012-11-14 16:57 (UTC)
knightofdarkness: (rm; in relative terms i've already died)

[Voice]

[personal profile] knightofdarkness 2012-11-15 04:43 am (UTC)(link)
It is. But there will always be those who seek to destroy, not just only life, but...whatever they can. Nothing will stop them, and nothing will dissuade them.

To do nothing is to allow this to happen.

Sometimes, to save life...you must fight, you must destroy those who would destroy far more were they left unopposed.
sword_redemption: (MTMTE shoulder)

[personal profile] sword_redemption 2012-11-15 09:29 pm (UTC)(link)
It's not that uncomplicated. If you have someone willing to kill for their beliefs, you have to match that force.
rstlsslegsyndrm: the tears of a leg (y-y no one listens to me SIGH)

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[personal profile] rstlsslegsyndrm 2012-11-16 01:51 am (UTC)(link)
In some scenarios, yes, I'm sure war can be avoided. Maybe easily, maybe with great effort. However, sometimes it seems to be the only option.

... And no, not really. At least, from where I come from. After the dust settled, it felt like nothing really changed. Just got worse. Efforts were being made to unite Autobots and Decepticons at the time, but of course, that is a task that will take many, many years.
percept: (pic#4129538)

[personal profile] percept 2012-11-17 06:03 am (UTC)(link)
Sometimes life feels threatened by other life.
treacherous_widow: (I'm listening.)

[personal profile] treacherous_widow 2012-11-18 01:07 am (UTC)(link)
I was brought online to fight in a war. What you do think my experiences are.
thelastprime: (everything is my fault)

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[personal profile] thelastprime 2012-11-18 05:07 am (UTC)(link)
War is something that should be avoided...however, should that option not exist, then one must fight for those who cannot. To protect what they value most.

It comes with sacrifice, but those who choose to rise up will feel it's worth.

Or the fear of destruction arises.