If you're dead, does it matter what killed you?

[Troll]

British forces in Afghanistan have used one of the world’s most deadly and controversial missiles to fight the Taliban.

Apache attack helicopters have fired the thermobaric weapons against fighters in buildings and caves, to create a pressure wave which sucks the air out of victims, shreds their internal organs and crushes their bodies.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has admitted to the use of the weapons, condemned by human rights groups as “brutal”, on several occasions, including against a cave complex.

Death from above

[Gonzo]

I love this bit

"The weapons are so controversial that MoD weapons and legal experts spent 18 months debating whether British troops could use them without breaking international law.

Eventually, they decided to get round the ethical problems by redefining the weapons."

[BrilloPad]

It depends if you know you are going to die and how long you were in pain. I believe that hanging is supposed to be the least painful death as instantaneous? And burning the most painful?

I have often said death does not scare me atall - but pain does. I often get accused of lacking empathy - I guess I will now get a good shoeing from the panel?

[RichardCranium]

I have often said death does not scare me at all - but pain does.

I feel much the same. I am not aware of being at all bothered about my own death but do have fears of a slow and painful death.

Hence I do feel that if someone is to be killed, it should be as fast and painless as possible.

It would seem that if you are nearby, these weapons are much the same as HE. But if you are not, asphyxiation isn't nice. And further away again, the injuries are going to be nasty.

If these weapons are OK, then I can't see why we shouldn't use mustard gas too.

And if area effect weapons are OK and since collateral damage is now acceptable, then they should stop mucking about and just use neutron bombs. Then the job could be over and done with.

[BrilloPad]

asphyxiation isn't nice

I believe yt takes 3 inutes to strangle someone and takes considerable strength?

[Ardesco]

I feel much the same. I am not aware of being at all bothered about my own death but do have fears of a slow and painful death.

Hence I do feel that if someone is to be killed, it should be as fast and painless as possible.

It would seem that if you are nearby, these weapons are much the same as HE. But if you are not, asphyxiation isn't nice. And further away again, the injuries are going to be nasty.

If these weapons are OK, then I can't see why we shouldn't use mustard gas too.

And if area effect weapons are OK and since collateral damage is now acceptable, then they should stop mucking about and just use neutron bombs. Then the job could be over and done with.

Actually when you suffer from a lack of oxygen the body becomes hypoxic, one of the symptoms of this is usually a feeling of euphoria. That's why some people like to be choked when they are having sex, and explains a few Tory deaths in the 80's.

As far as dying goes a lack of oxygen isn't the worst way I could think of.....

[Moscow Mule]

As far as dying goes a lack of oxygen isn't the worst way I could think of.....

Depends how that lack of oxygen is delivered. Drowning, with your body gulping down great big lumps of water when it's gasping for air probably isn't a great way to go.

That said, turning your mix to 100% nitrogen at the bottom of the ocean might be a lovely way to go, plus, you'd turn yourself into instant fish food.

[Troll]

Depends how that lack of oxygen is delivered. Drowning, with your body gulping down great big lumps of water when it's gasping for air probably isn't a great way to go.

That said, turning your mix to 100% nitrogen at the bottom of the ocean might be a lovely way to go, plus, you'd turn yourself into instant fish food.

Our Biology teacher reckoned the human lungs are capable of extracting Oxygen from water... it's just that they are not powerfull enough to circulate water in sufficient volumes to keep the blood oxygenated

[Board Game Geek]

Anyone remember some years ago about some liquid that scientists were working on, which gave you "aqua lung" capability ?

[Moscow Mule]

Our Biology teacher reckoned the human lungs are capable of extracting Oxygen from water... it's just that they are not powerfull enough to circulate water in sufficient volumes to keep the blood oxygenated

I think your Biology teacher has watched "The Abyss" too many times.

The liquid breathing experiments I've heard of all use mechanical methods to aid the lungs and Perfluorocarbons not water.

The problem with most of the experiments is CO2 removal rather than oxygen delivery. It's not an experiment I'd like to be involved in...

MM in "your friendly neighbourhood Divemaster" mode