Sniping Could Be the Next Killer iPod App 461
An anonymous Coward writes "Knights Armament Corp. who supply sniper rifles to the US military have developed a iPod Touch mounting system and software for the US Army M110 sniper rifle system. The use of off the shelf hardware no doubt cut costs and allowed rapid development of this system." If it automatically played a theme song after every head shot, this would be the coolest rifle accessory ever.
Out of line (Score:5, Insightful)
If it automatically played a theme song after every head shot, this would be the coolest rifle accessory ever.
Am I the only one who found this attempt at humor disturbing and objectionable?
(And yes, I know my comment will get me modded down, but I strongly doubt I'm alone in thinking a real life killing is quite different from killing in an FPS.)
Lighten up, Francis. (Score:1, Insightful)
Stop looking for things to be offended by.
Re:Out of line (Score:3, Insightful)
On first glance at the title.. (Score:5, Insightful)
Illumination? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Out of line (Score:5, Insightful)
I'm firmly convinced that 90% of all offenses taken spring from a deep-seated human desire for martyrdom and it's accompanying ego-expansion. Somehow, in the state of having been offended, we believe we can attain the deeply satisfying, self-aggrandizing self-righteousness of an unjustly oppressed person.
IOW, you're just looking for stuff to piss you off because you like it. Suck it up, princess.
Re:Out of line (Score:2, Insightful)
Absolutely agree. The pun in the headline is a bad enough, but that "joke" is the most juvenile and disgusting editorial addition to a submission I've seen on Slashdot.
Re:A light source on a sniper rifle? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:anyone who has ever taken a human life (Score:4, Insightful)
I'd consider them blessed that they don't know how it feels afterward, or have the sleepless nights that come with it, or the hot ball of sour sickness that tightens in your gut every time you come under fire.
They may be ignorant, but it is not a failing, just the naivete of youth and living a privileged existence even if it is in very bad taste. In a better world, no one would have to know what it is like.
Re:anyone who has ever taken a human life (Score:5, Insightful)
There are some exceedingly grim jobs in the military.
Some folks never talk about it.
Some folks talk about it.
Some folks become very detached about what they do.
Some folks develop a grim/dark sense of humor.
Don't call someone a cretin or a sociopath because of their coping mechanism. It doesn't mean they enjoy it.
Re:Out of line (Score:3, Insightful)
Even though I'm just a lowly AC, I'll concur as well. I don't want to say killing is never necessary (although I don't want to say it sometimes is, either), but NO MATTER whether it is, it's always a serious thing, and the death of any person is a sad occurrence and should never be taken lightly.
Re:Out of line (Score:5, Insightful)
Wow! An orgy of self-rightious political correctness. Can I play too?
Re:Out of line (Score:5, Insightful)
(And yes, I know my comment will get me modded down, but I strongly doubt I'm alone in thinking a real life killing is quite different from killing in an FPS.)
90% of people on this board have experience with making virtual headshots. Real headshots, >1%. It's just what we know.
Re:Out of line (Score:5, Insightful)
Of course. That's why I said 90%, not 100%. But I'll tell you this: the things that offend me are all actions, not words.
Re:Illumination? (Score:5, Insightful)
If you are close enough for the enemy to see your face, you need neither the sniper rifle, nor complex distance calculations.
Re:Illumination? (Score:4, Insightful)
Depends on context.
Your target may not be the only person in the area hostile to you.
You may not know all of their locations.
You would probably prefer that none of them know your location.
Re:Out of line (Score:5, Insightful)
Life is not sacred. If you use yours to deny other people rights, livelihoods or even their own lives simply for existing, you deserve to lose yours.
Re:Out of line (Score:5, Insightful)
Yeah, but a head shot with a "pink cloud" is a confirmed kill. If the target is worth sending a sniper and you only get one shot, go for the sure thing.
Cheers,
Dave
Re:Legitimate, if disturbing to some (Score:1, Insightful)
I don't care where you live, you are wrong if you think your police force does not use long range rifles for certain situations
Re:Out of line (Score:3, Insightful)
Yeah, I also found it tasteless. Center-of-mass hits are much more reliable than head shots.
No, you have to remember that the only way to kill a zombie is by shooting it in the head [youtube.com]
Nobody is normal (Score:2, Insightful)
if i enjoyed it, i'm a sociopath
Your problem is that you're holding on to outdated views of that some people are "normal" and others are not. Psychology has done away with that a long time ago. Nobody is "normal".
Now we only consider something to be a disorder if it interferes with the normal life of the person in question. It doesn't matter if a soldier is ecstatic after killing others in battle, as long as he never has the need to "get that feeling again" and starts considering killing people he's not supposed to. That would be interfering with his normal life, and he would be a psychopath.
On the other hand, if a soldier gets excited and a sense of adventure in battle, but is completely normal in order circumstances while another is completely distraught at having killed and has nightmares every day since, the person with a disorder is the one that is distraught (its interfering with his life). The one who got excited and giddy and has now adapted just fine to his life after service is perfectly healthy.
Re:Keeps track of points (Score:3, Insightful)
"frags, literally speaking, refer to killings of superior officers.
I do believe sir, that you should use different terminology when marketing it to the military."
No, "fragging" does. "Frags" is the plural of "fragmentation grenades".
http://home.mweb.co.za/re/redcap/vietcrim.htm [mweb.co.za]
FWIW:
"Frag order" is a (WWII vintage at least) military for "Fragmentary Order" that is still in standard current daily use.
Military folks are proficient at dealing with many different acronyms.
One would not mistake a "frag order" for an "order to frag" someone.
We also have MANY officers and enlisted troops who game.
Re:Legitimate, if disturbing to some (Score:3, Insightful)
(B) long-range target shooting is a legitimate and popular sport.
Is there a point the sport anymore if you let the computer do the work?
Re:Out of line (Score:4, Insightful)
The death of a human should not be treated so ... disgustingly.
Aside from your total misapplication of the word "disgustingly" I'm not really clear on what absolute metric you are using to determine what should or should not happen.
I'm glad that your moral compass is here to guide us all.
Somebody needs to do something about Samzenpus and the garbage he puts out.
Won't somebody think of the children?
Your comment sickens me. Literally, as in, made me nauseous.
"Somebody needs to do something" about your smug sense of moral superiority.
Re:Out of line (Score:3, Insightful)
Personally, the only things that offend me are ignorance, bigotry and zealous hatred. Humour is the most powerful tool against fear; perhaps the only tool we all have. If you are offended by something someone says then you should ask yourself why you are offended. More often than not, it is because you see in yourself that which caused offence and believe that by attacking the source of the offence you can purify yourself of it... but this is all psychobabble.
Don't you think if a sniper rifle played a theme song (big hint: giving away the location of the shooter!) it would be the worst rifle accessory ever? Do you think that if it didn't play a theme song after a head shot then it would be acceptable? That is what the gun is for, killing people! regardless of whether or not it has any accessories. If the poster hadn't made that joke do you think the gun would be less lethal? Is there something sacred about the gun that causes offence if you apply humour to its (wait for it....) designed purpose?
Perfect sniper shot (Score:3, Insightful)
For sniping regular run of the mill soldiers, the perfect sniping shot is thru both butt cheeks.
Requires 1-2 soldiers to carry guy off the field, and to provide more targets perhaps.
Requires medical care from limited medical staff like surgeons to remove the clothing,etc pushed into the wound.
Soldier will not be returning to the field anytime soon.
Best shot for depletion of enemy resources.