Competition laws. Do they help anything?

I have no "right" to do it, but I have the "opportunity" to do it. Ok, let's call it my "opportunity" to Life, Liberty, and Property.

And since my "opportunity" to continue these things implies that I require property and liberty to continue my existence, and that I will fight for self-preservation against any who attempt to end my "opportunities", does it really matter what word you use?

Well yes, I am afraid that words do matter. Words are all we have here so it is important to deploy them carefully. Having a dictionary and thesaurus handy can be a big help in that regard.

Right implies protected privilege where opportunity does not, an important distinction in this particular discussion and the reason why I used the word opportunity instead of right.

I have no "right" to do it, but I have the "opportunity" to do it. Ok, let's call it my "opportunity" to Life, Liberty, and Property.

And since my "opportunity" to continue these things implies that I require property and liberty to continue my existence, and that I will fight for self-preservation against any who attempt to end my "opportunities", does it really matter what word you use?

Well yes, I am afraid that words do matter. Words are all we have here so it is important to deploy them carefully. Having a dictionary and thesaurus handy can be a big help in that regard.

Right implies protected privilege where opportunity does not, an important distinction in this particular discussion and the reason why I used the word opportunity instead of right.

My "right" to live IS protected, though - by me, via the faculties provided me for that very purpose by the simple nature of my existence. Try violating it and I'll show you how it's different than any "opportunity" or "ability".

My "right" to live IS protected, though - by me, via the faculties provided me for that very purpose by the simple nature of my existence. Try violating it and I'll show you how it's different than any "opportunity" or "ability".

Protection of rights is not an autonomous activity. What you are describing is merely the opportunity to defend yourself from attack by the gang of well armed mercenaries I have hired to take you out.

If you had any actual rights others might be obliged to employ the threat of greater force to dissuade me from directing my mercenaries to attack you and if I persist, join your side in the battle.

Can you see the difference?

My "right" to live IS protected, though - by me, via the faculties provided me for that very purpose by the simple nature of my existence. Try violating it and I'll show you how it's different than any "opportunity" or "ability".

Protection of rights is not an autonomous activity. What you are describing is merely the opportunity to defend yourself from attack by the gang of well armed mercenaries I have hired to take you out.

If you had any actual rights others might be obliged to employ the threat of greater force to dissuade me from directing my mercenaries to attack you and if I persist, join your side in the battle.

Can you see the difference?

Unrealist42,

Have you ever tried to fight somebody? And I don't mean for fun, I mean for life?

No? How about this, then; have you ever tried to capture and kill an animal for your own consumption?

If you had, you'd recognize the difference between so-called "autonomous" self-preservation and what you call "opportunity".

But apparently you haven't.

Do me a favor - Go outside, try killing a single bee in a hive, and tell me what happens to you ....

You should not presume that just because I do not agree with your position that you have a superior position due to your military experience with life and death. You have no f**cking idea what I have been through.
Ever been in a knife fight?
Ever been alone and chased through the streets with people shooting at you?
Survival as an individual is more a matter of opportunity than anything else when there is no back up.
Soldiers cheat. Soldiers do not fight alone. Soldiers have superior weapons. Soldiers have a skewed perspective on individual survival. You are not the only one here who has been in the military.

Do me a favor- Go to Mogadishu by yourself so you can find out exactly how far your individual "right" to self preservation will get you.

You should not presume that just because I do not agree with your position that you have a superior position due to your military experience with life and death. You have no f**cking idea what I have been through.
Ever been in a knife fight?
Ever been alone and chased through the streets with people shooting at you?
Survival as an individual is more a matter of opportunity than anything else when there is no back up.
Soldiers cheat. Soldiers do not fight alone. Soldiers have superior weapons. Soldiers have a skewed perspective on individual survival. You are not the only one here who has been in the military.

Do me a favor- Go to Mogadishu by yourself so you can find out exactly how far your individual "right" to self preservation will get you.

I never implied that I was more experienced or more wise, just that we both have a right to defend our lives.

So do all living beings.

Plenty of folks have gone to Mogadishu by themselves. They're still alive. Plenty are dead, too.

I never said that rights weren't violated, just that they existed.

If it weren't "right" to live, the violation of life might not offend you so much, now would it?