Killin' Stuff Real Good From Your Barcalounger

Oh, dear. You can now "hunt" by controlling a gun and "pulling the trigger" remotely, via Internet connection:

Sliding his computer mouse around until he locates a moving target, the hunter sets the animal in his sites and pulls the rifle's trigger with a click of his finger. Down goes a wild boar. Another trophy bagged. Yet in this case it's not a video game. It's a new kind of hunting experience in which people anywhere in the world can sit at home and target real game by controlling a gun in a remote location. To supporters, it's a way to allow the disabled, among others, to enjoy the thrill of hunting. But critics see it as a form of video slaughter.

"Disabled"? Is laziness a disability now? If so, where's my check?

I've gotta side with the PETA crowd on this one. If you're going to plug something, at least have the common courtesy of showing up for the kill.

Indeed, the concept of live-action hunting - done over the Internet - is raising the hackles of everyone from animal-rights activists to hunting groups to gun advocates. As a result, lawmakers in 14 states are now trying to ban the practice, including Texas, where the only such online hunting facility exists.

I don't see this as spreading like wildfire, so this legislation is probably unnecessary.

I'm just curious what "libertarians" have to say about this.

Under the system, a person can control a camera and a firearm, shooting at real targets in real time, from a computer anywhere. For an additional fee, the meat or head can be shipped to the hunter.

Here's an alternative version of "the system:" You get to scan around an already-shot video taken from an episode of Field & Stream Video Diary. You get to pull a "trigger," which then advances you to already-shot video of an animal being killed, or two lions humping each other, depending on whether or not your "shot" is anywhere near the target.

If you pay an additional fee of $150, they'll buy you some $3.59/lb buttsteak from the local A&P and send it to you labled "Here's that 'bear' you shot, jagoff."

Uggghhhhh. I'm personally offended that these resources aren't being devoted to finding some sort of digital-masking technology that will allow me to watch porn without being assaulted every three seconds by the sight of hairy man-ass (HMA).

Thanks to LauraW.

Important Nanotech News! Scientists have just developed a new nanotech "pet," the "Really Little Buddy," which responds to a wide variety of commands, including "1" and "0."

posted by Ace at 05:45 PM

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