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Isaac Ji Kuo

@cstross @graydon @dr2chase

I don't think we're going to get rid of uniforms. The potential benefits of trying to pretend to be local civilians are not going to be great when you've got a helmet, weapon, heavy backpack full of stuff, night-vision equipment, etc ...

5 comments
Charlie Stross

@isaackuo @graydon @dr2chase We're not going to get rid of mil-spec clothing, armour, and equipment: what's going to go is a consistent "uniform" appearance. (I have speculated, for example, about the ease of designing a drone with swastika-seeking firmware …)

Isaac Ji Kuo replied to Charlie

@cstross @graydon @dr2chase

Well, it's certainly possible to try and visually break up the "standard" appearance of your helmet or service rifle. But a uniform already looks really different all the time just from the movement of limbs and different angles.

Personally, I like to ponder audio sensing (with hidden ground based sensors). Disguising the clinking of your rifle isn't going to be so easy.

Philippa Cowderoy

@isaackuo @cstross @graydon @dr2chase If you're an evil fucker then it depends on whose civilians you're trying to pretend to be: you'd be an irregular and thus not protected by most of the laws of warfare, but your opponent's false positives amongst their own population will be a thing.

Plus the helmet's probably about to be a lot less useful and light, stowable weapons are still a thing when you're not on anti-armour duty. Given you're probably recon...

Isaac Ji Kuo replied to Philippa

@flippac @cstross @graydon @dr2chase

There are 2+ wars currently going on which make me rather cynical about how evil some combatants are willing to be, and whether or not something being a war crime is a deal killer.

Philippa Cowderoy replied to Isaac Ji Kuo

@isaackuo @cstross @graydon @dr2chase Well yeah (it's pretty clear that other players who like to be thought of as less evil often prefer to see it as "did we get caught?" too).

But fundamentally the whole idea of visibly-a-uniform is to separate regulars (the ones in obvious uniform) from civilians (supposed not to be fair game) and irregulars ("fair game" for worse treatment because they threaten the distinction, but also not uncommon: a lot of important actions in WW2 were achieved by allied irregulars). If the whole concept is under threat by military developments as well as political ones (one of the combatants you're referring to has been actively eroding it for decades where they are), it's worth noting the transition because it means we're headed somewhere that nobody could realistically sustain it when they're engaged in genuine defence.

@isaackuo @cstross @graydon @dr2chase Well yeah (it's pretty clear that other players who like to be thought of as less evil often prefer to see it as "did we get caught?" too).

But fundamentally the whole idea of visibly-a-uniform is to separate regulars (the ones in obvious uniform) from civilians (supposed not to be fair game) and irregulars ("fair game" for worse treatment because they threaten the distinction, but also not uncommon: a lot of important actions in WW2 were achieved by allied irregulars)....

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