all the mainstays like “FAFO” are here. If this was during peacetime, then sure, you could think of this as an overwhelming show of force escalation after being provoked… but this was a full-scale war, the Missouri should’ve been destroying any enemy artillery it encountered, whether or not they shot first.

so what’s going on, and why is everyone writing fanfic in the comments the kooky battleship captain itching for an excuse to cause extreme destruction? They weren’t on some sleepy mission lacking for targets, according to the article, they were out blowing up tons of shit, mostly not even weapons:

“She bombarded coastal defenses, railroad tunnels, and bridges, making significant contributions to the United Nations’ efforts to push back North Korean and later Chinese forces.”

"In addition to her bombardment duties, the Wisconsin served as a potent anti-aircraft platform, protecting carrier groups and other ships within the fleet from aerial attack. "

So, yeah, there is a disconnect in the narrative between the physical reality; a minor tactical engagement by an overwhelmingly superior force, and the perverse interpretation centered on punishment

and that’s because the institution of orientalism deals with the orient through narratives about the orient, conditioning knowledge of the orient through a birds-eye view which places the knowing western observer as superior in every respect (more rational, logical, scientific, realistic, and objective) to the object of contemplation. This cannot be an Asian gun crew trying ineffectively to defend their homes from belligerant power. this has to be a barbarous ambush by upstart locals, daring to provoke those they should know are their betters while expecting the restraint of our superior culture to save them, only to be shown a righteous and firm hand by our captain who still maintains the correct attitude we need for dealing with the orient.

anyway, if I could stomach delving more of this, I should curate a list of most offensive comments, but luckily sort-by-score already brings out some of the worst, so I can simply copy those:

You know that captain had gone to bed saying “I wish a mfer would.” Then all of a sudden, a very faint tink was heard.

Imagine the guy with binoculars seeing not one, not three, but NINE guns tracking him

reminds me of a few middle eastern videos. One where (I think) a Houti shoot an rpg at an Saudi Abrams and the Abrams facetanks it then turns its turret to the shooter. ↵ Another one in Syria where camera guy sees the tank stopping, elevating its canon and then shooting at his relative position. ↵ Got another, funnier one

Military equivalent of “listen here, you little shit”

Don’t ↵Touch ↵The Boats!

comment that finally seems to grasp people shoot each other in war, but still includes a weird fixation on self-defense, makes analogy with a boxer where the “aggressor” is at “Fault”