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Arkanicide 4 points ago +4 / -0

Delving into the Latin, I wonder what would happen if decimate were to be made literal once again - against treasonous folks. If all of the perpetrators of election or financial fraud were lined up, then could a pede restrain themself enough to only destroy every tenth person? Or would the temptation be too great?

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MSG1000 7 points ago +7 / -0

Decimate was a collective punishment that only works on a certain kind of group with the idea that you want this group for something. All traitors need punishing and the survivors would just say whoopee!

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Quietam_Unum 2 points ago +2 / -0

To my mind that would be like killing only every tenth cancer cell...

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Marshall 2 points ago +2 / -0

The word you need is annihilate. Decimate is often used when Annihilate is meant. If you want ten Pedes to destroy 1/10th each, then I'd go along with that.

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Arkanicide 1 point ago +1 / -0

No, I know what each means. I brought it up because I picture a line after line of traitors, and every tenth one being dealt with in full view of the rest.

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Marshall 1 point ago +1 / -0

OK. You're the one in ten that understands the difference. Now I just disagree. The infection that is the left must be eliminated. I don't remember Jesus allowing any of the legion of demons to remain. He drove them all into the swine and the swine ran over a cliff.

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deleted 1 point ago +1 / -0