this post was submitted on 25 Jul 2025
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...Because countries are less willing to fight wars due to the possibility of escalating into a nuclear war.


This is a common thing I see repeated throughout the internet. I wonder what's Lemmy's opinion on this.

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[โ€“] Arkouda@lemmy.ca 11 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Nuclear weapons are the single biggest mistake humanity has ever made next to the Industrial revolution.

We still fight horribly bloody wars even with the threat of nuclear annihilation. It is obvious that nuclear weapons do nothing but make everything worse, and the materials used to create them would be better used for energy generation.

If we were smart we would decommission every weapon on the planet and ensure no group or person can make another one, and put the materials to a better use.

[โ€“] Truscape@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

But that's the frustrating thing, isn't it? The only winning move is not to play... but no one wants to move their pieces from the board.

For as destructive and infuriatingly powerful as they are, these weapons have not been used after 1945. While it may happen within our lifetimes, it is unlikely that they will be used. They are the proverbial gun to our heads that forces us to the bargaining table, rather than the trenches (at least for the world powers).

I don't think it realistic that nuclear weapons will be decommissioned. If anything, I believe the opposite may be true - nuclear weapons shall serve as a guarantee to all nations who possess them against being absorbed by war, or imperialism.

The next interesting quandary will be when every state who wishes the nuclear guarantee possesses it. Then who knows what will happen. If everyone is "safe", would no one be in reality?

Will we be set to fight wars with sticks and stones after the blast?

Hard to say. But I'm pessimistic about disarmament. Self-interests and nuclear security are far greater draws than the vision of world peace. At least for our leaders.

It's quite depressing.