MQ-9 Reaper image - Aircraft Lovers Group

It's not the drones I fear. The operators sitting in nice air-conditioned bunker "playing their PC game" is worse than the actual machine with it's missiles. People are not in touch with reality and war makes fun for them. During and after every war there were books and films to make younger people see the war was a bloody mistake and they don't want to make it again...

Now killing becomes completely impersonal...

As odd as it might seem, the exact opposite is true. Speed is one of the primary defenses of conventional aircraft, so they tend to drop in, attack their target, and leave so quickly that the pilot doesn't see the effects of the bombing.

Drone operators on the other hand often will watch a target for hours prior to bombing it, and will stay to confirm that the missile hits. The result is that not only do they see the people they're killing, given the current use of drones, they often see them acting like normal people rather than acting as soldiers. In fact, the US military has had a significant problem with drone operators suffering psychological problems (PTSD, ect.) due the high stress nature of their work.

Sorry, but even on airbase in normal war you'd be under pressure and can't be sure that you won't get bombed. Even in these modern conflicts, personal on base can be under attack. Drone operator's chair is not hot...

Just because they're not at any physical risk does not mean that drone operators don't face a great deal of stress. For reference: Nytimes.com

It is maybe understandable to worry about leadership (which itself has never been at risk) being more ready to use airstrikes against targets when there is no risk to any allied soldiers, as with the extensive drone operations in areas such as Pakistan. However, those operations have resulted in extremely few civilian deaths relative to conventional military operations, and I'm happy for any development in war that reduces death toll.

There's certainly been the odd drone strike that has ended in tears(civilians killed etc.).
Truth is, drones are a cowardly weapon. As CommanderDef said, they can sit back and play their little computer game, with virtually zero threat to their own lives, press their little buttons and watch things go boom boom. Its like some sort of sick wargame.

Don't say that your average jet pilot does the same thing. They fly into the situation and have to get themselves out again as well. The risks are ten times higher and the consequences are pretty much death if anything goes wrong.

While it's true that risk factor is almost zero when using drones, pilots are almost totally safe during their bombing runs and patrols.
That because of the asymetric nature of nowadays conflicts.
Who takes less **** in war are the guys who fly.
It's ground forces that risk their life on a daily basis, just to patrol.
Drones are much better for patrol missions because the operator can take pauses, can be switched...

As for me, this drones allows their operators dont get killed during their missions, even if aircraft destroyed...
Is it really bad?

yea since they are primarily being used against defenseless civilians ... basically they treat any military aged male as an insurgent and literally drop a hellfire missile on them that easily annihilates a whole city block. Precision strikes my ***.

There is also the notorious issue of double taps EG US drone pilots wait for anyone to come to the previous strike zone and kill them as well regardless if they are civilians trying to bury the dead which more often than not are the family members of those who died.

Its a good idea fore conventional warfare but not for fighting an insurgency ... The poor tactics used with these drones have if fact also bolstered the ranks of Al Qaeda & the Taliban and those who lose innocent family members often join these groups looking for revenge.

Its utterly counter productive and as CommanderDef correctly stated it cheapens human life to the point of turning war into war games for profit and believe me war is NOT a game nor a business opportunity.

It doesnt make any difference, what aircraft it is - manned or unmanned...
In these "insurgency wars" both of them can deliver bombs on civilians, by design or not...
So we can say, that all of attack aircraft types are not suitable for missions like that, 'cause they can hurt innocent civilians...

yea but UAVs are worse seeing as they make bombing civilians or any other target for that matter cheaper both morally and more importantly cost wise.

"I'd be much happier to see a drone get shot down rather than an A-10 in any large scale war anyday... etc."

Heh, it depends who's side you're on.