Do members of the military get too much respect? What profession do you respect the most?

[Vandenberg1]

You know the scene. Two people are introducing themselves to each other.

Person A: What do you do?
Person B: I'm actually a Vet. Marine Corps.
Person A: Oh wow. Thank you for your service.


Now that's all well and good, but I've always thought that not only do members of the military get too much unconditional respect, but that other people who provide invaluable services don't get near enough. Sure there are the basic Police and Fire Fighters, but they get plenty.

I'm talking about people like Pathologists, Teachers, EMTs, Surgeons, social workers, etc. These people certainly do as much individually, if not more than any one member of the military. Plus as a whole I guarantee the previously mentioned professions have done more good than the military.

I'm going to go with ER doctors, nurses, EMTs, and paramedics. These people save millions of lives and have to endure some of the most emotionally and physically draining situations out there. Watching children die when you don't know what's wrong with them, missing saving someone's life by 20 seconds, having to tell an only child that their one remaining parent has passed away, etc. I would be a constant ball of tears if I worked in some city ERs. I'd be curled up in a ball in the corner in no time from some of the tragedy I'd inevitably have to see.

I'm sure I'll get the "But the military risks their own lives" argument. However, not only do less than 15% of military members ever even see anything even close to resembling real combat, but emergency response and doctors put themselves on the line constantly. From the constant threat of general sickness, to more serious stuff like AIDs scares and other deadly infectious diseases. Then you also have the paramedics and EMTs who are sometimes in sketchy situations. Shootings, stabbings, gang violence, etc. Plenty of these brave people have been injured or killed while trying to save someone.


Sorry, but I'm not about to thank some cook in the navy for whipping up some sweet pasta when no one even bothers to thank the real heroes out there.


I'm sure I'll get some hate for this post due to people being groomed to think the military is somehow better and braver than other professions, but I'd like to see someone logically explain to me why they deserve the gratitude they get when other professions have to go without.

I've never seen a "Support our Pathologists and Surgeons" sticker.

This whole argument is pretty stupid and invalid. Cooks in the military are not respected as say a U.S. Marine.. I am trying to become a Navy medic (corpmen) which means I will be serving along side the Marines as their medical man. I will be a huge target but its what i wanna sign up for. People who join just for benefits (they cut allloott of that) don't get my respect the same way someone does to be a Special Ops for Marine or even MP which can be equally dangerous.

 

[loc978]

As a vet, I think the awe and reverence I receive from some people is excessive. It's nice to be acknowledged, but I think it goes too far.

As for what profession should receive respect in that way, I say none. In the Army, they tried to teach me "respect the position if you can't respect the person". I was never any good at that, and I think it's a bad habit anyway. This world needs more honesty, so if someone is contemptible, I say display your contempt. Conversely, if someone is respectable, display your respect for them. The person's profession should have little to do with that.
Then again, that attitude landed me in some mildly scalding water with at least one Colonel... would have been real trouble if the fucker hadn't needed me to keep his goddamn brigade running.

 

[Jaime_Wolf]

This is true of virtually everyone who works hard for a purpose beyond blatant self-interest. Researchers are trying to figure out ways to help people constantly, factory workers are buildings things for others so they can do their own things, musicians are giving you music that they've practiced ten thousand times and are sick to death of. Restricting it to doctors is almost as bad as restricting it to soldiers. So I don't really have a profession that I respect most.

And you're right, they should all be thanked, probably moreso than the military. Especially assuming you're talking about the US. The military hasn't been "protecting" us much lately.

But you sort of can't do that if you want to have a military at all (if you don't, I'm right there with you, but if you do...). One of the biggest reasons people serve is the honor afforded soldiers and veterans. They're not doing it for the pay, they're not doing it because they enjoy potentially dying. You have to dress it up with ceremony and honor to get people to volunteer, to go along with it, to do what you want them to do. You have to have uniforms and badges and awards and symbols or it isn't as interesting or worthwhile for the people involved.

 

[CaketownMassacre]

You're turning this into a debate on the merits of the military's presence in the Middle East. You're forgetting that there are many potential enemies in many other places that we have to be prepared to defend against. The battleground of the present and future isn't somewhere you can send a battalion of soldiers.

Do we get too much respect? Some of us do. I just joined the Navy and my first tour of duty is in Hawaii. But civilians will look at me the same way they look at a Marine who has done five tours overseas. That's not fair; I haven't earned that. Some of us aren't humble enough to recognize that and get all smarmy and cocky because they wear a uniform to work. But that is a very small minority, and everybody hates them.

I have news for some of you: servicemembers aren't bloodthirsty savages, or the stoic, heavily decorated people you typically see performing color guard duties at sporting events. We're people, just like you. Living on base or on a ship is like high school, if high school were 24/7. We don't daydream of "killing towelies" or whatever. We daydream of one day affording a really nice sports car, or the newest HDTV. We dream of raising a family and providing for them, and hoping our name is never selected to go overseas and be away from that family for over a year.

If you ever forget why we get the respect we do, remember that every one of us is trained to give our lives for you without hesitation. For any civilian, even just one. Even one who spits in our face and calls us a murderer. That is our job. Nothing you say or do will ever stop that from being true, so believe me when I say I'm not appealing for your respect. I just want you to understand us a little better, that your decision might be better informed.

 

[Ekit]

Yes they do. THey are way over-glorified.

The most respectable profession is scientist. That's something that has positive effects on the entire human rase and without whom we still would have lived in the dark ages.

 

[dfphetteplace]

It's never wise to get caught up in what a man does to get paid.

While true, some people get paid doing something that they love and that is admirable at the same time.

 

[Sabiancym]

How often do you risk your life in your occupation? Is my answer to respecting soldiers. You know OP some of them are trauma surgeons, emts, and... well not everyone in the military shoots a gun.

That's kinda part of my point....yet this thread is riddled with "They risk their life so they deserve respect" arguments.

That's not even close to true and obviously some people didn't read the thread. The vast majority of military members never even come close to being in a situation where their life is in danger.



I know I'm somewhat biased considering every member of the military under the age of 40 (AKA the modern military) has been an elitist asshole who can usually be found talking about how we should nuke the entire middle east..

I just don't think there is anything respectful or honorable about joining the military today. Like others have said, I respect the hell out of those from WWII and other conflicts where we were actually threatened. Hell, if WWIII were to break out, I'd be signing my ass up to defend. Shooting natives in the middle east is hardly protecting the country.

I'm not automatically against someone in the military. It's fine to join for life experiences, scholarships, military career, etc. But I don't think they should be seen as national heroes like some people want to label them. They certainly haven't done more than plenty of civilians have for the country.



The "Support our troops" motto is kept up and pushed (partly by the government) because labeling the profession as a respectful and honorable one leads to more recruits.

I'm not sure if that's a bad thing or not.

 

[Sabiancym]

Yes I think soldiers are glorified far too much, they do a much less important job than teachers, ambulance drivers, doctors.

In times of national emergency, where soldiers are actually needed, then yeah its a very admirable thing to sign up. But in times like now, where soldiers aren't dying for their country, they're dying for the corporate interests within their country its just a load of bullshit. Its a job that they chose, don't give me any bollocks that they're doing it for me, or you, or 'the people', that's just not true, even if that's why they think they're doing it.

I'll believe whatever I want,thank you very much. I don't know what's going on in politics these days, maybe I shouldn't,but I have, for the longest time, Have respect for our armed forces. Sure,the miltary nut is a common trope,but I'd like to ask thiso you think they enjoy the taking of a another person's life? I'm just curious. What's your beef with them?

Yes plenty of them do enjoy taking another person's life. Go on youtube. You'll find hundreds of videos of soldiers killing people in the middle east and acting like they just scored a touchdown. Regardless of whether or not they know the person is armed or not. I've seen some videos of soldiers not being too happy about it, but I've seen far more videos of them celebrating the death.

Somehow they've been led to believe that they're actually helping something....

 

[dfphetteplace]

I'm going to go with ER doctors, nurses, EMTs, and paramedics. These people save millions of lives and have to endure some of the most emotionally and physically draining situations out there. Watching children die when you don't know what's wrong with them, missing saving someone's life by 20 seconds, having to tell an only child that their one remaining parent has passed away, etc. I would be a constant ball of tears if I worked in some city ERs. I'd be curled up in a ball in the corner in no time from some of the tragedy I'd inevitably have to see.

It can be really hard some days. I have had to do all of those. I have seen to best and worse of people and keep going. Most people don't realize that after you have a child die in front of you, it might only be the start of a 72 hour shift on the road. Some of your humanity dies when you take a job like that.

 

[Greni]

And that's kind of the problem. We fetishise death to a ridiculous extent.

We loves us our snuff porn, and wars be them.

We also assume death is "for country," because it sounds good.

We assume anyone who signed on is willing to take risk, even the desk clerk or the guy who's only on the frontline because some lying scumbag recruiter promised him he wouldn't see combat.

There are many ways to serve your country or your ideals, and the military is ultimate only in the sense that death is pretty final.

This pretty much, if I may say so without being instantly hammerbanned for breaking whatever ridiculous rules our internet overlords have suddenly decided upon.

It sure seems like a fine deal to travel the world, wear a cool uniform and kill and maim foreigners on demand, but surely there are other ways to spend your time and gaining the respect of your fellow man, like say, not killing other people?

The military, in my mind at least, is a governing tool to use. In the right hands it may very well serve the good of the people, but as we are reminded time and again, the government, of any country, does not give a rats arse about the "good of the people". They care about their fat rear ends and those around them. Which in this case would be equally fat businessmen with their own agendas. They send their puppets to war for personal gain and the puppets, if alive, get out of parking tickets, as mentioned above.

I speak as someone who's from a country that has no army, so it's merely an observational point.

Edit: OT: A profession as a whole that I have a tremendous respect for are teachers. It's biased as I know a fair amount of them, but that way I know that their job can be hell at times, the pay (here at least) is laughable and the general view of their contribution is disgraceful. But they soldier on (pun intended), do their job and are basically preparing the next generation to inherit, and take care of, our mess. The educational system on the other hand is a whole other story.

 

[Therumancer]

You know the scene. Two people are introducing themselves to each other.

Person A: What do you do?
Person B: I'm actually a Vet. Marine Corps.
Person A: Oh wow. Thank you for your service.


Now that's all well and good, but I've always thought that not only do members of the military get too much unconditional respect, but that other people who provide invaluable services don't get near enough. Sure there are the basic Police and Fire Fighters, but they get plenty.

I'm talking about people like Pathologists, Teachers, EMTs, Surgeons, social workers, etc. These people certainly do as much individually, if not more than any one member of the military. Plus as a whole I guarantee the previously mentioned professions have done more good than the military.

I'm going to go with ER doctors, nurses, EMTs, and paramedics. These people save millions of lives and have to endure some of the most emotionally and physically draining situations out there. Watching children die when you don't know what's wrong with them, missing saving someone's life by 20 seconds, having to tell an only child that their one remaining parent has passed away, etc. I would be a constant ball of tears if I worked in some city ERs. I'd be curled up in a ball in the corner in no time from some of the tragedy I'd inevitably have to see.

I'm sure I'll get the "But the military risks their own lives" argument. However, not only do less than 15% of military members ever even see anything even close to resembling real combat, but emergency response and doctors put themselves on the line constantly. From the constant threat of general sickness, to more serious stuff like AIDs scares and other deadly infectious diseases. Then you also have the paramedics and EMTs who are sometimes in sketchy situations. Shootings, stabbings, gang violence, etc. Plenty of these brave people have been injured or killed while trying to save someone.


Sorry, but I'm not about to thank some cook in the navy for whipping up some sweet pasta when no one even bothers to thank the real heroes out there.


I'm sure I'll get some hate for this post due to people being groomed to think the military is somehow better and braver than other professions, but I'd like to see someone logically explain to me why they deserve the gratitude they get when other professions have to go without.

I've never seen a "Support our Pathologists and Surgeons" sticker.

It's important to understand that doctors are almost entirely mercenary for the most part. There are exceptions, but the majority nowadays would as soon as let someone die in front of them as work for free, and of course given the "captive audience" they want top dollar for their services. This is at the core of a lot of the problems with the health care system in countries that are capitalist... which are also the nations that the socialized countries depend on since this where the doctors and drug companies and such largely make the money. It's complicated but it's part of what causes the battles between the insurance companies and doctors that trickle down to health care. Insurance companies are bad, but you also have issues with doctors who want to charge what amounts to $1000 for 15 minutes of their time where they might not even do anything, needless to say the insurance companies say "F@ck that" which causes some of the conflicts even if they are plenty corrupt themselves for reasons I hopefully don't even have to begin to explain.

Firefighters DO get a lot of respect especially in areas where they are volunteers, BUT it should also be noted that overall there aren't a lot of them.

The Police are a mixed issue because you have to understand that they represent a clear and present authority that the military does not. Cops are generally hated until you actually need one, and are even seen as the enemy by various societal demographics that tend towards criminal or anti-societal behavior (and yes that is another long and complicated arguement). I mean you walk into some less than nice places and the police are viewed with outright enimity as wrong as that is.

The military in comparison is more direct service, doesn't have authority except under rarely seen emergency situations, and tends to be fairly dangerous as a profession even under the best of times due to the US's huge committments to global protection, we pretty much act as the global law enforcement agency (popular or not) and pretty much ARE the UN as far as actually getting anything done goes (speaking for the US here). There is also generally little in the way of rewards.

HOWEVER, the amount of respect the military gets tends to vary within the US with left wing sentiment. During the 1960s when we had tons of left wing extremism within the youth the Militry was utterly hated, which came to a peak, which climaxed with Veitnam and the way the veterans were treated (but it started before and continued after the war was over). Right now we're in a fairly polarized climate with the country split 50-50 idealogically between the left and right and thus we have plenty of people who respect/support the military, and a lot of people like you who question why this should be the case (your sentiments are hardly unique). The military industrial complex being the classic political enemy of the left wing, which is one of the reasons why I generally have so little respect for it.

The overall point here is that there are some good reasons to respect the military, and it's hardly something that has remained constant or is quite as widespread as you seem to think.

Heck, as soon as the current "War On Terror" started you had a lot of outcry against the military simply because people who volunteered were being sent out to fight, when a lot of the guys in it jsut wanted to exploit the goverment for free college money without ever fulfilling the obligations inherant in the deal. They were there to "play soldier" rather than be soldiers to to speak... and that was before it turned into the giant mess of a non-war it is now.

 

[Heronblade]

The by far majority of military personnel earn nearly all of the respect they are accorded, even without direct exposure to conflict. (Note that there are indeed exceptions to this)

I will however agree that EMTs and the other professions mentioned in the OP do not get enough respect for the things that they in turn do.

 

[Iron Mal]

While I'm sure there is a lot of positive things to be said about the men and women who make up our armed forces I wouldn't say I would grant anyone any more or less respect just because of the occupation they hold.

In my opinion, if you want respect off of me and for me to hold you in high esteem then you show me that you actually deserve it rather than just taking it for granted.

Whether you're a long serving and highly decorated veteran or a highschool drop-out who's done nothing with their life I'll still give you an equal chance to impress or offput me (and treat you accordingly), above all else I believe in being fair in the way I treat people.

 

[ike42]

You know the scene. Two people are introducing themselves to each other.

Person A: What do you do?
Person B: I'm actually a Vet. Marine Corps.
Person A: Oh wow. Thank you for your service.


Now that's all well and good, but I've always thought that not only do members of the military get too much unconditional respect, but that other people who provide invaluable services don't get near enough. Sure there are the basic Police and Fire Fighters, but they get plenty.

I'm talking about people like Pathologists, Teachers, EMTs, Surgeons, social workers, etc. These people certainly do as much individually, if not more than any one member of the military. Plus as a whole I guarantee the previously mentioned professions have done more good than the military.

I'm going to go with ER doctors, nurses, EMTs, and paramedics. These people save millions of lives and have to endure some of the most emotionally and physically draining situations out there. Watching children die when you don't know what's wrong with them, missing saving someone's life by 20 seconds, having to tell an only child that their one remaining parent has passed away, etc. I would be a constant ball of tears if I worked in some city ERs. I'd be curled up in a ball in the corner in no time from some of the tragedy I'd inevitably have to see.

I'm sure I'll get the "But the military risks their own lives" argument. However, not only do less than 15% of military members ever even see anything even close to resembling real combat, but emergency response and doctors put themselves on the line constantly. From the constant threat of general sickness, to more serious stuff like AIDs scares and other deadly infectious diseases. Then you also have the paramedics and EMTs who are sometimes in sketchy situations. Shootings, stabbings, gang violence, etc. Plenty of these brave people have been injured or killed while trying to save someone.


Sorry, but I'm not about to thank some cook in the navy for whipping up some sweet pasta when no one even bothers to thank the real heroes out there.


I'm sure I'll get some hate for this post due to people being groomed to think the military is somehow better and braver than other professions, but I'd like to see someone logically explain to me why they deserve the gratitude they get when other professions have to go without.

I've never seen a "Support our Pathologists and Surgeons" sticker.

Disregarding all the possibility of bodily threat that soldiers and sailors go through there are countless other sacrifices that are required to serve. One example is not seeing your family or being completely cut off from society for long periods of time. When I went on my first deployment I came back and it seemed like culture had skipped a beat because things were different. I don't think you really wanted an answer though, you likely just chose this topic to troll for posts.

 

[Snotnarok]

Everyone deserves a bit of respect and considering they had to go through an assload of training just to be shot at in some random country. Or you know blown up as my grandfather was (he survived, only one in the jeep who did.) but you know you could just say "it's just a job". I suppose that's cool too.

Does it automatically make you an honorable person? God no there's scumbags everywhere.