Poll: Compulsory Military Service

[bartholen_v1legacy]

No.

Not everyone has they physical ability physiological ability or even the time or want to do it.

Forcing people into things particularly something as serious as Military life can very easily lead to disaster.

Besides it could have some very bad effects on people particularly a scrawny git like me.

I would probably get beaten up by my teammates.

Military service does not equal military life or getting sent into a conflict zone unless you're in an actively warring country like the USA. It's preparing for war, not getting sent to one. Most of the time you'll be exercising, learning about your specific discipline or just lazing around the barracks. You getting beaten up by your roommates would only mean them getting chewed out, having their leaves cancelled and generally getting a ton of shit dumped on them. And you have to be a real asshole to annoy your roommates to that point anyway. It's not like you, or they, have anywhere else to go. That's IMO one of the more positive aspects I learned about time in the military: everyone just needs to get along, one way or another. Besides, the military is a great place for scrawny gits to get exercise, since there's lots of facilities and opportunities for it.

 

[zumbledum]

wow over 88% of escapists fail at basic reading comprehension.

 

[conmag9]

Hmmm...

Military: We should conscript people for (lists reasons, some of them might even be slightly rational)

Civilians: Yeah, we're not too keen on brutal training regimens, the risk of death and the killing of our fellow man.

Military: Too bad! Now, here's your high-power weapons. I'm sure nothing could go wrong with giving you, a person who really doesn't want anything to do with them, high powered killing devices.

Putting aside any concerns about the lack of free will, risks and morality of conscription...it's just asking for trouble if you do it on a wide enough scale.

 

[Auberon]

If military service is automatic active duty, then yes. And, as mentioned, not all of the tasks are warfare. Scribe (or clerk, whatever's the official term), chef, driver (who mostly just slack off latter half of service), medic to an extent, supplies and respective corporals.

Of course everyone risks being shot or bombarbed at if war actually happens.

 

[Augustine]

Some countries, who will remain nameless, send most of their "army" to help in various areas of need, most never even touch a gun.
Said countries have some of the most robust economies. Coincidence?

Even Romans used Legions to build superb roads that still stand today.

 

[default]

No way, fuck off. That is a violation of basic human rights and should only be implemented in times of really massive tragedy where there is no other alternative. In any other time if I or anyone else doesn't want to be in the military or support the government for whatever reason, then we have the right as human beings walking this earth not to. And do you really think some guy who doesn't want to be there and is totally miserable is going to benefit from any of the 'life skills' or 'discipline' the military teaches you? You get the majority of those skills from working your first jobs and living on your own for the first time anyway.

Sorry to sound like an asshole, I'm just very opposed on this on all fronts unless the situation desperately calls for more organised helping hands.

 

[Jacco]

I think a distinction should be made between military service and and national service. The military isn't something I support forcing people into unless it is a time of extreme danger- (fighting Nazi's or a genocidal, theocratic, technologically superior, federation of aliens bent on the destruction of humanity for instance). What I can and do support is that everyone is required to serve the state in some way for X number of years. That can range from joining the military to serving as a receptionist for the IRS. I think that by providing a common underlying experience for every citizen, we would see far less division and frankly, stupidity, from the uninformed. That way anyone who wants to serve can do so in some capacity, even if they are physically or mentally handicapped.

Israel gets along quite nicely with a system like this.

 

[Jacco]

No way, fuck off. That is a violation of basic human rights and should only be implemented in times of really massive tragedy where there is no other alternative. In any other time if I or anyone else doesn't want to be in the military or support the government for whatever reason, then we have the right as human beings walking this earth not to. And do you really think some guy who doesn't want to be there and is totally miserable is going to benefit from any of the 'life skills' or 'discipline' the military teaches you? You get the majority of those skills from working your first jobs and living on your own for the first time anyway.

Sorry to sound like an asshole, I'm just very opposed on this on all fronts unless the situation desperately calls for more organised helping hands.

Joining the military does not always mean supporting the government. It just depends on the nature of the state being talked about. Most US troops will absolutely tell you that they support the United States, not the United States Government. That is to say that they support the ideas, principals, and culture the United States as a country represents, not the people currently running (or ruining, if you prefer) it. They have no loyalty to anyone in Congress beyond the fact they ARE in Congress. If a Senator (or even the President) tried to rally them to a personal cause, they would kindly tell them to fuck off-- and rightfully so.

 

[Elementary - Dear Watson]

As a serving officer of Her Majesty's finest I would find this insufferable. I have had people work for me who don't want to be there, and it is a horrid experience. It is really hard to motivate someone who was forced to be there, especially if you are motivating and having to trust them with a rifle, guarding your FOB at 0300 on a cold morning at the end of a 16 hour+ shift. Even if it is only simulated, this is a difficult feat.

If they were to do something like this I would want them far away from me and my team.

 

[newfoundsky]

I think a distinction should be made between military service and and national service. The military isn't something I support forcing people into unless it is a time of extreme danger- (fighting Nazi's or a genocidal, theocratic, technologically superior, federation of aliens bent on the destruction of humanity for instance). What I can and do support is that everyone is required to serve the state in some way for X number of years. That can range from joining the military to serving as a receptionist for the IRS. I think that by providing a common underlying experience for every citizen, we would see far less division and frankly, stupidity, from the uninformed. That way anyone who wants to serve can do so in some capacity, even if they are physically or mentally handicapped.

Israel gets along quite nicely with a system like this.

Israel's system is necessary. But only JUST so.

Would NOT doing any of that count as treason?

And why the state? Why not forced conscription into the Peace Corps, after all, benefiting humanity is infinitely better than benefiting Utah, or Germany, or Israel.

 

[Jacco]

I think a distinction should be made between military service and and national service. The military isn't something I support forcing people into unless it is a time of extreme danger- (fighting Nazi's or a genocidal, theocratic, technologically superior, federation of aliens bent on the destruction of humanity for instance). What I can and do support is that everyone is required to serve the state in some way for X number of years. That can range from joining the military to serving as a receptionist for the IRS. I think that by providing a common underlying experience for every citizen, we would see far less division and frankly, stupidity, from the uninformed. That way anyone who wants to serve can do so in some capacity, even if they are physically or mentally handicapped.

Israel gets along quite nicely with a system like this.

Israel's system is necessary. But only JUST so.

Would NOT doing any of that count as treason?

And why the state? Why not forced conscription into the Peace Corps, after all, benefiting humanity is infinitely better than benefiting Utah, or Germany, or Israel.

By "state" I meant the country, not individual states like Utah. The Peace Corps isn't really the same thing. While it is good in theory, my line of thinking was to make everyone go through a kind of boot camp to be eligible for service. It would provide a common, shitty experience for people to rally around and bond over in the same way that Reservists and Active Duty military personnel don't see each other as "less" because they still had to complete boot camp.

 

[newfoundsky]

I think a distinction should be made between military service and and national service. The military isn't something I support forcing people into unless it is a time of extreme danger- (fighting Nazi's or a genocidal, theocratic, technologically superior, federation of aliens bent on the destruction of humanity for instance). What I can and do support is that everyone is required to serve the state in some way for X number of years. That can range from joining the military to serving as a receptionist for the IRS. I think that by providing a common underlying experience for every citizen, we would see far less division and frankly, stupidity, from the uninformed. That way anyone who wants to serve can do so in some capacity, even if they are physically or mentally handicapped.

Israel gets along quite nicely with a system like this.

Israel's system is necessary. But only JUST so.

Would NOT doing any of that count as treason?

And why the state? Why not forced conscription into the Peace Corps, after all, benefiting humanity is infinitely better than benefiting Utah, or Germany, or Israel.

By "state" I meant the country, not individual states like Utah. The Peace Corps isn't really the same thing. While it is good in theory, my line of thinking was to make everyone go through a kind of boot camp to be eligible for service. It would provide a common, shitty experience for people to rally around and bond over in the same way that Reservists and Active Duty military personnel don't see each other as "less" because they still had to complete boot camp.

I know what you meant, but I don't see how it matters really. Boot camp wasn't that awful for me, personally. It is absolutely not for everyone though, and that is evident as all hell considering the wash out rate (15%), and even after I only knew that I had to solute certain people, say certain words, and fold clothes a certain way. Boot camp, unless you are a marine, is nothing more than a test of how much you are willing to put up with.

Which is why the Peace Corps would be better if you are going to force anyone to do anything. There is a difference, that I find huge, between "You WILL learn to fold your clothes this way" and "You WILL give these people vaccinations".

Honestly, if everyone had to join the Peace Corps, we would all be better off. International Service instead of national service.

 

[WhiteFangofWhoa]

Probably not. I can see the potential benefits there, but some people literally wouldn't be able to survive even one year of boot camp.

Mandatory one year of retail service, maybe?

 

[The Rogue Wolf]

Probably not. I can see the potential benefits there, but some people literally wouldn't be able to survive even one year of boot camp.

...what military has their recruits attend boot camp for an entire year? Even the U.S. Marines only go through Basic for thirteen weeks.

 

[Auberon]

Do correct, but I thought boot camp was for Marines who rotate on active duty near-constantly and actually need to be fit all the time.

We got eight weeks, and most of that is learning the practices like marching, whom to salute and how etc.

 

[WhiteFangofWhoa]

...what military has their recruits attend boot camp for an entire year? Even the U.S. Marines only go through Basic for thirteen weeks.

Ah sorry, I should have said 'boot camp plus everything that comes after it which has the potential to be even more difficult'.

I confess the closest thing I have to knowledge of how the military works is reading Heinlein's Starship Troopers, where Basic felt like it took years and was deliberately made more torturous and exhausting than necessary so that they could weed out everyone who didn't want to be there. It works well. In this theoretical compulsory military tour, what would you do with the people who freak out and try to sneak out of base camp or strike their superior officer out of frustration?