"Shut up because I'm a soldier!"
- Thread starter Mid-Boss
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The only time that I see soldiers bring up their service for credibility is when it contains matters relevant to their service. (i.e. "Guns don't work that way and I know this because I was in the military and shot lots of guns.")
Most of the former soldiers I know even avoid this, and only reference their service when it is actually integral to a mis-representation of the military.
Most of the former soldiers I know even avoid this, and only reference their service when it is actually integral to a mis-representation of the military.
Actually very few military recruits sign up because they are poor. Most are middle-class, in fact. And I don't know where this "signing away most of your rights" thing comes from. My life is not all that different from what it was before I signed up, and my added responsibilities are not so different than they would be if I had a similar-paying civilian job. Granted there are deployments to worry about, but there are hefty benefits from being deployed and the military does not shy away from warning us about the potential dangers. You also neglect to acknowledge those who sign up out of a sense of duty or family tradition long before any "slick" recruiter gets involved. Hell, all my recruiter did was give me an aptitude test and direct me towards jobs where my skills would be the most useful.DoctorFrankenStein said:
Judging by your harsh words, I doubt my testimony will convince you to think differently about the military, but I hope it at least you take what I've said into consideration.
I have to agree. I posted a comment on Facebook recently as a reply to someone who brought up his military experience in a discussion about Warhammer. He then proceeded to talk about the politics, and the atmosphere, and people lined up to agree with him. While that doesn't sound too unusual (other than 'shooting people => pseudo-political rant,' perhaps), most left inane comments about his combat experience. Some, pointedly, about it making him infallible. Really? He knows what he's talking about because he's been in a war zone?
I've had to put up with something like this before. The guy was the most basic of infantry in his unit and used that as a standing the he was right in everything. He flat-out insulted an Iraq veteran because she was a woman, and said it was insulting because she was "safe" while some of his friends lost limbs. I screamed at him that he was a self-righteous prick and I don't glorify people in the military like he did because they know what they're in for when they sign up. If they're not willing to take the risk then they should keep out of it... Low-blow I admit but the guy was a douche.
In New Zealand where I'm from it's sort of frowned upon to say you any better than anyone else or expect special treatment. Unless it had some relevance to the conversation I bet you'd get some weird looks saying your right because your a soldier.
In relation to his argument, if we forget inflation and give all the bailout money awarded since 2007 to citizens, each citizen would get a little over 35 bucks each. Its great when someone with combat experience brings it up when the issue has something to do with their experience, just like I would like a janitor to speak up if I had to clean shit off a wall.
Well, if it makes you feel any better, that's why I'm heading down that path. But I do think that being willing to take on that moral dilemma is something that can, in fact, be called "noble".InterAirplay said:
You are right, though, that not everyone in uniform necessarily deserves unquestionable respect. It's a shame that in this country you can be a complete jackass who's never seen a lick of combat, act like you know better than any civilian, and just sit behind a desk all day, and still be treated with the same reverence as a good man in the infantry who knows exactly what he's doing and why he's doing it.
The whole thing that went on here, and the only reason the US decided it was ok to bomb civilians during WWII was because there was no separating line between the factories and the residential areas. People in japan worked on parts for the factory in the homes then brought them to the factory for final assembly. you couldn't bomb one without the other. yes its sad but it was truly the only way. Also they were meant to send a message, that we no longer needed an army to destroy them, just one plane with one bomb. I'm in the Airforce and currently in the middle east, I'm also a bit of a WWII buff. Anyway i also agree with the OP. just saying you're a soldier is BS. It's not an end all, be all to an argument. i mostly that because there are some really, and I mean REALLY, stupid people in the military. It just cant work that way.Gamblerjoe said:
Ah, misplaced sense of authority.
Tbh, being a soldier in this day and age is just a job. A very dangerous job, with a long and tiring, and 'glorious' history. But a job none the less. Prostitution is the oldest profession in history, but the effect isn't the same.
There are lots of jobs more dangerous than being a soldier. But this whole idea that a soldier's duty is to defend you, and your country is too far entrenched. And that we are forever indebted to every soldier to ever be recruited, because all he does is selflessly defend us.
Well yes. You do defend us, but you can't expect everyone to suck up to you, and constantly praise you. It's a job, you shouldn't leech praise off of people. The military and media gives you enough already. Soldiers should take pride in their jobs, and not overstate themselves.
And don't give this 'but they died for your freedom!' shit. If for example, the French empire had never stopped expanding, and conquered the world, then I wouldn't know any different.
And what about the soldiers that lost? Are they glorious too because they put in a good effort? No, they haven't completed their job. Just because you have, doesn't mean it's grounds for you eternal glory.
Tbh, being a soldier in this day and age is just a job. A very dangerous job, with a long and tiring, and 'glorious' history. But a job none the less. Prostitution is the oldest profession in history, but the effect isn't the same.
There are lots of jobs more dangerous than being a soldier. But this whole idea that a soldier's duty is to defend you, and your country is too far entrenched. And that we are forever indebted to every soldier to ever be recruited, because all he does is selflessly defend us.
Well yes. You do defend us, but you can't expect everyone to suck up to you, and constantly praise you. It's a job, you shouldn't leech praise off of people. The military and media gives you enough already. Soldiers should take pride in their jobs, and not overstate themselves.
And don't give this 'but they died for your freedom!' shit. If for example, the French empire had never stopped expanding, and conquered the world, then I wouldn't know any different.
And what about the soldiers that lost? Are they glorious too because they put in a good effort? No, they haven't completed their job. Just because you have, doesn't mean it's grounds for you eternal glory.
This is something that's been bugging me for a while. Just being in the military doesn't mean you're always right. I live in a rather conservative area as well, I mean it isn't the Bible belt, but regardless it seems to me that it's typically the mega-right wingers who join the army/military around here. So whenever they play the "I'M A SOLDIER" card, it just irritates me even more.
Isn't saying that you're a soldier kind of like comparing someone to Hitler? If you have nothing else to say other than that, then you've already lost.
Unless the topic of conversation is about combat or something like that I can't see how their "occupation?" would be of any relevance.
On the topic of soldiers and how praised they are I have mixed feelings. On one hand I understand that they are trying to protect us from people that would see us harmed..I guess, but on the other hand they are trained murderers, and the idea of appalling them for being "brave" enough to kill another person is just unsettling to me. Also it comes to mind that if people (soldiers) wouldn't allow themselves to be pawns in the hands of the rich, powerful, or crazy their would no longer be war.
On the topic of soldiers and how praised they are I have mixed feelings. On one hand I understand that they are trying to protect us from people that would see us harmed..I guess, but on the other hand they are trained murderers, and the idea of appalling them for being "brave" enough to kill another person is just unsettling to me. Also it comes to mind that if people (soldiers) wouldn't allow themselves to be pawns in the hands of the rich, powerful, or crazy their would no longer be war.