I Have No Respect for People in the Army

[HAL9000]

Since you live in England, would you have any more respect for soldiers if the repelled another attack on your island? Does soneome have to defeat an infidel, that has just invaded your home, in hand to hand combat and untie you from that chair in your mothers basement?

What criteria do you require to earn resepct as it pertains to a soldier? Oh wait blah blah blah

In order for someone to earn my respect as a soldier they would have to selflessly commit themselves to defending something they believe in on principle rather than doing it because it's a job. It's all about motives, I don't doubt that those people exist, but I'm not tarring them all with the same brush, some people do it because they need a job etc...

Basically they have to do something respect worthy... Taking a dangerous shit job isn't respect worthy IMO.

 

[Squisher]

OP, you need to seriously rethink your position when Necktarb agrees with you.

He might just be the most valuable member in the forum, like the ultimate litmus test to find out if your opinions hold weight.

 

[HAL9000]

OP, you need to seriously rethink your position when Necktarb agrees with you.

He might just be the most valuable member in the forum, like the ultimate litmus test to find out if your opinions hold weight.

Everyone agrees with me once.

E.g.

Wow, I find myself *GULP* agreeing with HAL?

For once I agree with neckbeard.

I agree with neckderp on this one. :biggrin:

yeah its scarey. im actually agreeing with neckbeard..has hell frozen over?

 

[Soundmanred]

While I disagree with the way he stated his opinion, I can see where he's coming from.
I for one believe respect is earned (not by simply joining the armed services, putting on a badge, etc) not freely given.

 

[HAL9000]

While I disagree with the way he stated his opinion, I can see where he's coming from.
I for one believe respect is earned (not by simply joining the armed services, putting on a badge, etc) not freely given.

Agreed.

 

[brad310]

I for one believe respect is earned (not by simply joining the armed services, putting on a badge, etc) not freely given.

For sure.

What is being left out here is that soldiers earn respect among each other...thats why you hear about the bonds of brotherhood all the time.

I think what is sickening in here though is the level of DISrespect applied in a blanket fashion over all armed forces...and being doneso from people without any personal experience to form those opinions.

Some people ARE just doing a job, some people's job is a total sacrifice though...regardless of the reason to sign up for that job. Once you get there and start doing the job, your reasons for everything change. You dont want to let anyone down. You want to carry your weight. Earn your peer's respect you as a man. Make your family proud. Keep your friends safe. When you're there doing the job its not about college aspirations or your credit card debt...its about your brothers in arms.

The negative opinions in here are similar in ignorance level as blind racism. Blanket statements being made from zero experience.

 

[Nebor]

The younger generations in England very nearly despise their military. Their military is in no way representative of their population, with most soldiers being part of a legacy of service, and many officers being wealthy aristocrats doing their time so they can hold government office. I remember when the decision came down that UK soldiers were no longer to wear uniforms off base, because they feared attacks from citizens.
Article on the subject

So I'm glad we're not as bad as the Brits when it comes to how we treat our service members. That being said, I find the level of respect and adoration uncomfortable at times. In particular, people frequently buy my lunch when I'm out in town in uniform. They're already paying an enormous amount of money in taxes to support me. So why the adoration? Because I've been shot at and blown up in foreign wars? That was a while ago. For the past year I've sat a desk, enslaved to powerpoint, excel, word and outlook. Do office workers in bad parts of town get the same respect and consideration? They may get shot at more than me.

The OP is trolling btw, that's one of those 4chan copy pasta things.

 

[zinfamous]

Everyone agrees with me once.

E.g.

you have these pasted in a text file on your desktop, don't you?

and you copy/paste whenever it happens.

 

[HAL9000]

you have these pasted in a text file on your desktop, don't you?

and you copy/paste whenever it happens.

I haven't yet. :sneaky:

 

[AMCRambler]

They're not all snake eaters and to broadly characterize them as such proves you have literally 0 knowledge of the military and its personnel.

 

[911paramedic]

For a lot of people it's the only option for them, so they take it. Many don't make it though due to low ASVAB scores, which is scary when you see how low of a score it takes to disqualify you.

It's a cross section of America, you get some good and some bad, same as any other job. Do I think some do it for the rush they think they may get, or status? Sure, but they get weeded out pretty quickly during bootcamp or their first assignment.

I couldn't stand that some 15 year vet idiot got to give me orders because he had the time on me, but that's the way it goes. In the end it works out, because I'm sitting here in a free country. "I sleep better at night knowing one of those soldiers is standing on that wall protecting me." (cheesy quote from A Few Good Men)

There's not a big demand for people that want to settle things with a coin toss, they do make (condition) you to be a fighter though. So yes, it helps if you go in with some type A qualities, but at least half the guys I served with were the most unassuming people you would ever meet. In street clothes you'd never know they were soldiers.

 

[Craig234]

This post is not about the military. It's a comment about many people - who have a sort of irrational, idealistic, emotional, sort of adoring ideology about the military.

There are a variety of motives, but these are the people who just gush over telling any soldier "thank you for your service" and it makes them feel very good.

You can't begin to discuss the thread topic of good and bad about the military with such people.

 

[Meghan54]

Police are deserving of respect. The reason some people choose to disrespect police is because we have much more interaction with police in our daily lives than soldiers. Get caught speeding, it's the cops who are giving you a ticket, not a soldier. People also generally have some laws they don't believe are just and won't follow, whether it's traffic violations or drug laws or copyright infringement. Invariably, many people will have negative interactions with police at some point in their life because police are an active part of our society; soldiers are typically removed, either on bases or in other countries. It's the reason we hear so many more stories of improper police actions than improper soldier actions (just ask Sandeagle).

So, yes, police deserve the same respect that soldiers get, but they often don't get it because of the inherent hypocrisy in people choosing which laws they want to follow (and subsequently getting caught for it and blaming the police instead of the legislators who made the law).

And then sometimes the police lose any respect they may think they deserve because of idiocy like this:

http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=22362

 

[DAPUNISHER]

i agree with the op. there isnt anything heroic about putting on an american uniform, going to another country where you dont belong and murdering the residents because the us government tells you to. how would you feel if another country sent troops to your city and did that?

Stop being obtuse. Your representation of our involvement is just hysterics. And your scenario would have already happened, if not for the very armed forces you are bashing, you ingrate.

My last comments on the matter: You feel free not to respect the members of our armed services. But if you honestly believe that freedom would exists without them, you are deluded.

 

[drinkmorejava]

Why do rich/successful people never want their children to join the army? Why is it almost always the lower/middle class?

Don't both classes want the same thing: fight for there country and protect it?

Because when you are educated, you strive to become smarter, using your neurons rather than bullets. The wealthy(er) try to preach to their kids that war is bad and that the pen is mightier than the sword.

@LookBehindYou

You are probably the minority I as referring to. Plus, you were in the air force, not some dumb ox looking for some action.

Myth: The Military attracts disproportionately from poor or underprivileged youth.

Fact: Military recruits mirror the US population and are solidly middle class.

A recent report shows that more recruits come from middle income families, with far fewer drawn from poorer families. Youth from upper income families are represented at almost exactly their fair share.



Also:
"Nearly two-thirds of today's recruits are drawn from the top-half of America in math and verbal aptitudes - a strong determinant of training success and job performance "

http://www.military.com/Recruiting/...s-today-myth-fact,,00.html?ESRC=recruiting.nl

 

[Nebor]

Myth: The Military attracts disproportionately from poor or underprivileged youth.

Fact: Military recruits mirror the US population and are solidly middle class.

A recent report shows that more recruits come from middle income families, with far fewer drawn from poorer families. Youth from upper income families are represented at almost exactly their fair share.



Also:
"Nearly two-thirds of today's recruits are drawn from the top-half of America in math and verbal aptitudes - a strong determinant of training success and job performance "

http://www.military.com/Recruiting/...s-today-myth-fact,,00.html?ESRC=recruiting.nl

I've tried to point this out in P&N before and was told that the figures are falsified, that it's all a scam by the wealthiest 1% to send the poorest 10% to go die in foreign wars, blah blah blah.

I left a 6 figure job after 7 years to join the Army. I was a dual major in undergrad and I have an MBA. And my family is what most would consider upper class. That said, I nearly got disowned for joining the Army. "That's for people who's parents can't afford to pay for their school," my mother said.

 

[Angry Irishman]

That I actually completely agree with, why people persecute people in the military is beyond me. I'm not anti military, i'm just not that pro it either.

You could have fooled me by comparing a soldier to a drug dealer.

Really I'm pretty sure no one gives a fuck what you respect or not...go put another reel on the projector. You're a 20 something year old philosophy student who works at a movie theater and trolls an internet forum for free. you might want to hit up some more therapy for the 2 hours you're not on this forum being ignorant. Also, you might want to get your money back although I'm sure your treatment is provided by your government.

Funny thing, there are plenty of British vets who died so you could be so confused in life.

 

[Angry Irishman]

Original OP.

You are a terrific troll. You may have surpassed Neckbeard in trolling ability although I doubt you have enough time in the day or have the trolling stamina required.

Answer the following:

• How old are you?
• Have you ever considered doing something for your country or fellow citizens? Or is that out of line or unnecessary in society?
• What do you do for a living?
• Where are you a citizen?
• Do you think being a soldier or in the military doesn't entail war (killing?) regardless of intellect or rank?
• Do you understand the roles of the military?
• Do you think a soldier is not a citizen?
• Should we or any other country not have a military? Why?
• How do you feel about minorities?
• And finally....Do you consider yourself educated?If so, please elaborate.

 

[HAL9000]

You could have fooled me by comparing a soldier to a drug dealer.

Really I'm pretty sure no one gives a fuck what you respect or not...go put another reel on the projector. You're a 20 something year old philosophy student who works at a movie theater and trolls an internet forum for free. you might want to hit up some more therapy for the 2 hours you're not on this forum being ignorant. Also, you might want to get your money back although I'm sure your treatment is provided by your government.

Funny thing, there are plenty of British vets who died so you could be so confused in life.

You're always trolling aren't you? Every time I see you've posted in a thread I've posted in it's always a collection of delusional moronic insults aimed at me. Grow up.

 

[Angry Irishman]

While I disagree with the way he stated his opinion, I can see where he's coming from.
I for one believe respect is earned (not by simply joining the armed services, putting on a badge, etc) not freely given.

He stated a hell of a lot more than that....he's trolling like a mofo and I can't believe the ignorance on this forum by feeding him.

Between every other post being all the anti religious discussion full of babble and discussions like this we are all quite the hipsters if stereotyping is the motive of the day.

I suppose the next vet I see I should stop them and tell them they don't really matter in the big picture. Fuck the fact that Europe and most the free world is what it is because of present/past sacrifices. the world isn't perfect....it could be much worse.

 

[Angry Irishman]

You're always trolling aren't you? Every time I see you've posted in a thread I've posted in it's always a collection of delusional moronic insults aimed at me. Grow up.

Not trolling...it's just not an ambition of mine to troll unlike yourself. Am I insulting you, yea I suppose I am. So sorry.

It's offensive and insulting to me that every time I read a response of yours I have to remind myself that all English folks aren't like you. Check that...all PEOPLE aren't like yourself. I have to remind myself that you don't represent what most educated, contributing, rational people ARE to a society or country.

Factually (not delusional or moronic), I'm sure most folks would draw the same conclusions as myself...you're naive, young and very confused about so much...sad really.

 

[amdhunter]

 

[amdhunter]

I think you're stuck in the 70s when it was hip to call soldiers baby killers. Those people were idiots then, and you're being an idiot now.

Seriously. Today we call them puppy killers. :whiste:

 

[Nebor]

Seriously. Today we call them puppy killers. :whiste:

I think you're confused. We don't kill puppies. We have killer puppies.

Toby was my gunner on some hairy missions:

 

[Brigandier]

People in the military, a large portion I've found, treat everyone with a higher level of general respect than an average person. That, however, does not mean they won't call a spade a spade. I respect anyone that strives to treat others with respect, so I respect the military. Military people at least have manners.