I Have No Respect for People in the Army

[Carousel]

I don't think you'll find many people who were in the military actively demanding respect because they served or demanding discounts, benefits, parades or whatever.

Have you ever been to NYC? It is littered with former soldiers, most of which don't have a single disability except laziness and the lack of will to learn, begging for coin for the next cigarette/booze.

 

[datalink7]

Please elaborate. Why do you think the majority joined? Is it because they wanted to help our country, help them pay for college, or something else financially motivated? I highly doubt it.

It doesn't matter what your doubts are. If your whole argument consists of stereotypes and personal doubts, I suggest taking a basic logic course at a university.

The top reasons people join are typically:

1. Job (in this economy a lot more people started joining for this reason)
2. Financial Motivation
3. Pay for School or Pay off School Debt
4. They come from a bad part of town and know that if they stay they will end up in jail
5. They come from a small town and don't see a future their
6. They want self-discipline and motivation and feel that the Army can provide it
7. They want to serve their country (near the bottom of the top reasons, but still up there)

 

[Beev]

Personally, I don't think the motivation to enlist matters. They (I, We) enlisted and you didn't. Whether it was to server your country, get education benefits, or go gun down som towelheads, the motivation behind enlisting shouldnt matter.

I agree, they don't deserve special treatment at all. The motivation to be a software engineer doesn't matter either, and they don't get special treatment.

It's a job that has to be done, that a lot of people just aren't cut out to do. It would be reccomended to respect the people that do it, but nobody is forcing you to.

A lot of people aren't cut out to play football, be a financial advisor, or be an artist either. Should I bow to their feet?

I don't think you'll find many people who were in the military actively demanding respect because they served or demanding discounts, benefits, parades or whatever.

Can't say as I haven't come across any vets that I knew of, but back when I worked near a base (at a generic retail store) every soldier that came in expected a discount. Then I had to tell them we don't offer it, then I got to hear the bullshit about how they "defend my country" and they "deserve discounts." The whole thing just makes me seethe.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

Just as I generalized about the soldiers being violent, I can assume you are not a very smart person. Your paycheck is most likely low, college education mediocre (if any), and IQ low. Educated people simply don't post the kind of garbage you just did.

Disagreeing with me does not make you stupid, however. Just have an argument that you can back up your claim with. Risking their life for my safety and freedom is not a viable one. They are at work, just like I am, except that they get praised while almost every other profession gets scolded.

rofl. and just as with your soldier generalization you further reveal you are a moron with no clue.

 

[shortylickens]

Better than average troll, but I know enough to not participate.

Just like when I saw this:

I am clearly more intelligent, educated, worldly and experienced than the artist, so I dont need to engage in a debate with him. Theres nothing he can tell me.

 

[LookBehindYou]

I agree, they don't deserve special treatment at all. The motivation to be a software engineer doesn't matter either, and they don't get special treatment.



A lot of people aren't cut out to play football, be a financial advisor, or be an artist either. Should I bow to their feet?



Can't say as I haven't come across any vets that I knew of, but back when I worked near a base (at a generic retail store) every soldier that came in expected a discount. Then I had to tell them we don't offer it, then I got to hear the bullshit about how they "defend my country" and they "deserve discounts." The whole thing just makes me seethe.

Well shit, maybe i'm in the minority then. I could care less about discounts, respect, any of that. I don't think anyone is suggesting bow to their feet, just respect the fact that they were willing to accept a job where there was a chance (small) that they will be shot at and killed. No need for parades and all this other bs, just a little props is all.

Me personally, I don't harp over what I did in the air force. I look at it as a job I had that opened up some opportunities for me, and nothing more. I

 

[Bushwicktrini]

For every 1 rocket operator, there are 50 foot soldiers that joined after dropping out of HS. We can all cherry-pick good examples to counter it all day.

I'm not in the same boat as OP, but generalizations exist for a reason.

You cannott get in as a HS drop out and what I posted was not cherry picking it is fact every enlisted service man/woman in the Navy will have a job and will go to some sort of class on top of what they did in boot camp. IFyou not have a job then you go to 3 weeks of general seamanship classes, if you do have a job then you go off to that school BEFORE you get to your tour.

My brother is in the Army and he is always in some school or the other and he is a shipping clerk but he has to take warfare classes, shipping, shooting and NCO conduct classes and he went over to Iraq twice.

The days of the dumb army/marine guys are gone almost everything has some sort of chip in it and you need the smarts to use the tech

 

[LookBehindYou]

You cannott get in as a HS drop out and what I posted was not cherry picking it is fact every enlisted service man/woman in the Navy will have a job and will go to some sort of class on top of what they did in boot camp. IFyou not have a job then you go to 3 weeks of general seamanship classes, if you do have a job then you go off to that school BEFORE you get to your tour.

My brother is in the Army and he is always in some school or the other and he is a shipping clerk but he has to take warfare classes, shipping, shooting and NCO conduct classes and he went over to Iraq twice.

The days of the dumb army/marine guys are gone almost everything has some sort of chip in it and you need the smarts to use the tech

Yes you can, I did. Went to the recruiter, they said I needed at least GED, took the test the next day. Two months later I was in basic training.

And please (not you, but anyone) don't start saying that I have a GED because I'm an idiot, dumb, this and that. Not interested, I had my motiviations for dropping out of school, and it had nothing to do with how smart I was.

 

[HAL9000]

Not a fan of the Armed forces, and I definitely don't like those morons that just sign up because they want to shoot something / someone. That being said there are people who join up for good reasons, not just because they can't find another job (like some)

 

[Atomic Playboy]

Yes you can, I did. Went to the recruiter, they said I needed at least GED, took the test the next day. Two months later I was in basic training.

And please (not you, but anyone) don't start saying that I have a GED because I'm an idiot, dumb, this and that. Not interested, I had my motiviations for dropping out of school, and it had nothing to do with how smart I was.

A GED is supposed to be the equivalent of a HS diploma. I suppose the original claim could be updated to say "soldiers are required to have at least a HS diploma OR GED." But you can't get into the military without at least that level of education, correct? If you didn't get your GED, would you have been allowed in?

 

[tommo123]

i kinda agree. if we were involved in necessary wars then yea, they'd deserve kudos. but they're not. we don't need to be in wherever we are this week. so why do they deserve acclaim for it?

 

[Carousel]

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.

 

[ShadowOfMyself]

I think the way they are portrayed in movies isnt helping at all... Its always a bunch of mindless berserkers, except the main character of course, he always seems to be the only smart guy around

 

[LookBehindYou]

A GED is supposed to be the equivalent of a HS diploma. I suppose the original claim could be updated to say "soldiers are required to have at least a HS diploma OR GED." But you can't get into the military without at least that level of education, correct? If you didn't get your GED, would you have been allowed in?

I would not have been allowed in the Air Force without a GED, can't speak for the other branches.

 

[Bushwicktrini]

Have you ever been to NYC? It is littered with former soldiers, most of which don't have a single disability except laziness and the lack of will to learn, begging for coin for the next cigarette/booze.

Because every bum with a green army jacket was in the army.

I'm from NYC born in Harlem Hospital in the 70's when all the Nam addicts got back and I saw all the bums hooked on what ever they smoked/shot or snorted. I also saw non service members bums hooked and begging also how can you tell the diff?

 

[AreaCode707]

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.

Nobody wants their kids to fight. In the case of the upper classes, if they can afford college on their own they often want their kids to get that higher education first and then, if the kid wants to pursue military, go that route, usually with ROTC or something to give them a boost. Lower economic classes do it the other way around because they may not be able to afford college without the military-related benefits.

So, using your own line of logic, why do you hate poor people and want to keep them out of college?

 

[Atomic Playboy]

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.

No, the reason that rich children typically don't join the armed forces is pretty simple; they already have money. Let's take a look at the list Datalink posted about common reasons people have for joining the military:

1. Job (in this economy a lot more people started joining for this reason)
2. Financial Motivation
3. Pay for School or Pay off School Debt
4. They come from a bad part of town and know that if they stay they will end up in jail
5. They come from a small town and don't see a future their
6. They want self-discipline and motivation and feel that the Army can provide it
7. They want to serve their country (near the bottom of the top reasons, but still up there)

The first five are immediately crossed off the list for people coming from a privileged background. They don't need a job (certainly not a low-paying one), there is no financial motivation, they can afford school without the GI Bill incentives, they typically don't come from a bad part of town, and they don't need the resources of the military to leave the tow they're in (should they want to). That means the only motivation they have is wanting to gain self-discipline (which, let's face it, doesn't seem to be the thing that most young men and women growing up in privileged situations care to do) or wanting to serve their country. So yes, take away the motivation of money from the armed services and suddenly it becomes a lot less popular. Do you think that everyone else would join the Army if it didn't offer financial rewards? That's ludicrous.

One of the smartest women I know got involved with the Air Force because it was the only way she could find to get money to attend college. She ended up washing out of the Air Force after starting school, but fortunately was able to take out loans and continue her education. Now she's got a degree and is well-paid, but she has a ton of student loans to repay that she wouldn't have had if she had stayed with the Air Force. Her reason for joining was solely financial, and because she couldn't continue with it, she's shouldering a mountain of debt. Is that really "smarter" in your estimation?

 

[EagleKeeper]

They deserve respect because they are ordinary people, called upon to accomplish the extraordinary for their country.

WRONG! There is no draft. They volunteered. They weren't called upon. They don't deserve any more respect than a school teacher or social worker.

They volunteered to protect you so you can spout your opinions about them.

Such gratitude. :thumbsdown:

 

[lokiju]

How many men do you know in the armed forces that have killed someone?

A large, LARGE, majority of the guys I know never even shot at anyone/anything while in the sandbox..

This all the way.

I've worked with a LOT of people that have served and don't know many of them that ever shot at, let alone killed someone.

Only exception was a helicopter gunner from Nam days and that guy was fucked in the head.

My good buddy did his 4 years, was an officer, never saw a day of action on his tours and got out as soon as he was done.

It's been a great help for him in his education and career.

He's a high level director with 180 reports under him for a fortune 500 now.

A lady I worked with never even left the states in her 4 years.

 

[Bushwicktrini]

Yes you can, I did. Went to the recruiter, they said I needed at least GED, took the test the next day. Two months later I was in basic training.

And please (not you, but anyone) don't start saying that I have a GED because I'm an idiot, dumb, this and that. Not interested, I had my motiviations for dropping out of school, and it had nothing to do with how smart I was.

Drop out meaning no diploma/GED

I got in with a GED a 90 on the ASVAB and a letter from my boss and I still needed a wavier do to my fish allergy.

 

[child of wonder]

I don't respect guys that were in the Army and come out of it with this "everything I say is right and everything you say is wrong" attitude. Pisses me off.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

I don't respect guys that were in the Army and come out of it with this "everything I say is right and everything you say is wrong" attitude. Pisses me off.

Do you respect anyone with that attitude? I've met plenty of people with no military experience who were like that, and it's always obnoxious.

 

[SunnyD]

There are some opinions better left unsaid. OP... this is one of those things.

 

[Beev]

They volunteered to protect you so you can spout your opinions about them.

They didn't volunteer to protect me. They volunteered to earn a paycheck or see some of the world. Don't try to pretend it wasn't for selfish reasons.

Edit: Do I have to put a footer every time I generalize? I mean, it's fairly obvious.

 

[SunnyD]

They didn't volunteer to protect me. They volunteered to earn a paycheck or see some of the world. Don't try to pretend it wasn't for selfish reasons.

Don't try to pretend you know what the thought process of every enlistee is. I'll agree with you that a small percentage does what you opine though.