Do we respect our veterans too much?

For things like VA benefits, I firmly believe that there is an obligation to provide the best possible service for veterans. It's part of the agreement we make with people when they sign up and we should be fully committed to fulfilling our part of the deal as a nation. A veteran is owed these things.

For things like hiring or discounts, if a business finds they do better hiring veterans or get the warm fuzzies from knocking 5% off their bill, I'll trust them to know their business well enough to make those choices. No one is owed anything here but no harm done if it happens.

I do not, however, believe the opinion of a veteran is worth more than anyone else's (aside from obvious personal experience issues). Having served doesn't make one a super-citizen with more merit to opine on gun control, religion, liberty, freedom, socialism, federalism, seat belt laws, taxation, health care or anything else. A veteran is owed nothing here and does the notion of citizenship a disservice should they act this way.
 
Allowing people to comment on articles and videos has to be one of the dumbest ideas anyone has ever thought of. Just reading comments from yahoo and YouTube will make me feel like leaving the planet.
 
[quote name='Clak']Allowing people to comment on articles and videos has to be one of the dumbest ideas anyone has ever thought of. Just reading comments from yahoo and YouTube will make me feel like leaving the planet.[/QUOTE]

I know what you mean. It took me a while, personally, but I finally broke the habit of scrolling that far down on those kinds of sites. At least my current news sites don't really have that problem.
 
Not really a comment on this topic but rather a personal endorsement of a program I have been involved with at times.

It is called Honor Flight and if you have ever gone to the Airport to see these men and women come back from visiting the DC memorials you know it is pretty great.

Basically they are trying to send WWII vets to DC to see the WWII memorial (which was not even finished until 2004) and give thanks to this disappearing generation (some stats say one dies every 90 sec). They are also sending terminally ill vets to see their memorials (Korea, Vietnam) . I had the chance to see a group of 6th graders welcome home (and raise funds) for a vet who volunteered at their school. It was really awesome.

Anyway, I think vets deserve our recognition and respect but not any extra "freedoms" I guess.

Link to Honor Flight if anyone is interested in learning more.

http://starsandstripeshonorflight.org/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GM_XBIWCfNg
 
[quote name='skiizim']I think this country needs to enact conscription-close topic.[/QUOTE]

The irony of this is that countries many conservatives talk about as "socialist" like Norway, Finland and Denmark all practice military conscription.

Conscription would be an interesting situation for many conservatives. It combines things they "love" and "hate" all in one package.
 
[quote name='skiizim']I think this country needs to enact conscription-close topic.[/QUOTE]

Are you kidding?

We have kids that get parental permission to ditch gym class from the time they are 12 up and through high school and you think we are going to make some sort of service mandatory?

I would love to see that happen but it would never in a million years.
 
[quote name='GBAstar']Are you kidding?

We have kids that get parental permission to ditch gym class from the time they are 12 up and through high school and you think we are going to make some sort of service mandatory?

I would love to see that happen but it would never in a million years.[/QUOTE]

We could just go the way of Sparta at that point and throw the unfit kids off a cliff. Something tells me we would stop having an obesity problem in the US.
 
[quote name='jlarlee']
The moral of the story is when you try to paint everybody with a broad brush you really make yourself look like a moron.[/QUOTE]

agree, also when you call a country "The Stan"

I'm kidding

I'm not.

Okay maybe both
 
[quote name='cancerman1120']We could just go the way of Sparta at that point and throw the unfit kids off a cliff. Something tells me we would stop having an obesity problem in the US.[/QUOTE]

Or we could stop allow kids to opt out of everything that makes them uncomfortable.

But the point being I would like for you to explain how conscription would work when we have thousands of young students who never participate in a single gym class.
 
[quote name='Erad30']It's a weird sense of entitlement and it's not just veterans. I've had cops claim they couldn't possibly be mistaken/straight out lying because they are cops. Senior citizens, anyone with a handicap/condition a lot of them seem to think basically because of some characteristic they are beyond reproach and deserve special treatment.[/QUOTE]

You forgot overprivileged white women. The ones that think they're better and smarter then everyone else because they endured the hardship of not getting a benz for their sweet 16 and they have to go to a public school instead of a private university. OH THE HORROR.
 
[quote name='GBAstar']Or we could stop allow kids to opt out of everything that makes them uncomfortable.

But the point being I would like for you to explain how conscription would work when we have thousands of young students who never participate in a single gym class.[/QUOTE]

Oh I was not saying it would work. What is worse is the fact schools now won't allow kids to take gym both semesters even if they want it. Part of that is funding problems though. This whole thing ties into the no keeping score, everyone gets a trophy that my generation of parents (30-40 years old) seem to have latched onto.

My Sparta comment was meant as a joke.
 
[quote name='cancerman1120']Oh I was not saying it would work. What is worse is the fact schools now won't allow kids to take gym both semesters even if they want it. Part of that is funding problems though. This whole thing ties into the no keeping score, everyone gets a trophy that my generation of parents (30-40 years old) seem to have latched onto.

My Sparta comment was meant as a joke.[/QUOTE]

I would love to see government loans for higher education forgiven if the recipient does service of some sort post school and government grants for higher education given for those that do service of some sort prior to starting higher education.

And I'm not talking about the national guard multi year commitment either.
 
[quote name='Paco']You forgot overprivileged white women. The ones that think they're better and smarter then everyone else because they endured the hardship of not getting a benz for their sweet 16 and they have to go to a public school instead of a private university. OH THE HORROR.[/QUOTE]

I think this is the 1st time anyone has used "overprivileged" to describe someone who actually does not get excesses in life such as luxury cars or private education. I'm not even 100% that's a real word, but if so it means that you'd have to have excess beyond even the privileged, in which case I'd expect they would indeed drive a new Mercedes and attend private schools.

Also way to throw some crazy racism in there. I've not lived a long life yet, but I've met all too many women that were arrogant & thought they were the smartest person in the room. Yet they were certainly not always women, white, or "overprilvilged".

[quote name='GBAstar']I would love to see government loans for higher education forgiven if the recipient does service of some sort post school and government grants for higher education given for those that do service of some sort prior to starting higher education.

And I'm not talking about the national guard multi year commitment either.[/QUOTE]

To name a few that service-related programs paying for college:

ROTC, GI Bill 2.0, National Health Service Corps, AmeriCorps, Federal Work Study Program (though you work during college for this, it's basically just a job not a loan/grant but I think some of it is allocated for paying students doing actual community service work)

I know there are more as well. Plenty of programs/scholarships/grants, both public and private, can pay for some or even all of your higher education expenses exist. But it can be difficult to always find and apply for these, especially for kids that are essentially on their own. The system for finding and getting into these programs could maybe be unified somewhat and certainly improved.
 
Don't mention racism in here, some people get their panties in a wad and will accuse you of race bating or other nonsense.
 
[quote name='Duo_Maxwell']I think this is the 1st time anyone has used "overprivileged" to describe someone who actually does not get excesses in life such as luxury cars or private education. I'm not even 100% that's a real word, but if so it means that you'd have to have excess beyond even the privileged, in which case I'd expect they would indeed drive a new Mercedes and attend private schools.

Also way to throw some crazy racism in there. I've not lived a long life yet, but I've met all too many women that were arrogant & thought they were the smartest person in the room. Yet they were certainly not always women, white, or "overprilvilged".



To name a few that service-related programs paying for college:

ROTC, GI Bill 2.0, National Health Service Corps, AmeriCorps, Federal Work Study Program (though you work during college for this, it's basically just a job not a loan/grant but I think some of it is allocated for paying students doing actual community service work)

I know there are more as well. Plenty of programs/scholarships/grants, both public and private, can pay for some or even all of your higher education expenses exist. But it can be difficult to always find and apply for these, especially for kids that are essentially on their own. The system for finding and getting into these programs could maybe be unified somewhat and certainly improved.[/QUOTE]

Don't forget companies that offer tuition reimbursement for a certain amount per year if it pertains to your job.

There are plenty of ways to raise money for college. I think that we are being price gouged for what we are getting right now though.

On topic, I think this topic is utterly ridiculous.

It is ridiculous that this amounts to practically saying that we should be less kind because of a few jackasses.

Who cares if random acts of kindness are taken for granted by a few people?

"Oh, little old lady? Would you like to cut in front of me in line because you only have one item, opposed to my cart full? Too bad, stand there and deal with it because the last little old lady ASKED to cut. You people have such a sense of entitlement, sheesh."

Bunch of BS
 
[quote name='pyschonerd']:) I like that example[/QUOTE]

I like how you haven't been banned yet for being an alt.:lol:

Don't worry, I won't report you, granturismo.
 
[quote name='Clak']Allowing people to comment on articles and videos has to be one of the dumbest ideas anyone has ever thought of. Just reading comments from yahoo and YouTube will make me feel like leaving the planet.[/QUOTE]

Then you will LOVE this Chrome extension. :lol: I've had it for like 6 months, and it saves me SO much anger. They just need to make one for news sites now.
 
[quote name='dohdough']I like how you haven't been banned yet for being an alt.:lol:

Don't worry, I won't report you, granturismo.[/QUOTE]

Why are you mentioning me? Just going to put you into the ignore list. Had enough of seeing your posts.
 
[quote name='Access_Denied']Then you will LOVE this Chrome extension. :lol: I've had it for like 6 months, and it saves me SO much anger. They just need to make one for news sites now.[/QUOTE]
If I used Chrome I probably would. Wonder if there is a Firefox equivalent.
 
[quote name='Knoell']On topic, I think this topic is utterly ridiculous.

It is ridiculous that this amounts to practically saying that we should be less kind because of a few jackasses.

Who cares if random acts of kindness are taken for granted by a few people?

Bunch of BS[/QUOTE]

You completely and entirely missed the whole point. We have been discussing whether vets should be entitled to superior treatment over non-vets. Nobody is saying be less kind, most people, myself included are saying be equally kind.

It started with the link (that you must not have read) where a vet stomped around and threw a tantrum because he was asked to cover up a tattoo that was offensive to a company's customers. So what's his reaction? "Hey man, I lost a foot in Iraq and gave you your freedom. I shouldn't have to follow your rules." The business disagreed, and the guy elected to leave. If a school teacher was the one with the offensive tattoo, would they have whined, "hey, I teach kids. It's a really tough, underpaid job. Don't tell me what I need to do, while in your private business!"

Does a guy tell the Burger King cashier he's a vet, and as a result he wants extra bacon on his burger? If so, he's probably a slapfuck. The people who have to tell everyone they are a vet in the first 30 seconds of a conversation in an effort to get more respect, a discount, or better service, are the ones that I'm tired of.

Maybe I'm speaking for other people, and some think we should be less kind to vets. I would disagree, and say we should treat them no better, no worse.
 
[quote name='dohdough']I like how you haven't been banned yet for being an alt.:lol:

Don't worry, I won't report you, granturismo.[/QUOTE]

[quote name='granturismo']Why are you mentioning me? Just going to put you into the ignore list. Had enough of seeing your posts.[/QUOTE]

Even better, how in the hell would some guy that has not commented on this thread the entirety of the thing, all of the sudden get called out by name as being an alt, then minutes later has a reply saying, "um...am not!"

Haa haa, Doh, I think you nailed it.
 
[quote name='dohdough']I like how you haven't been banned yet for being an alt.:lol:

Don't worry, I won't report you, granturismo.[/QUOTE]

:)
ali21.jpg
 
[quote name='berzirk']You completely and entirely missed the whole point. We have been discussing whether vets should be entitled to superior treatment over non-vets. Nobody is saying be less kind, most people, myself included are saying be equally kind.

It started with the link (that you must not have read) where a vet stomped around and threw a tantrum because he was asked to cover up a tattoo that was offensive to a company's customers. So what's his reaction? "Hey man, I lost a foot in Iraq and gave you your freedom. I shouldn't have to follow your rules." The business disagreed, and the guy elected to leave. If a school teacher was the one with the offensive tattoo, would they have whined, "hey, I teach kids. It's a really tough, underpaid job. Don't tell me what I need to do, while in your private business!"

Does a guy tell the Burger King cashier he's a vet, and as a result he wants extra bacon on his burger? If so, he's probably a slapfuck. The people who have to tell everyone they are a vet in the first 30 seconds of a conversation in an effort to get more respect, a discount, or better service, are the ones that I'm tired of.

Maybe I'm speaking for other people, and some think we should be less kind to vets. I would disagree, and say we should treat them no better, no worse.[/QUOTE]

You are tired of the people who think they are entitled to benefits. Where did I miss the point? You rail on this point, but then at the same time sneak in your point that they shouldn't have any of these benefits, or we all should have them then.

No I didn't read it. I read your posts that didn't give any indicator of that story. So pardon me while I go at what you said, rather than what your article said.

Still a bunch of BS.

The general consensus is that if you put your life on hold to serve your country (and yes they absolutely put their life on hold), to be told that you have to go wherever the government tells you, and do what they need you to do, then you are entitled to some respect. Obviously there are a lot of assumptions when places or people perform random acts of kindness for veterans, but the person benefitting more than likely does deserve it.

Do some idiots get mixed up in that category? Absolutely. My question to you is what group doesnt have some idiots?

Would you like these places to do thorough interviews before they give out their free coffee to ensure that they don't give something free to an idiot? Or would you rather give the idiot that feels entitled to the free coffee, a free coffee, along with the others that actually do deserve it.

By all means, hate on the ones that feel entitled.

I also think you have a problem with self gratification. I once read something that sounded absolutely absurd to me at first, but it kind of stuck because I can see how people can't handle doing nice things without getting something in return.

It said, "Stop doing the little nice things for people. The givers can never let it go that they gave something to the receiver. The receiver is grateful, but you can only appreciate a coffee or something similar so much. So while the receiver appreciates the gift less and less, the giver appreciates it more and more, until it turns into a power trip. The giver doesn't understand why the receive isn't grateful, after all they are doing this for the receiver"

I put it in quotes but it isn't a direct quote, it is what i remember.

Moral of the story is that you shouldn't put so much weight behind things you do for people, it isn't the god damn highlight of their life.
 
As a veteran, I'm irrational about veterans. I consider them all my family. I'm an apologist for the shitty ones and I will openly favor a veteran over a non-veteran if that was the choice presented to me. I get irritated when non-vets talk about vets or even the military. It's unfair and it's not how it should be and I know it and I don't give a shit.

Nothing gets under my skin faster than a non-vet telling me what the soldiers want. And since I can never pass up a chance to take a below the belt shot at them, it's why every time I hear a Republican politician that wasn't in (you know, all of em really) talk about the military as if they know a god damn thing I want to throw a brick at my television. Fox News during the wars up to and including the surge was my own personal hell. The Chuck Hagel confirmation made me so incredibly furious that I will hate Ted Cruz until my dying day. Tell me more about what the military wants and needs, you Harvard lawyer shitbag.
[quote name='usickenme']absolutely.

The are plenty of people who give up a lot for the greater good. And not every veteran is doing a selfless act.

also: people and their dumbass tattoos.[/QUOTE]
It certainly wasn't selfless on my part. I didn't like being homeless. That wasn't very fun at all. I don't think that should be the criteria we hold them to though, but maybe that's just because I was that guy and I'm a hypocrite.

Also, yea. The tattoo sucks. I was drunk, alright? Mistakes were made. :D
 
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You are tired of the people who think they are entitled to benefits. Where did I miss the point? You rail on this point, but then at the same time sneak in your point that they shouldn't have any of these benefits, or we all should have them then.
Click to expand...

No, you still didn't get it. The extra benefits, bleh, not a fan, this is true. My bigger problem is with people assuming they deserve more respect than anyone else that does a tough/shitty job, that go all patriot on you if they don't think they are being revered, then the fanboys who want to shake hands with a soldier because outright offering to suck their dick turns the vets off. It's the reverence that bothers me the most.

No I didn't read it. I read your posts that didn't give any indicator of that story. So pardon me while I go at what you said, rather than what your article said.
Click to expand...

Good, so don't read the link in the first post of the entire thread, then go on to analyze what I was thinking when I wrote the post. That's like watching Return of the Jedi and trying to figure out why they included those stupid ghosts that you never saw before, at the end.

Still a bunch of BS.
Click to expand...

No, I think your opinion is a bunch of BS. NERDFIGHT!!!

The general consensus is that if you put your life on hold to serve your country (and yes they absolutely put their life on hold), to be told that you have to go wherever the government tells you, and do what they need you to do, then you are entitled to some respect.
Click to expand...

They elected to enlist. There other people that go into harms way to help people, there are others who put their lives on hold to pursue careers or passions, and have you ever worked before? Many jobs require transfers to other locations, or commutes you don't like, or make you do things you wish you didn't have to do. It's a hard job that those dudes signed up for. They are entitled to the same level of respect that any hardworking person puts in.

Would you like these places to do thorough interviews before they give out their free coffee to ensure that they don't give something free to an idiot?
Click to expand...

Eh...maybe? I'd rather the military interviewed prior to taking in anyone, in an earnest effort to keep psychopaths out, and to better analyze and predict those who may suffer from mental illness, or be susceptible to it, to prevent them from raping and murdering a village of Iraqis, or coming back home so fucked up that they kill themselves. You know, pipedreams.


I also think you have a problem with self gratification.
Click to expand...

You'd be surprised. I'm so bad at self gratifying, I can't nut when I jerk off unless I'm imagining a CAG doing it for me.
 
[quote name='berzirk']No, you still didn't get it. The extra benefits, bleh, not a fan, this is true. My bigger problem is with people assuming they deserve more respect than anyone else that does a tough/shitty job, that go all patriot on you if they don't think they are being revered, then the fanboys who want to shake hands with a soldier because outright offering to suck their dick turns the vets off. It's the reverence that bothers me the most.


Good, so don't read the link in the first post of the entire thread, then go on to analyze what I was thinking when I wrote the post. That's like watching Return of the Jedi and trying to figure out why they included those stupid ghosts that you never saw before, at the end.

They elected to enlist. There other people that go into harms way to help people, there are others who put their lives on hold to pursue careers or passions, and have you ever worked before? Many jobs require transfers to other locations, or commutes you don't like, or make you do things you wish you didn't have to do. It's a hard job that those dudes signed up for. They are entitled to the same level of respect that any hardworking person puts in.



Eh...maybe? I'd rather the military interviewed prior to taking in anyone, in an earnest effort to keep psychopaths out, and to better analyze and predict those who may suffer from mental illness, or be susceptible to it, to prevent them from raping and murdering a village of Iraqis, or coming back home so fucked up that they kill themselves. You know, pipedreams.


[/QUOTE]

So you are tired of the people who feel they are entitled to benefits/respect because they are veteransd, BUT you also have this other nonsensical and cynical view, which you decide to use your link and this site as a platform to spout off.

Rather than your star wars reference, your topic is kind of like when you take a class where the source material is based on one thing, but the guy who calls himself a professor starts spouting his own irrational opinion, but uses the source material as a shield.

Gotcha, I will be sure to read the link that has nothing to do with your real rant, before criticizing your rant that had nothing to do with your link. :whistle2:k

Just the way you interpret military life as similar to "moving for a job" shows that you have no sense of what happens when you enlist through your first tour.
 
[quote name='Knoell']The general consensus is that if you put your life on hold to serve your country (and yes they absolutely put their life on hold), to be told that you have to go wherever the government tells you, and do what they need you to do, then you are entitled to some respect.[/QUOTE]
You're entitled to whatever the terms of your contract were and that's it. Joining the military is voluntary and they offer multiple incentives for joining as a result. Hopefully anyone who joins weighed the risk and benefits and made a good choice (for them) based on it.

If someone feels like giving you -- or a doctor, cop, teacher, etc -- extra respect, that's up to them and there's nothing wrong with it. But you don't have some special entitlement to it.

(Generic "you" in all cases).
 
[quote name='Knoell']The general consensus is that if you put your life on hold to serve your country (and yes they absolutely put their life on hold), to be told that you have to go wherever the government tells you, and do what they need you to do, then you are entitled to some respect. Obviously there are a lot of assumptions when places or people perform random acts of kindness for veterans, but the person benefitting more than likely does deserve it. [/QUOTE]

Life on hold? My ass. What exactly are they putting their life on hold for? Jobs? Being in the army is a job. And it's a damn good one too. They make more than the average citizen and don't even have to spend any of it on normal shit like food and shelter. Plus, lifetime healthcare! And with the death rate for the Army at less than 1%, shit, they've got a better chance of coming home alive than some of the harder working jobs here in the states.

Don't get me wrong, I do respect our veterans. And I'm being slightly facetious (only slightly) when I imply that being in the Army is as good of a job as a normal 9-5. I realize that there is much more to the Army (especially emotional/psychological aspects). But to say that these people are putting their life on hold is just BS. They come back from the Army farther ahead than most of us could accomplish in just a few years. Hell, my cousin put his life on "hold" for 2 years for the Army, and came back so far ahead that he's decided to put his life on "hold" 4 more times. The bastard will be retired by 50.
 
[quote name='Access_Denied']And with the death rate for the Army at less than 1%, shit, they've got a better chance of coming home alive than some of the harder working jobs here in the states.
[/QUOTE]

Can you please elaborate on "harder working jobs" and "better chance of coming home alive"

thank you
 
[quote name='GBAstar']Can you please elaborate on "harder working jobs" and "better chance of coming home alive"

thank you[/QUOTE]

The military death rate in 2010 was 103 in 100,000 for active duty military (note: not including reserves). No doubt, a dangerous job. But consider the death rates in 2011 for commercial fishing (121 in 100,000) and logging (102 in 100,000). Even the death rate for pilots came close at 79 in 100,000.
 
[quote name='Access_Denied']The military death rate in 2010 was 103 in 100,000 for active duty military (note: not including reserves). No doubt, a dangerous job. But consider the death rates in 2011 for commercial fishing (121 in 100,000) and logging (102 in 100,000). Even the death rate for pilots came close at 79 in 100,000.[/QUOTE]

So are you suggesting commercial fishing & being a pilot are harder working jobs?
 
More dangerous jobs, at least it would seem.

Anyone have different feelings between officers and the enlisted?
 
[quote name='pyschonerd']So are you suggesting commercial fishing & being a pilot are harder working jobs?[/QUOTE]

I believe he highlighted two phrases, one of them being "better chance of coming home alive". So... no.
 
[quote name='Access_Denied']I believe he highlighted two phrases, one of them being "better chance of coming home alive". So... no.[/QUOTE]

Re-read your initial wording.

& Clak i wouldn't use the word dangerous. There are multiple injuries, limbs lost & other numerous hazards associated with service, that simply the other examples do not come anywhere close to matching.

Besides i think if we're talking strictly veterans then it's not the figures this guy said. I am sure many enlist that do not go to war
 
[quote name='Syntax Error']You're entitled to whatever the terms of your contract were and that's it. Joining the military is voluntary and they offer multiple incentives for joining as a result. Hopefully anyone who joins weighed the risk and benefits and made a good choice (for them) based on it.

If someone feels like giving you -- or a doctor, cop, teacher, etc -- extra respect, that's up to them and there's nothing wrong with it. But you don't have some special entitlement to it.

(Generic "you" in all cases).[/QUOTE]

I don't disagree.

The problem is that berzirk creates a topic criticizing the person that felt entitled to do what he wanted because he served. Then he goes on a rant that he dislikes the people that go out of their way to show appreciation to these people. And asks the question "Do we respect our veterans too much?"

Its a douchebag question full of envy, and so shallow that it just rubbed me the wrong way.

People also go out of their way to show respect to cops, teachers, and doctors as well. "Man those guys have some sweet benefits, and they come out better off! We shouldn't show them respect for what they do! They need to suffer first!"

As I said in the beginning, I don't disagree with you and this post wasn't aimed at you either.
 
[quote name='Access_Denied']Life on hold? My ass. What exactly are they putting their life on hold for? Jobs? Being in the army is a job. And it's a damn good one too. They make more than the average citizen and don't even have to spend any of it on normal shit like food and shelter. Plus, lifetime healthcare! And with the death rate for the Army at less than 1%, shit, they've got a better chance of coming home alive than some of the harder working jobs here in the states.

Don't get me wrong, I do respect our veterans. And I'm being slightly facetious (only slightly) when I imply that being in the Army is as good of a job as a normal 9-5. I realize that there is much more to the Army (especially emotional/psychological aspects). But to say that these people are putting their life on hold is just BS. They come back from the Army farther ahead than most of us could accomplish in just a few years. Hell, my cousin put his life on "hold" for 2 years for the Army, and came back so far ahead that he's decided to put his life on "hold" 4 more times. The bastard will be retired by 50.[/QUOTE]

Another person who is unaware of what the military entails, yet is determined to spout off how similar it is to civilian life.

Respect isn't earned by how little you gain in the end.

As was said by another poster, you are all free to make your individual interpretations on who deserves your respect, and you should. But I am going to keep hitting the point home that it isn't berzirks point that we blindly "respect" our Veterans that I am criticizing.

I am criticizing his point that these people aren't deserving of our respect because they haven't done anything lately thats worthy of it. He is asking the question "What have you done for me lately?". And it is BS.
 
[quote name='Knoell']Another person who is unaware of what the military entails, yet is determined to spout off how similar it is to civilian life.

Respect isn't earned by how little you gain in the end.

As was said by another poster, you are all free to make your individual interpretations on who deserves your respect, and you should. But I am going to keep hitting the point home that it isn't berzirks point that we blindly "respect" our Veterans that I am criticizing.

I am criticizing his point that these people aren't deserving of our respect because they haven't done anything lately thats worthy of it. He is asking the question "What have you done for me lately?". And it is BS.[/QUOTE]

When did I say anything about respect for our veterans? I just think your point about putting their life on hold is BS. For our current military personnel, who choose to be in the military, this is their life. It's not like they're taking a 2 year break from their 9-5 just to do some charity work. They make the decision to join the military because it's the logical choice for their life, not because it's an avoidance.

As far as respect goes, I have the utmost respect for our veterans. They're doing a job that I personally do not want to do. They may not be saving our freedom now, but they're committed to do that at the drop of hat, and I can't thank them enough. There's a few problems I have with the military, and of course you're going to find your jackasses in the military, but their promise to put their life at risk at a moment's notice for my safety is something I don't take for granted.
 
[quote name='Access_Denied']When did I say anything about respect for our veterans? I just think your point about putting their life on hold is BS. For our current military personnel, who choose to be in the military, this is their life. It's not like they're taking a 2 year break from their 9-5 just to do some charity work. They make the decision to join the military because it's the logical choice for their life, not because it's an avoidance.

As far as respect goes, I have the utmost respect for our veterans. They're doing a job that I personally do not want to do. They may not be saving our freedom now, but they're committed to do that at the drop of hat, and I can't thank them enough. There's a few problems I have with the military, and of course you're going to find your jackasses in the military, but their promise to put their life at risk at a moment's notice for my safety is something I don't take for granted.[/QUOTE]

Then we agree except for the placing your life on hold aspect.

Setting aside your disagreement with our activities in the ME. Also set aside any assumption that I am talking about combat only.

How would you compare a tour in Iraq to a year of MED school?

Who has more control of their life?
 
[quote name='Knoell']Then we agree except for the placing your life on hold aspect.

Setting aside your disagreement with our activities in the ME. Also set aside any assumption that I am talking about combat only.

How would you compare a tour in Iraq to a year of MED school?

Who has more control of their life?[/QUOTE]

Holy hell. Med school is tough you know. :lol:

In all honesty, obviously the people in the military don't have as much control of their life. They've pretty much signed it away for X years. But it is a choice that they make, and most likely a choice they don't take lightly.

As for me, I'd rather join the army than go to med school. Damn I hate school. :cold:
 
[quote name='Knoell']

Just the way you interpret military life as similar to "moving for a job" shows that you have no sense of what happens when you enlist through your first tour.[/QUOTE]

Damn, I've been outed. My cousin, two co-workers, and now 4 friends on Facebook who are all active duty or vets, clearly misrepresented their experience to me. I'd blame them, but I worship them so much for being vets, that I think it's technically sacrilege. Shame on you for not agreeing with them.

You have now directly questioned the integrity of a veteran. I believe the sentence is death. Quick, move to Canada! And godspeed.

I forgot why I made the rule of don't reply to Knoell posts. It usually goes something like "If A+B=C, then C-A=...a Martian banana!"
 
[quote name='Knoell']I am criticizing his point that these people aren't deserving of our respect because they haven't done anything lately thats worthy of it. He is asking the question "What have you done for me lately?". And it is BS.[/QUOTE]

Jesus Christ man. Get a monkey to interpret words for you and you'll have a better shot of someone suggesting that you have any sort of reading comprehension. When did I say we shouldn't respect vets? I said we shouldn't respect them more or less than other careers, especially others who work dangerous, or selfless jobs.

And what have you done for me lately? I mentioned that in the grand scheme of things, I feel the worst for the Nam vets, moreso than the gulf ones because they were drafted, not voluntarily enlisting, they were treated like shit there, they were treated like shit here, and many of them are severely fucked up in the head today, as a result. So dust off your encyclopedia Brittanica that you must reference when getting deep into topics, and look up when the Vietnam War was. Then inform me how I'm looking at a 'what have you done for me lately' perspective.

Give the monkey a banana and wait for him to read this for you before replying. I want you to have a chance to follow along.
 
How dare I disagree with you? Now you must insult me!

You are acting more like a monkey than anything.

Those few people you know really cant win.

If they say that military life is difficult, then they are pining for attention.
If they say that it is no big deal, you complain that your "sources" tell you it isn't much different than regular life. So why the additional respect?

Like I said earlier, but you apparantly had trouble reading it, was that doctors, teachers, etc get the same respect and thanks from a lot of people. (As embarressing as those public thanks are to you :roll:).

They also get special entitlements and benefits.

Which leads me back to my original point about your bs topic. While all these little tips of the hat, and bonus coffees are great, they aren't the highlight of the receivers life, so get the fuck over yourself. So if you don't like thanking veterans for what they do because you think everyone else does "something" too then don't thank them. That doesn't mean the people that do appreciate them are idiots that are just going through the motions.

My god some of you on here think that you are just the brains of the operation and that from your almighty seat above them, they are just mindless ants doing stupid things, that obviously don't make sense to you. Superiority complex ftw.
 
I think all it means is I'm discovering I am superior over some people. Before, I used to think everyone is special in their own way, but as the sample size expands, I realize that is a lie.

So just to be clear, when you say that I'm ranting about how we shouldn't respect vets, and I called you to point out where I said we shouldn't respect them and you failed to do so, it's safe to assume I never actually said don't respect vets?

Apology accepted.
 
[quote name='berzirk']I think all it means is I'm discovering I am superior over some people. Before, I used to think everyone is special in their own way, but as the sample size expands, I realize that is a lie.

So just to be clear, when you say that I'm ranting about how we shouldn't respect vets, and I called you to point out where I said we shouldn't respect them and you failed to do so, it's safe to assume I never actually said don't respect vets?

Apology accepted.[/QUOTE]

If we respect our service people too much I would like to know where that extra "wasted" respect should be applied.

Zoo keepers?

Veterinarians?

People who post on video game forums and can speak armenian as a second language?
 
[quote name='berzirk']I think all it means is I'm discovering I am superior over some people. Before, I used to think everyone is special in their own way, but as the sample size expands, I realize that is a lie.[/QUOTE]

George Carlin had a line:
“Just think of how stupid the average person is, and then realize half of them are even stupider!"

I happen to believe the vast majority of people can understand any number of complicated topics if you find the right way to explain it to them.

However close to a decade (holy crap) here has taught me there are some people who you cannot help.

It takes a special kind of stupid to come to a place for arguing and then wage ideological jihad to tank anything resembling a discussion.
 
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