Poll: Do you automatically respect people in the military?

[mitchell271]

The military people I know, mostly. My mom, stepdad and lots of family friends work for DND, my stepdad is ex-military, and I have a couple of friends that are reserves. I have a few friends who are at the Royal Military College in Kingston, Canada, and they are some of the douchiest guys I know. I appreciate what they do for us but I do I respect all of them? No way in hell; they have to earn it first, just like everyone else.

 

[Beffudled Sheep_v1legacy]

No not really. A person in the military is still a person and can still be major degenerates/assholes/whatever just like any other person. I however don't begin to show disrespect for them as easily as I do other people. So I don't really respect them more but I disrespect them a lot less. i'm also against people showing great disrespect for them as individuals and people because they don't agree with the actions of the government or military as a whole. I mean unless the person is a general or something then they don't really call the shots. They just do their job to the best of their ability.

I pretty much treat everyone the same no matter their job, status or actions until after they make an impression on me personally. I treat rich the same as poor, my bosses the same as my customers, military the same as civilian, etc.

I treat everyone I meet on an individual basis when it comes to respect and I am either polite or neutral (depending on mood) to people that haven't put an impression on me.

 

[Creator002]

I don't respect soldiers any less or more than anyone else. A person is still a person regardless of what they do as a job. If a soldier did something amazing, like that one who directed enemy fire to himself as a distraction for his squad, they'll earn some respect with me.
Basically, until I know someone well enough, they're treated equal.

 

[Beffudled Sheep_v1legacy]

I respect them less, generally. They're hired killers. Why people think that's worthy of respect is beyond me.

Eh some people think its okay for someone to take anothers life as long as its for a good reason (read: a reason they agree with) or if they think the other person is bad and/or as long as they're not the ones that have to do the killing. Just opinions and all that.

Or maybe theres some other reason, probably is. *shrug*

 

[manic_depressive13]

Our rules of engagement is ridiculously strict and there were situations in Iraq where we should have shot but didn't because we thought we would have gotten in trouble if we did (we were surrounded by Iraqi Army dudes who had AKs pointed at us and we were like WTF)

Even though you clearly got out of the situation alive, you still think you should have been allowed to shoot them?

 

[The Tibballs]

*Snip* Soldiers really don't have a choice in where they are sent, or what orders they have to follow. Any disobedience usually results in treason.

That's not completely true. You aways have a choice about where you are being deployed, it may lead to you being incarcerated, but you still have a choice and as for not having a choice about following orders, not only do you have a choice but also a legal responsibility not to follow orders which break the rules of engagement or UN war crimes laws.
It was made that way so the individual could be held accountable for his or her actions and couldn't use the "I was only following orders" defence favoured by Nazis after WWII.

OT: Nope, not by a long shot. I've always felt that respect is something you earn and you should never expect it just by putting on a uniform.
That goes for anyone doing any job, if you're an arsehat to people, putting on some clothes won't change my mind about you.

 

[w9496]

I respect people until they give me a reason not to. Being in the military or ex-military gives you a 1up in my book though.

 

[OmniscientOstrich]

I'd rather judge someone by the content of their character rather than what uniform they happen to be wearing.

 

[Remus]

Do I respect them for choosing their chosen profession? No. Do I respect their perspectives purely on the basis of having seen places I never will? Definitely not. I've met and seen some truly meanspirited, wrong, disillusioned people come out of the military so I cannot respect their perspectives when they've been out of the country for so long that they cannot help but be unknowledgeable of the events taking place within the country. Having served does not automatically make them right even though some are inclined to think it does. It just makes people less likely to argue back when met face to face with a trained killer. But what do I know? I spend my weeks living hand to mouth putting in job applications to anyplace that might pay me more money than I'd spend on gas driving there. This by the way is my one requirement at a job interview - for my hours to pay for my gas. Why is this so hard?

 

[beastro]

Nope.

Funny thing is, I actually used to. Then I got a job that involved meeting a lot of soldiers. After that, not so much.

what were they like? and what country?

Country is Australia.

What were they like? Angry, young racists not overburdened with education and desperate for a chance to shoot at somebody or anybody.

One fellow that sticks out in my memory was young white guy in his early twenties named Cooper. I asked him why he joined up, y'know, just to make conversation, and he replied, in between sips of beer, "I wanted the chance to defend my country by killing ragheads." Yeah... the conversation didn't get far.

Some of the older guys were alright, once they'd calmed down and stopped thinking they had something to prove.

NCOs quickly get rid of that mentality.

Any residue is quickly lost when they actually experience combat.

 

[kortin]

My father is in the military. I respect him as a person. However, no, I do not automatically respect anyone. I respect their ability to put their life on the line for their country (much more courageous, if a bit stupid, than me). Most military men are absolute morons.

 

[Smolderin]

I will respect those that have gone to war, and those who did not survive it. Whether for my freedom or not, they put their lives on the line and have seen things that vets still have nightmares about. A military in general is supposed to be a force that both defends their country, and attacks other countries for the benefit of the country they come from, though granted those who abuse power will often abuse the use of the military, but that is not the soldiers fault. Those who have seen any action in the service of my country, yes...they deserve and will have my respect. Those who had done it with the intent of defense of their homes on their minds, even more-so.

 

[Product Placement]

Also, I've never met a serviceman who has raped civilians overseas. That crap is exaggerated by the media as it may have happened once or twice by American soldiers (British soldiers however, are some horny bastards. FACT.) We don't go around murdering people either.

Sure, you and your buddies may not be going around raping/killing, but there are unfortunately some bad seeds among your professional brethren.

The "kill team". [http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/23/us-soldier-admits-killing-afghans]
The Kandahar massacre. [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17334643]
The Mahmudiyah killings. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/02/AR2006070200673_pf.html]
The Haditha massacre. [http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/28/us/an-iraqi-massacre-a-light-sentence-and-a-question-of-military-justice.html?_r=0]
That wikileak video that everyone loved to talk about, a while back. [http://www.collateralmurder.com/]

All of the people that were affected by these killings and lived to tell the tale are gonna hate your country forever.

I know I'm being naive when I say it but I just wish that nations would grow the fuck up and realize how outdated of a model the military is. We live in an ever shrinking world run by information technology, where the true power is in the hands of those who control the flow of information. Today, the economy of all countries are utterly dependent on the trade of the countries around them. They literally can't declare war on each other because it would be bad for business.

It would benefit everyone if the world powers would stop wasting money on their armies and focus instead on furthering our common goals of making the world a better place by furthering the fields of science. It's a hopelessly futile thought, though, because as soon as one of the major powers decides to shut down their defense network, the others would jump at the opportunity to invade it. The greed of the few always end up ruining it for the rest of us.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

No. Now what they do during their tour of duty may earn my respect (or lose it), but simply being in the military doesn't automatically earn my respect.

 

[beniki]

As a rule, I give and show respect to anyone trained to kill me. It's just common sense.

That's not to say I's agree with them all the time, but I'm not about to spit in their eye and call them an arsehole. On the other hand I pretty much treat everyone that way... so I guess no extra special respect.

To be fair though, most of the soldiers I know are pretty good and friendly guys. I remember reading that the only people who'll randomly talk to strangers on a train are usually military or old. I've found that to be largely true.

 

[Xan Krieger]

If War ever came to our shores, these are the men and women who will protect you the best they can, even if that means sacrificing their lives in the process, while you get to safety.

But I wouldn't get to safety, I'm an able bodied male in his 20s which means that since my neighbor has the proper guns I'd be fighting the enemy. At that point I guess we'd have to find some unit to join up with since we're only 2 guys and then from there who knows what'd happen.

As for soldiers, they join up knowing what'll happen. They know they'll probably miss christmas or the birth of a kid while they're gone and that it's just part of their schedule. I just treat them same as I'd treat anyone whether they be the employee of a fast food restaurant or an admiral in the navy or the president of the US, to me they have to earn respect. Respect comes not from clothes or fancy titles, it comes from how a person acts. If they're good then respect increases, if they're bad then respect decreases.

 

[klown]

Well, I go out of my way to do things for veterans and Police/fire members. If they come to my job and I see that they are military, I give them free food, or if I'm on the check lanes, I'll give them a discount on their purchase. I agree with they are just doing a job, but their job entitles them to face hardship and get shit all the time, I do what I can to make your day a bit better.

So yes, I give way more respect to military (and police/fire) than I do anyone else right off the bat at least. They can lose it just like anyone else for being a total dick or something, but I tend to give them a lot more leeway.

 

[Hemlet]

I respect the soldier as a profession and as a necessity. These are men and women who are prepared to lay down everything they have for what they believe in and to keep civilians safe in times of crisis. Most of these people, be it through time or through nature, are decent human beings.

From a personal standpoint, every encounter with a soldier I've ever had (ex-soldier or otherwise) has been overwhelmingly negative. I would be far more likely to push these people in front of a moving bus than I would be to willingly speak to or be around them ever again. In one particular case being pushed in front of a bus would be being too kind to them.

 

[lunavixen]

I'm the type of guy who treats anyone with respect until they give me a reason not to. Then good luck in winning me back.

this. this exactly! I'm the same, I treat people with respect until they give me a reason not to, and i don't forgive those who lose my respect that often. Respect is given, trust is earned. You lose my trust... it is unforgivable.