Poll: Do you support compulsory military service?

[Verlander]

I think a compulsory system where people HAVE to work for experience, and suchlike, would be good, especially in a physical manner where strict discipline was involved would be very good. Maybe not military though...

As for all of those "OMG, forcing people is bad, against their free will..." fools, do they realise that school in general is the exact same thing? Is there honestly people out there that consider compulsory education bad?

 

[ZippyDSMlee]

I say yes, its good for the body and good to learn respect for the chain of command. And is no different than school.

 

[Lilani]

I hear it works good in Israel, but I think a lot of talk and education about it would have to occur before we decide. Knee-jerk reactions always occur when questions like this are asked, and unfortunately thanks to modern media those knee-jerk reactions are usually the ones that get the most headlines and become the most popular. People just don't think about things anymore.

 

[Delta342]

I kind of think yes in that I agree with what countries like Finland do.. Two years of being trained up (not sent outside the country mind you) which teaches discipline, respect, some pretty good life skills, etc. It might solve a few problems along the way and means that in a worst case scenario, conscripts would be in a much better place in terms of survivability. But meh, that's my thoughts, there are plenty of reasons against it but for the most part it would improve people.

 

[SpaceCop]

I'd like to think our societies have moved beyond the medieval need for vassalage.

 

[lacktheknack]

No. While it is character-building, I wouldn't be able to join for a couple of physical reasons, as with many people. I'd probably end up ostracized as "that loser who dodged the draft", even though I didn't.

 

[Delta342]

"Kind of. They should be forced to try for some time, then they can decide."

LOVE.
IT.

"I've decided this isnt for me."
"Ah comon lad! Its only been a week."
"I No longer have a right arm below the elbow."
"Just give it another fortnight you can hardly say you've given it a proper chance yet!"

Hehehehe, a perfect example of:

Spoiler: You're doing it wrong

 

[aegix drakan_v1legacy]

I am a reasonable pacifist (IE, I want to avoid killing another human being at all costs). Stick me in the army and all I'll do is get the crap kicked out of me and take up space and possibly get my own team killed because I don't want to end another person's life. And if I DO end up killing people, congrats, now I will be draining resources since I will need lifelong therapy to get over it.

I would only fight if the enemy is invading our country, killing men women and children indiscriminately. And I'd still need the lifelong therapy afterward.

Give the people the choice if they want to fight. I want to avoid it at all costs.

 

[BiscuitTrouser]

I dont dig forced violence. Its not going to help anyone and its going to give a negative impression of the army.

 

[SpaceCop]

Why not mandate compulsory university education? Granted, a bunch of people forced into post-secondary education would hate it, wouldn't be able to adjust to it, and wouldn't gain anything of value from the experience, but surely society as a whole would benefit!

If people want to join the services, awesome. And if they don't, also awesome. The option to choose is an important one.

 

[SinisterGehe]

Nope, It pauses the education because it is set so that if you go to army you will either miss the start of the school year or the end of it, that means you spend half of an year so that you are unable to study. SO In order for you to go in to army you need to take a whole year off.
This is no Issue if you graduated, but oopsies you go in to army in meddle of one quater and come out 1½ quaters later, so you end up waiting up to a month or more before you can get a job again.
Also it drain lot of Funds and last time time we used our army was continuation war with Soviet union and never after that. And as it is known, Finland rests in a volatile area, between Russia and Sweden. And our biggest cities lie so near Russia that If someone drops a nuke on us, they'll get pissed off.

Also, when someone goes to Army in Finland they are loss to the economy, they generate nothing, they do not spend money on personal level, they only drain governmental funds.

But meh, what do I care. I can't get in anyway, thanks to extremely painful nerve damage on my right torso and right hand. But the paper work I need to to prove I have disability is staggering. Like the fact that "Dude I can't hold a pencil properly, I can't do pushup, I can carry my school back with my right hand..." and that I take 2 narcotic painkillers. Isn't enough. But whatever...

 

[Neonsilver]

I' from germany and I did my service a few years ago. It's not bad, at least after the annoying basic training.
Even if somenone doesn't want to do the service, there are several alternatives you can do.
Anyone who did only the compulsory service won't be send somewhere to fight.

 

[Major_Tom]

I like the military doctrine of my former country (Yugoslavia) called ONO (Total National Defense). In case of attack, after regular army had fallen, EVERY citizen was expected to defend their homeland using partisan (guerrilla) tactics. Children were taught how to handle firearms in middle and high school.

 

[trollnystan]

I voted other for even though I'm pacifist I am for CMS. If my country has to have a military I'd rather it not be comprised mainly of military gun nuts who WANT to go to war; I'd prefer that pacifists and non-interested get in instead.

Of course if CMS was brought back to my country (they just got rid of it) I'd also want women to be drafted. Only fair, we can't expect men to be forced to do something we don't.

 

[spartandude]

I'm all up for a one year National Service, aslong as the people join the Home Guard and so arnt sent off to another country to fight unless they wish to, and people are given the option of being a non-combatent

 

[phantasmalWordsmith]

It's true that the army does teach good skills but it should never be forced, it should be a choice. The army breaks you down hen builds you back up again and it that doesn't work then they'll make life hell for you. I wouldn't last 10 minutes in any field of the military, it's just not where I belong

However if world war 3 rolls around, then I won't have a problem with conscription

 

[Dana22]

Plus that mindset lead to the Cold War

That mindset prevented Cold War from becoming Word War 3.

Im sorry, but unless we unite as a race under one "government", wars, terrorism and violence will always be there.

 

[Togs]

Plus that mindset lead to the Cold War

That mindset prevented Cold War from becoming Word War 3.

Im sorry, but unless we unite as a race under one "government", wars, terrorism and violence will always be there.

It also caused it in the 1st place- 2 idealogically opposed societies circling each other with nuclear weapons- what ended it was the USSR not being able to keep up.

And a world government? if power corrupts then imagine what that much power would do to someone.

And even then its crappy idea- humans are tribal and it still wouldnt eliminate the "us and them" mentality.

 

[Brandon237]

No, never, ever. Firstly: year.wasted
Second, I have a heart condition, my martial arts training already causes me to collapse, unable to move sometimes.
Also, forcing those two on people who would rather live peacefully with a stable job, is sick.
And in the case of a war or combat, to make someone who only intended for normal, peaceful life to kill or get killed, should be considered a crime against humanity. Even if WW3 struck and my country was at the heart of it, I would not fight, I would not die for a corrupt and inefficient government, I would get my friends, my family, and leave the affected area by whatever means available.