"Shut up because I'm a soldier!"

[Mikkaddo]

If I used my job I'd say "I'm a janitor of two years and I clean shit off walls put there by ignorant slob tourists and my opinion of economic reform is this!" See how ridiculous that sounded? That's what I feel when they try to pull their combat history into a discussion that has nothing to do with combat.

But they can do it not get called out on it.

It's the same with football, politicians, celebrities . . . they think that the fact that they've done, or become something "more" than the "normal" people are that they suddenly know more about EVERYTHING on earth regardless of their actual knowledge base. Hell I knew a girl at my last job that flunked out of a political science class that was somehow convinced she knew more about modern politics than me because oh no, her FATHER was a soldier . . . so really it's not even if someone themselves was a soldier, the problem is that idolizing you mentioned at the start.

We idolize them, and we do it SO MUCH that they start to idolize THEMSELVES. That is where the problem stems from. That old man wasn't bringing up his combat history because he thought that held weight, he brought it up because "well I'm a soldier! so I'm a better person than you by default, so I MUST know more about this no matter what!" There's nothing wrong with respecting soldiers, and honestly war veterans in this country have to put up with a LOT of shit, especially right now . . . but they should by no means be thought of as some special group that can never be wrong. If you're a soldier, you know NO MORE now about how politics works than before you entered the military UNLESS PART OF YOUR MILITARY TRAINING WAS CLASSES ON POLITICS. Being in a trench firing pot shots at someone doing the same to you, teaches you NOTHING about the stuffy shirt "oh look how cool I am" politicians back home.

 

[Mikkaddo]

This has happened to me once. This guy who has to be like 22 and I were arguing about whether or not we could rebuild after a nuclear war. I believed that even if it took an extremely long time and it was total hell that one day we could rebuild after a nuclear holocaust, and even if it wasn't humans some form of life would still find a way. He told me I was wrong because there is absolutely no coming back from a nuke. None what so ever. and he knows this because he served two tours in Iraq. He also tried to argue that the atomic bomb was a god send though and how its basically America's divine sword to fight back evil and such.

Ok, let me tear apart his argument because of something I happen to know from being friends with an Iraq veteran.

A tour there was 3 YEARS. You aren't allowed to join the Military untill 18, and if I recall correctly, standard training before you ever go to combat in a less than Def Con 1 situation is about 2 YEARS.

So, he's 22 now right? he joined at 18 because there's no draft, trained for 2 years to reach combat. That makes him 20. So, in the span of 2 years he served 6 years worth of tours in Iraq.

Color me impressed my friend!

 

[Heroes and Cons]

I'm British and have only heard it once or twice, since we don't really idolise soldiers that much here. Personally I don;t give a flying fuck whether someone is shooting terrorists in Afghanistan or growing potatoes in Scotland, it's just a damn career choice - hell, 75% of trainees decided to do it because they like the thought of shooting people in a foregn country, they don't care what the cause is.

In fact, If I'm being brutally honest, the only soldiers I actually respect are the men and women who ACTUALLY believe and fight for the right cause, or sacrifice themsilves or their health to help a fellow man or woman, because that takes a lot of heart and bravery, and the SAS, because they are the best, the elite, the most efficent and highly trained fighting force in the world - something that takes a whole lot of guts and mental strength that most soldiers just don't have, as well as actually truly cariung about fighting for your country... that, and the SAS can kick my arse six ways to sunday.

 

[Hatchet90]

Ninja'd.

OT: I've never encountered this problem, but then again anyone in my class that went into the military I haven't talked to in years so.... maybe they are self righteous morons.

 

[LetalisK]

The military is not immune to social norms. Just like it has compassionate, intelligent, and empathetic people, it also has assholes, idiots, and jackasses. It's just a microcosm of society.

 

[Zhukov]

I've only ever seen people pull that one on the internet, but it irritates the hell out of me.

If the debate is about munitions or combat or something, then sure, being a soldier gives you some authority on the subject. But otherwise... yeah, cheap tactic.

...

In addition, the Aussies had the nerve to go break up the East Timor genocide, that counts for something too.

I feel obliged to point out that we Australians ignored the mess in East Timor for twenty five years before doing anything about it. Also, during that time we made a deal with Indonesia to harvest oil and gas from the Timor sea.

"Unless it's a farm!"

This thread has been won.

 

[Mid-Boss]

America is pretty strange about their military. How they always are so proud of their soldiers that protect their country (while actually causing more people to become a potential threat to it)
Also in movies, the American military has way to much of a positive reputation.

That's because if a movie depicts the army it has to pass a military board and get approval otherwise it wont be allowed in theaters. If it doesn't present the military in a positive light, it doesn't get approval.

 

[A velociraptor]

If it's a matter of war and the situation is life or death, then the phrase "Shut up, I'm a soldier" will be acceptable; otherwise, like so many other people have said, being an idiot is just being an idiot.

 

[Araksardet]

I knew a kid in high school who pulled this, except his dad was a soldier, and taught him all he knew, so clearly, he was just as right as a real soldier.

 

[Epic Fail 1977]

What I don't get is how stating that you're a paid killer is supposed to be an appeal to authority on any subject other than killing people.

 

[Slash2x]

Speaking as a former military member...... anyone who uses that in an argument is a moron, and they were morons while they were enlisted probably too.

 

[Mafoobula]

Hi guys! I'm a soldier in the US Army, currently deployed in Afghanistan!
I'm sorry some of my comrades are giant douchebags, but if it's any consolation, I try my level best to be a nice guy all the time. I was a nice guy long before I joined, but that's beside the point. Come to think of it, I'd bet a month's pay that the turds I know now were turds loooooong before the joined.
I'll be the first to admit that my military training gives me a little leverage in some situations... like realistic squad tactics and weapon behavior in movies and games. It's kinda like how I used to be a chef, so I know what I'm talking about when it comes to food. But economics? Science? Whether or not a person should be on voice chat while gaming? I know exactly as much as everyone else in the world.

 

[cbert]

My advice to the OP:

Just blame shell shock or severe head trauma or PTSD; give him a salute and stop arguing with the deluded, probably-lying asshat.*

Alternatively, "pics or it didn't happen." That one could backfire; war wounds may turn you off to cottage cheese and cunnilingus simultaneously.

 

[phelan511]

Snip

Well... Let me get this out of the way first. I served my country as well. Did my time in the Army, did a deployment to Iraq. Got into combat, all that. That being said, I don't use my combat experience to win arguments unless it pertains to anything military related. Now I would also like to point out, not every serviceman or servicewoman acts like that. Its sad that alot of the servicemembers you've met do act like that, as they have seemingly painted a picture for you that ALL servicemembers act in that way. I myself and most of the vets Ive been around and served with all have very open minds on things, and we tend to call out folks that are closed minded as well. I'm not saying youre wrong for calling BS when you see it. I applaud that. Just try to be a little more open minded. Now I do try to win arguments all the time, I have that kind of personality, but I use my knowledge that I've gathered through research, personal experience and what not to win, not just the blanket "I carried a rifle so I know what Im talking about" statement.

 

[Snoozer]

America is pretty strange about their military. How they always are so proud of their soldiers that protect their country (while actually causing more people to become a potential threat to it)
Also in movies, the American military has way to much of a positive reputation.

That's because if a movie depicts the army it has to pass a military board and get approval otherwise it wont be allowed in theaters. If it doesn't present the military in a positive light, it doesn't get approval.

My god! Really? I have no words ... but this explains a lot.

 

[cbert]

*I'm a soldier** so I can say that

**If Amercorps counts for the man at the draft board, it counts online

And nothin but respect for veterans and active women and men in uniform. Our country needs to treat you better.

 

[Mouse One]

Speaking as a former military member...... anyone who uses that in an argument is a moron, and they were morons while they were enlisted probably too.

Seven years Navy here, and agree with the above completely. Although I'll take issue with some of the posters who are stereotyping military members as nothing but "dumb grunts trained to take orders". Like anywhere else, it varies a lot. We had the guys who couldn't figure out which end of the mop to hold and we had some amazingly smart guys, mostly in the technical rates (not saying there were no smart Boatswains mates. I met one once).

I will say that there is a tendency for military guys to get isolated from the civilian population by virtue of where and when they work (the Navy brought new meaning to the word "overtime"). Whenever you get a group of guys who mostly hang out with each other, there's a tendency to believe that you've got the inside track on things. Maybe true when it comes to political factions in Iraq, not so much true if you're talking about economic policy.

 

[Belaam]

As a veteran, you shouldn't necessarily give our words additional weight because we are veterans.

And you have to do that, because I'm a veteran. ;p

Personally, I only play the veteran card when someone is doing something that drives me nuts like supporting candidates who cut military medical benefits while simultaneously having a "support our troops" sticker on their car.

 

[Laser Priest]

I think this is an argument used more by idiots than anything.

To the soldier: Basically, you're willing to throw yourself in the line of fire, and I can respect that. However, you're a moron if you think that's how logic works.

 

[cbert]

As a veteran, you shouldn't necessarily give our words additional weight because we are veterans.

And you have to do that, because I'm a veteran. ;p

Personally, I only play the veteran card when someone is doing something that drives me nuts like supporting candidates who cut military medical benefits while simultaneously having a "support our troops" sticker on their car.

You don't have to be a veteran to point out political hypocrisy.

But it does give you license to egg their house, shoot their mailbox and break their windshield.

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