Are Veterans Better Than The Rest Of Us?

[Revoltingest]

I admit that sometimes I use receiving and giving offense for strategic purposes, but in this discussion, I think it is best tempered as much as possible, given the passions that these questions have driven. Though, tempered does not mean eliminated or ignored.

Aye, your responses being measured & considered does not go unnoticed.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

Aye, your responses being measured & considered does go unnoticed.

That is unfortunate. It takes time to produce a response that is carefully worded to express a view while expressing what that response is not.

 

[Revoltingest]

That is unfortunate. It takes time to produce a response that is carefully worded to express a view while expressing what that response is not.

Aw, dang it!
I fixed the post.
(Left out the "not".)
You should converse with more qualified posters.

 

[Truly Enlightened]

No. I can ask questions because I seek to understand things I do not know. I may not even know the right questions to ask when I first ask. That is a sound defense of my questions.

You are tagging on things to those questions that are uniquely your own and are not pat of my questions. Because of your passion, you are reading things into those questions that are not there.

Please again, you are better than this. No one is questioning the merits of asking questions. We are not talking about if a graviton will ever be discovered. This is a question that suggests that a group in our society may, or may not feel that they are better than the rest of us. Or, that we should question if veterans are better than the rest of us. There is no evidence to suggest that this even exists, and certainly no veteran supports this suggestion or implication. So what is the reason for asking this yes, or no question? I say the answer is a no brainer. No, veterans are not better or worse than the rest of us. Do you think they are? But this seems more to me to be about questioning special privileges, respect, and do Veterans deserve more than civilians? Then the question was raised about justification, respect, danger, and special privileges, compared to other civilian jobs.

So, where am I reading things wrong, or tagging things onto questions? Can you be specific?

 

[Curious George]

I think some of it also depends on what kind of barriers in place for people even getting these jobs in the first place. When I was in high school, I couldn't even get a burger flipping job. It wasn't that I didn't try, but no one was hiring me. I tried for jobs at grocery stores, Circle K, 7-11, without success. I got work elsewhere, first at a hotel, then at a mortuary (but only because I knew someone who already worked there and put in a word for me).

Back in those days, employers (even those with crap jobs) could afford to be picky I guess, but when they now say that "nobody wants these jobs," I have to take it with a grain of salt. If employers can't find workers, it's because they're not trying very hard.

Whether a job is "important" seems more a subjective judgment. "Important" to whom? Someone like Miley Cyrus makes more money than most neurosurgeons and rocket scientists, which would indicate that her work is "more important" than that of other occupations. But is that really true?

I think there is a lot of subjective connotation to important here. However, i think that when one acknowledges that the jobs should not be paid the same they are tilting their hand regarding their views of importance.

 

[Stevicus]

And those entertainers are often revered like they were holy. Look how much their opinions matter. If one of them decides that vaccines cause autism, then entire groups of people stop getting vaccines for their children. All based on the emotions of an entertainer that may or may not have been able to pass basic science in high school.

And that's pretty much my point. All of this is highly subjective and based more on values and emotions than anything else.

Along the same lines are the holy rollers to whom people send lots and lots of money, so these televangelists can have private jets and several mansions. They're also revered. But we're not supposed to criticize stuff like that. Because capitalism.

 

[Stevicus]

I think there is a lot of subjective connotation to important here. However, i think that when one acknowledges that the jobs should not be paid the same they are tilting their hand regarding their views of importance.

Well, it's all subjective; that's the thing.

On a side note, it just occurred to me (as some in this thread have brought up burger-flippers), working in fast-food isn't necessarily a dead-end job. I was reading about a guy who started out as a burger flipper and eventually became a franchise owner of multiple locations.

 

[Revoltingest]

Along the same lines are the holy rollers to whom people send lots and lots of money, so these televangelists can have private jets and several mansions. They're also revered. But we're not supposed to criticize stuff like that. Because capitalism.

The term, "holy roller", wouldn't apply to any of the televangelists I've seen.
Ref...
Holy Roller - Wikipedia
Also, I've never heard any objection to criticizing them for lavish personal spending.
And the basis would be that such criticism would be anti-capitalist of all things?
Nah.

 

[Epic Beard Man]

This was a poorly asked question

 

[Revoltingest]

This was a poorly asked question

Thank you for sharing your disinterest & disdain.

 

[Epic Beard Man]

From a (my) Christian perspective, violence is wrong. Therefore being in the military is wrong. I do not think you can love your enemy at gun point. It is not a question of who is "better".

Your Christian perspective is unrealistic. There are people in this world that do not value you nor your Christian views because you're an American. Regardless whether anyone of us have a stake in political decisions there are people that think you're the enemy. It is because of military intelligence and counter action is what allows you to come on this website to demean military personnel.

 

[tytlyf]

Well, a lot in the military didn't necessarily want to serve. It was just the best option out of high school.

 

[Revoltingest]

Well, a lot in the military didn't necessarily want to serve. It was just the best option out of high school.

That's how life works.
Few people want the job they take.
But they take the best they can find, ie, what suits them.
For some it's fast food, groundskeeping, cleaning, or painting.
And for others it's the military, ie, they choose it cuz prefer it
to all other options. That's better than the draft.

 

[Earthtank]

A veteran can be better but also can be the scum of the earth, all depends on that particular individual and what constitutes as "better".

 

[Dan From Smithville]

Please again, you are better than this. No one is questioning the merits of asking questions. We are not talking about if a graviton will ever be discovered. This is a question that suggests that a group in our society may, or may not feel that they are better than the rest of us. Or, that we should question if veterans are better than the rest of us. There is no evidence to suggest that this even exists, and certainly no veteran supports this suggestion or implication. So what is the reason for asking this yes, or no question? I say the answer is a no brainer. No, veterans are not better or worse than the rest of us. Do you think they are? But this seems more to me to be about questioning special privileges, respect, and do Veterans deserve more than civilians? Then the question was raised about justification, respect, danger, and special privileges, compared to other civilian jobs.

So, where am I reading things wrong, or tagging things onto questions? Can you be specific?

I have given this much thought. I have started responses to your posts and completely eliminated them. You have taken this as an assault on veterans and I see no way around that obstacle without escalating this discussion in the wrong direction and alienating a person whose opinion I have come to value and respect. I will leave it at that.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

Aw, dang it!
I fixed the post.
(Left out the "not".)
You should converse with more qualified posters.

That pretty much eliminates everyone here and even talking to myself.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

I suspect that you've done little, but I hope it's more than what I have.
My ancestors aren't all misanthropes & cretinous knuckle walkers,
but I don't take any pride in the few who became productive citizens.
Their accomplishments are their own...not mine.

This reminds me also that I have some more notorious ancestors and offshoots as well. A great great uncle that was killed by police in a domestic dispute at the age of 78. Apparently, he was a fighter all the way to the end. Just not for the best causes.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

And that's pretty much my point. All of this is highly subjective and based more on values and emotions than anything else.

Along the same lines are the holy rollers to whom people send lots and lots of money, so these televangelists can have private jets and several mansions. They're also revered. But we're not supposed to criticize stuff like that. Because capitalism.

The money church preachers are just entertainers as far as I am concerned. They are all about greed while preaching virtue.

 

[Regiomontanus]

Your Christian perspective is unrealistic. There are people in this world that do not value you nor your Christian views because you're an American. Regardless whether anyone of us have a stake in political decisions there are people that think you're the enemy. It is because of military intelligence and counter action is what allows you to come on this website to demean military personnel.

Hello. Many things which are right and good are surely viewed as "unrealistic" by many. I do not care what they (you) think. I know our military (how it is used) has often been a force for evil.

 

[Ponder This]

A common thread runs thru society regarding military types, both active & former....
- Special privileges, eg, discounts, free stuff, priority boarding planes.
- Being called "hero".
- Honorary license plates.
- Commercials advertising enlistment, glorifying combat & elite status.
- A thread here proposing that only veterans can vote.
- Denigration of "draft dodgers".

I picked <same status>.

Better how?

Better at fighting.
Better social status.
Better patriots.

Sure a civilian can be really good at fighting or have a high social status or be a good patriot,
but probably not.

Also, maybe people who have not served are better at some other very important things like raising a family, which is not something a person can do if he has to go fight somewhere.