This is a bit of a hijack, I guess, but this meme keeps getting repeated in this thread and I’m not sure why. I do, in fact, know a person who was special forces - not a Navy Seal, but whatever the Marine equivalent is. He isn’t any longer; he’s a bit older and he works now in supply chain logistics or something of that nature. Now, he certainly doesn’t go around wearing a button that says “Former Marine Special Forces: Ask Me How!” He doesn’t start every sentence with “as a former member of the marine special forces, I think I’d like the steak tartare.” But he doesn’t make any particular effort to conceal it, either, particularly if circumstances warrant. He is a community theatre actor, and I found out about his past occupation when I blocked him to climb an onstage ladder to a fairly high platform as part of a scene. I asked him if he was comfortable with heights, and he said yes and seemed unconcerned, so I went with an “are you sure?” He chuckled and said that he used to jump out of helicopters, so 15 feet of elevation didn’t freak him out. I asked how he came to jump out of helicopters, and he told me. I just don’t know if I agree with this “anyone who says they’re a SEAL probably isn’t a SEAL” truism.
Of course not. But can we agree that in some specific circumstances, it might make you, if not an asshole, maybe just a little bit of a jerk?
Yes, unpleasant. Not vicious or cruel or hateful or anything like that. I chose my adjective carefully in this case: I think you were unpleasant. And to no good purpose. The Pit gives you license to be so, but the fact that you chose to be unpleasant in this particular case doesn’t speak well of you. No big deal, I guess, but there it is.
Fine, so it was. I still stand by that my comment, however unpleasant, was not out of line.
Quite honestly, I’m getting sick of this, it’s just going round and round. I’m going to bow out now, (and feel free to say, “See! She’s running off, she can’t take it!”).
But at least, the thread can go back on topic, without me making it all about ME.
You missed my point. First of all, I confirmed your suspicion that Guin had led an extremely sheltered life (assuming she hasn’t been lying about herself all of these years ). Secondly, I realize that we all agree that she is allowed to have an opinion. My point was that people’s opinions should be weighted based on their experience in similar matters.
For my part I’m not sure why my personal experiences are construed as a “meme.” You want to believe the guy, fine; but you have no more evidence that he’s on the level than I have that he is not.
Sure, but when those circumstances are is completely subjective. I think that even by the most subjective standard, Guin’s post in this thread doesn’t rise to that level. All she asked was, “Does anyone else find this hard to believe?” And the fact of the matter is, yeah, a number of people did. You may consider that jerkish, but I personally do not, and I’m as entitled to post my opinion as you are to post yours, right? I didn’t find her post to be attention whoring, jerkish, or “to no good purpose.” She was raising a POV that at least several others also shared. Since when do we have to show “good purpose” for anything we post, anyway?
I don’t know if he’s a troll or not, and neither do you. And whether he is proven one way or another at this point does not retroactively make anyone’s speculations or concerns more or less reasonable.
But I have to tell you that the e-mail exchange you posted makes me kind of impatient. If the guy feels that gigi’s money needs to be refunded, then he needs to climb down off his honorable high horse and do what needs to be done to get that handled. Not “I’ll extend her membership for a year, but only if I don’t have to return!” Man up, come back, do what needs to be done – he doesn’t have to post, or even read – and after that, if he then wants to shake the dust of this little village off his sandals, fine.
And IMO if he can afford the membership, then he should not have been trespassing on gigi’s generosity in the first place. And if he didn’t know how the Pit worked after 30 days as a guest, and if this is honestly all it takes to make him leave and never come back, then he really had no business taking her money.
You’re not the only person in this thread who’s said this, or a variation on it. I was using your quote as an example.
Of course. I’m not sure why you seem combative about it; you’re entitled to think she did nothing unpleasant and I’m entitled to think that she did. Reasonable people may disagree, and you and I do in this case.
Although, Jodi, while I agree with the majority of the rest of the post quoted, I have to ask…
How do you know they’re ex-Navy SEALs?
They’re obviously telling someone. And it it really that unlikely that justanoldvet isn’t an ex-SEAL? Now, I’m not saying he is, I’m not saying he isn’t. I have no way of knowing, and I don’t care, honestly. They’re out there, right? Or are they an urban legend? I can’t believe that there isn’t a single one who never mentions it. And I sure as hell can’t believe that one of them wouldn’t find their way onto the Dope.
Yeah, he should know that skepticism is what feeds the hamsters here, but if–if– his claim is true, chances are the rest of his background is as described. So the guy has every reason to be sensitive about having his honor questioned.
I never said they never tell anyone ever ever ever. I said IME they don’t pop it into casual conversation. IME, people who work in covert (or even highly senstive) areas, either military or civilian, just don’t talk about it much. It’s the same reason I tend to think people who talk about the super-duper high security clearance they have for federal government work also may be – I said may be, not necessarily are – full of shit: Because those who really have it or do it, tend not to talk about it.
Is it outside the realm of the possible that being an ex-SEAL would be a singular source of pride for an old veteran? Of course not. But I never said that was the only reason my skepticism kicked in anyway. The story didn’t sound plausible to me on several levels.
you know, I first read this exchange and though the story was a bit farfetched, it was clearly a STORY, and believable in the context of many things I’ve seen or heard or read on the dope. MY problem stems from this:
Retired SEAL, using a CANE, has cancer, claws from a crazy woman make his wife freak out to the point where he gets antibiotics from the ER.
Between these two stories, something’s gotta give.
I want to believe him, but anybody with the mobility, and strength to land a massive fish with a knife stroke halfway in to a creek probably doesn’t need a cane, as far as I can tell. Hell, even just telling a good story is fine, but telling two good stories that may or may not seem contradictory, I dunno.
I said I was leaving, however, I just wanted to ask-what is the point of posting a private e-mail?
Okay, maybe I’m not leaving. I’m too outspoken. But as of now, I refuse to answer questions about myself-only about the OP. If you want to point out my various flaws, open a new thread.
Jeez, Guin, seeing criticism behind every tree? Where in my post did I say he’d mentioned you specifically to me? Actually, he didn’t name names at all.
And he’s definitely a stiff-necked old coot (Or, as he put it, “as my wife lovingly phrases it: a ’ stiff necked, uncompromising, stubborn, SOB … '”), and believes that returning after he’s said he rang the bell for any reason whatsoever would “destroy any and all credibility I had/have.” Apparently he believes in keeping his word. I’ve tried to persuade him to just ignore those who he feels impugn his honor (and please note I am NOT saying whether that actually happened, simply that that’s clearly how HE feels about it) and just come enjoy the community, but ain’t gonna happen.
Yup, nothing like seeing a really potentially terrific new Doper driven off within a matter of days. :rolleyes:
I never implied he did-got a quote for where I did say that?
Back on topic: My point is, if you really wanted to treat him with dignity, why all of the “Oh, his feelings were hurt-you guys are soooo mean!”
What is the point of posting that, other than a guilt trip?
Once again, his stories seem a wee bit over-dramatic and farfetched. We’ve seen it before, and we’ll see it again. Maybe he was telling the truth. Perhaps not. But that doesn’t mean it’s wrong to question his story.
I know someone will point out the “what ifs” for me doing this, but I’m so not able to wonder about what we don’t see or consider. So that said, perhaps he’s going to borrow the money from someone else. Which he didn’t think of doing before, as he’d seen all the offers and generosity in the thread that offers such in ATMB. And as far as him being here as a guest for a month, his join date is December. Now I’m not sure, but I thought your time (as a paid member or not) started when you signed up, otherwise you couldn’t post. Meaning to me, he can’t have been here (discounting lurking) more than 11 days.
Again, just a possibility and I’ll take my lumps as a picker of nits.
Does anyone else find this as hilarious as I do? I dont’ know if justanoldvet is telling the truth or not. But those are really the only two options.
Either he is telling the truth and we’ve run him off. Really no point in defending him if he’s not coming back now is there?
Or, he’s a troll and paid $15 to come in here and start spinnin’ yarns. If that’s the case, he (or she) is sitting back and just eating up this arguement.
Just drop it. There’s no possible reason to keep this thread alive at this point.
You can believe it or not, just as you choose, but if you think I’m stomping off over your disbelief, you’re nuts. And if I did stomp off, that would be my fault and my responsibility, not yours.
). Secondly, I realize that we all agree that she is allowed to have an opinion. My point was that people’s opinions should be weighted based on their experience in similar matters.