# So what kind of personality is attracted to the modern military? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 30, 2012, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-personality-is-attracted-to-the-modern-military/636296 "2012-09-30T07:40:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-personality-is-attracted-to-the-modern-military/636296/61 "2012-10-02T00:48:18Z")
> [@Robert163](#): > > I have no problem with the coast gaurd Ok, fair enough. I am just trying to establish some boundaries on your hated towards the military here. What about the actions in Somalia and Bosnia/Serbia during the Clinton administration in the 1990’s? My other younger brother served as a Marine in the latter to stop an ongoing genocide and saw real combat action. Was he a bad person for doing that? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-personality-is-attracted-to-the-modern-military/636296/62 "2012-10-02T00:51:31Z")
> [@Robert163](#): > > And you’ve never stopped to think about the morality of what you’re doing? Given your juvenile and ignorant comments so far I’m sure I’ve thought about it more than you have. > [@Robert163](#): > > I have no problem with the coast gaurd Another ignorant comment. They never tell you what coast you’re going to guard. Everyplace I’ve seen the puddle pirates. Not in great numbers for sure. My uncle was a landing craft pilot for the Coast Guard in World War II. ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-personality-is-attracted-to-the-modern-military/636296/63 "2012-10-02T00:55:47Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Given your juvenile and ignorant comments so far I’m sure I’ve thought about it more than you have. and how do you justify this whole thing to yourself? ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-personality-is-attracted-to-the-modern-military/636296/64 "2012-10-02T00:58:09Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > Ok, fair enough. I am just trying to establish some boundaries on your hated towards the military here. What about the actions in Somalia and Bosnia/Serbia during the Clinton administration in the 1990’s? My other younger brother served as a Marine in the latter to stop an ongoing genocide and saw real combat action. Was he a bad person for doing that? those actions were honorable but they in themself prove that being in the military is not an honorable thing to do. those brief encounters validated the idea that american does not have the stomach to use our soldiers for the right reason. in other words, it validates that america pretty much only uses her military for her own selfish gain. ---
**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-personality-is-attracted-to-the-modern-military/636296/65 "2012-10-02T01:01:33Z")
I can’t answer this question because the people I know who are or have been in the military (which include my father and now, my BIL) have pretty wildly different personalities, and most of them didn’t and don’t have any particular attraction to the military as anything but a means to several ends - among them a career, in two cases… ---
**Author:** ![kwimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dc4da7/32.png) [@kwimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kwimby)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-personality-is-attracted-to-the-modern-military/636296/66 "2012-10-02T01:17:26Z")
If Robert wasn’t so naive he would understand that sometimes it takes a little killing in this world to prevent a lot more killing. He should ask some people in Bosnia whose towns are surrounded by graveyards and mass graves what they think about the morality surrounding our conquest there. ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-personality-is-attracted-to-the-modern-military/636296/67 "2012-10-02T01:23:30Z")
> [@kwimby](#): > > If Robert wasn’t so naive he would understand that sometimes it takes a little killing in this world to prevent a lot more killing. He should ask some people in Bosnia whose towns are surrounded by graveyards and mass graves what they think about the morality surrounding our conquest there. you can’t defend a long long long list of bad actions by quoting the exception to the rule ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-personality-is-attracted-to-the-modern-military/636296/68 "2012-10-02T01:23:31Z")
> [@Robert163](#): > > and how do you justify this whole thing to yourself? [http://www.mwkworks.com/onsheepwolvesandsheepdogs.html](http://www.mwkworks.com/onsheepwolvesandsheepdogs.html) ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-personality-is-attracted-to-the-modern-military/636296/69 "2012-10-02T01:26:08Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > [On Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs - Dave Grossman](http://www.mwkworks.com/onsheepwolvesandsheepdogs.html) you do realize that the people who send you to war use documents like this to wipe their ass with, don’t you? ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-personality-is-attracted-to-the-modern-military/636296/70 "2012-10-02T01:34:30Z")
> [@Robert163](#): > > you do realize that the people who send you to war use documents like this to wipe their ass with, don’t you? Ok Robert. This is enough. You already said you don’t have a problem with the Coast Guard or with anyone that fought in noble actions like the Bosnia/Serbian or Somalian conflicts. That means you don’t hate all the military. Why don’t you just say where you draw the lines exactly? Were the service members at Pearl Harbor all opportunistic baby killers or does that only apply to a few select wars like Gulf War II, Afghanistan, and Vietnam? You are wandering all over the place in short sentences and giving contradictory answers. Think out your real position and tell us what it is. You obviously don’t hate all military people or military actions by your own admission. ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-personality-is-attracted-to-the-modern-military/636296/71 "2012-10-02T01:37:34Z")
Robert, I was in the Canadian military. Did I join out of bloodthirst and to help Canada oppress others? ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-personality-is-attracted-to-the-modern-military/636296/72 "2012-10-02T01:43:08Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > Ok Robert. This is enough, You already said you don’t have a problem with the Coast Guard or with anyone that fought in noble actions like the Bosnia/Serbian or Somalian conflicts. That means you don’t hate all the military. Why don’t you just say where you draw the lines exactly? Where the service members at Pearl Harbor all opportunistic baby killers or does that only apply to a few select wars like Gulf War II, Afghanistan, and Vietnam? You are wandering all over the place in short sentences and giving contradictory answers. Think out your real position and tell us what it is. You obviously don’t hate all military people or military actions by your own admission. well first of all, the story posted above was childish, self congratulatory rubbish: “I’m a sheep dog, I protect the sheep from the wolves!!!” :rolleyes: you want to make exucses, go ahead, the whole “support the troops but not the war” mentality is equal part propaganda as are the flimsy reasons for going to war ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-personality-is-attracted-to-the-modern-military/636296/73 "2012-10-02T01:44:19Z")
> [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > Robert, > > I was in the Canadian military. Did I join out of bloodthirst and to help Canada oppress others? I doubt it. My remarks are to the US military. ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-personality-is-attracted-to-the-modern-military/636296/74 "2012-10-02T01:45:34Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > [On Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs - Dave Grossman](http://www.mwkworks.com/onsheepwolvesandsheepdogs.html) You know, on second thought, the real problem with this story is that you fail to realize YOU ARE THE WOLF. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-personality-is-attracted-to-the-modern-military/636296/75 "2012-10-02T01:51:06Z")
> [@Robert163](#): > > You know, on second thought, the real problem with this story is that you fail to realize YOU ARE THE WOLF. You fail to realize there are those willing to lay down their lives for you, whether you deserve it or not. And that there are many who want to take that life. And I hope you remain as blissfully ignorant as you are now. It’s easier that way. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-personality-is-attracted-to-the-modern-military/636296/76 "2012-10-02T01:53:58Z")
> [@Robert163](#): > > "I’m a sheep dog, I protect the sheep from the wolves!!! There is your problem. The world isn’t broken into different species like wolves and sheep. It is made of groups of people which can do bad things sometimes. The U.S. is mostly (but not always) on the good side. Sometimes, it takes overwhelming force to protect ourselves or even some of the other groups that are suffering hostility. **Littel Nemo** - I think Robert here serves as a perfect example to the type of liberal referenced earlier that does exist in the wild. ---
**Author:** ![kwimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dc4da7/32.png) [@kwimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kwimby)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-personality-is-attracted-to-the-modern-military/636296/77 "2012-10-02T02:01:00Z")
> [@Robert163](#): > > you can’t defend a long long long list of bad actions by quoting the exception to the rule The “list” you refer to is long, in fact. But not weighted in the way you purport. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-personality-is-attracted-to-the-modern-military/636296/78 "2012-10-02T02:11:18Z")
There are pacifists on this board. There are those that are anti US military. Most can argue their positions quite well. You on the other hand come off as a high school kid trying to be edgy. ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-personality-is-attracted-to-the-modern-military/636296/79 "2012-10-02T02:17:55Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > You fail to realize there are those willing to lay down their lives for you, whether you deserve it or not. And that there are many who want to take that life. And I hope you remain as blissfully ignorant as you are now. It’s easier that way. so says the wolf ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-personality-is-attracted-to-the-modern-military/636296/80 "2012-10-02T02:19:56Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > There is your problem. The world isn’t broken into different species like wolves and sheep. It is made of groups of people which can do bad things sometimes. The U.S. is mostly (but not always) on the good side. Sometimes, it takes overwhelming force to protect ourselves or even some of the other groups that are suffering hostility. > > **Littel Nemo** - I think Robert here serves as a perfect example to the type of liberal referenced earlier that does exist in the wild. I’m quite sure we have a different version of the word “good”. mine includes not invading countries that never attacked us. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-personality-is-attracted-to-the-modern-military/636296.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-personality-is-attracted-to-the-modern-military/636296.md?page=5)