# 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:** 7
**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, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-personality-is-attracted-to-the-modern-military/636296/121 "2012-10-02T16:59:14Z")
> [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#): > > .. that it doesn’t have a warrior culture; that it is above politics or social trends; that it embraces apple pie American values; that our servicepeople are a perfect cross section of the citizenry. If does have a warrior culture. It is officially "a"political. It embraces American values, at least as they appear in the imperfect cross-sections of the citizenry. So your point is confused by some myths you apparently have been led to believe. ---
**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, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-personality-is-attracted-to-the-modern-military/636296/122 "2012-10-02T17:02:18Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > I don’t know anything about your brother, so I’ll talk in general terms. That would be the understatement of the year. “General terms” that make absolutely no point whatsoever. So there are good and bad people in every walk of life. Got any other news flashes for us? ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-personality-is-attracted-to-the-modern-military/636296/123 "2012-10-02T17:02:56Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > And the military is filled with people just like you and your family. No. ---
**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, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-personality-is-attracted-to-the-modern-military/636296/124 "2012-10-02T17:08:53Z")
> [@kwimby](#): > > If it wasn’t an election year, I’d guess that is probably going to the dumbest thing I hear before it’s over. > > Do you view “the military” as some sort of static entity? It’s just _there_? Why would anybody join any private commercial company? Civil/public/government? Can we not also assume they already have plenty of people too? > > Maybe we can attribute high unemployment to organizations across the country adopting this notion. :rolleyes: > > Yup, done here. Fighting ignorant teenagers seems somewhat frustrating. I view the US military as an IMMORAL entity and I view your statements as PROPAGANDA and excuses. You may not agree with me but please don’t act as if what I am saying is devoid of reason or observation. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-personality-is-attracted-to-the-modern-military/636296/125 "2012-10-02T17:10:31Z")
> [@kwimby](#): > > If does have a warrior culture. It is officially "a"political. It embraces American values, at least as they appear in the imperfect cross-sections of the citizenry. > > So your point is confused by some myths you apparently have been led to believe. 1, you’re tu quoque’ing, and 2, I was giving those beliefs as examples, not espousing them. ---
**Author:** ![Speak\_to\_me\_Maddie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Speak\_to\_me\_Maddie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speak_to_me_Maddie)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-personality-is-attracted-to-the-modern-military/636296/126 "2012-10-02T17:36:12Z")
This isn’t thread drift, it is a hijacking. The spirit and purpose of the OP is lost and now we can’t discuss it because of the inability of a single poster to open up a new thread. It is too bad because discussing who joins the military for what reasons is an interesting question. **Robert163** , how far are you going to take this? Do you pay taxes? If so your tax money is directly supporting an evil, baby-killing, minority-slaughtering, organization, and you should be condemned along with them for giving them your financial support. Any decent stoic would withhold his taxes from such an scheme, even if it lands him in prison. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-personality-is-attracted-to-the-modern-military/636296/127 "2012-10-02T17:48:59Z")
> [@Robert163](#): > > You may not agree with me but please don’t act as if what I am saying is devoid of reason or observation. But it is. The US Miltary is a tool that has been wielded by persons of varying degrees of morality & insight, but apart from a smattering of sadistic pricks (of about the same concentration of any other organization you care to name) any member I’ve ever known, including Rangers, SEALS, & Special Forces, as well as regular old infantry dudes, has dreaded the idea of combat. They do the killing better than anyone else, but it’s not what gets them up in the morning. Robert, you’re preaching from a position of profound naivete. You are placing your distaste for war upon warriors, but that’s basically the same as applying your disgust of human waste to sewer workers. War is a horrible business but preparing for and engaging in it is less awful than ignoring it as a reality of the human condition. > [@Speak\_to\_me\_Maddie](#): > > Any decent stoic would withhold his taxes from such an scheme, even if it lands him in prison. "Waldo, the question is what are you doing out there?” ---
**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, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-personality-is-attracted-to-the-modern-military/636296/128 "2012-10-02T17:49:52Z")
> [@Robert163](#): > > You may not agree with me but please don’t act as if what I am saying is devoid of reason or observation. You’ve obviously been misled. No act - Just trying to give you the "straightdope, " dude… ---
**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, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-personality-is-attracted-to-the-modern-military/636296/129 "2012-10-02T17:52:08Z")
> [@Speak\_to\_me\_Maddie](#): > > This isn’t thread drift, it is a hijacking. The spirit and purpose of the OP is lost and now we can’t discuss it because of the inability of a single poster to open up a new thread. It is too bad because discussing who joins the military for what reasons is an interesting question. > > **Robert163** , how far are you going to take this? Do you pay taxes? If so your tax money is directly supporting an evil, baby-killing, minority-slaughtering, organization, and you should be condemned along with them for giving them your financial support. Any decent stoic would withhold his taxes from such an scheme, even if it lands him in prison. Well, I am new to this forum so I apologize for not taking the option of starting a new thread. I don’t apologize for going “off topic” however because I think my comments are on topic. And as to your second set of comments, I can’t avoid paying taxes but I can avoid signing up for the military. It’s a failed analogy. I see your point but I’m trying to talk in practical terms, even if it seems like I’m not. ---
**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, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-personality-is-attracted-to-the-modern-military/636296/130 "2012-10-02T17:53:11Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > No. Yes. Since the military (both ours and yours) are made up of ordinary people. Just because you believe in stupid shit like dousing doesn’t mean you are extraordinary. ---
**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, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-personality-is-attracted-to-the-modern-military/636296/131 "2012-10-02T17:54:50Z")
> [@kwimby](#): > > You’ve obviously been misled. No act - Just trying to give you the "straightdope, " dude… No, I’m simply saying there is no “grey area”. Invading other countries that don’t attack you is wrong. No grey area. Wrong. There is grey area once you get past that but none of it supersedes the basic morality (or immorality) involved. ---
**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, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-personality-is-attracted-to-the-modern-military/636296/132 "2012-10-02T17:56:39Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Yes. > > Since the military (both ours and yours) are made up of ordinary people. Just because you believe in stupid shit like dousing doesn’t mean you are extraordinary. Yes, they are made up of ordinary people. Of course that is true. But patriotism, like religion, gets “ordinary people” to do the wrong thing and then gives them the ability make convenient excuses for why they do so. ---
**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, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-personality-is-attracted-to-the-modern-military/636296/133 "2012-10-02T17:58:04Z")
> [@Robert163](#): > > I view the US military as an IMMORAL entity and I view your statements as PROPAGANDA and excuses. You may not agree with me but please don’t act as if what I am saying is devoid of reason or observation. You are completely devoid of reason. You say that no one needs to join the mitary because its big enough to do its job so joining is wrong. And you say that without even realizing how that makes no sense. If everyone believed the way you think they should than it would very soon not be big enough because no one is joining. It’s just basic logic you are failing at. ---
**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, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-personality-is-attracted-to-the-modern-military/636296/134 "2012-10-02T17:59:50Z")
> [@Robert163](#): > > No, I’m simply saying there is no “grey area”. > > Invading other countries that don’t attack you is wrong. No grey area. Wrong. There is grey area once you get past that but none of it supersedes the basic morality (or immorality) involved. What do you do for a living. I’m just curious because everyone in the real world realizes there are only grey areas. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-personality-is-attracted-to-the-modern-military/636296/135 "2012-10-02T18:04:26Z")
I probably should have moved this thread to Great Debates this morning, but I am doing it now. Please be advised that the rules for that forum will now apply to this thread. Ellen Cherry IMHO Moderator ---
**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, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-personality-is-attracted-to-the-modern-military/636296/136 "2012-10-02T18:10:34Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > You are completely devoid of reason. You say that no one needs to join the mitary because its big enough to do its job so joining is wrong. And you say that without even realizing how that makes no sense. If everyone believed the way you think they should than it would very soon not be big enough because no one is joining. It’s just basic logic you are failing at. I’ve been advised to start this topic in a new thread… would you agree that it is better to continue there. It is fine with me if you cut and paste your response to that thread: > **[Service in the US Military is immoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=667416)** > > I am posting this here because I started this topic on another thread and was told it would be better to make it it’s own thread… Service in the US Military is wrong because the military is used to enforce American political agenda. America has a... ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-personality-is-attracted-to-the-modern-military/636296/137 "2012-10-02T18:14:36Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > I probably should have moved this thread to Great Debates this morning, but I am doing it now. Please be advised that the rules for that forum will now apply to this thread. > > Ellen Cherry > IMHO Moderator Hi. I guess I’m still new here… What’s the difference in rules for posting in GD vice IMHO? ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-personality-is-attracted-to-the-modern-military/636296/138 "2012-10-02T18:23:58Z")
> [@Robert163](#): > > No, I’m simply saying there is no “grey area”. > > Invading other countries that don’t attack you is wrong. No grey area. Wrong. There is grey area once you get past that but none of it supersedes the basic morality (or immorality) involved. No grey areas. Really? Explain the proper response to a genocide in progress in a foreign nation that has never invaded the U.S… let’s say… Germany. Cambodia. Bosnia. Rwanda. Darfur. Most people consider the US’s intervention in some of these conflicts to be an objective good; similarly the U.S.'s military’s failure to act in others is considered a moral failure as well as a policy failure. I see that in your opinion the US standing back as people are murdered wholesale is an objective good as long as the dead people are on foreign soil. Since there are no grey areas. Seriously, what an absurd statement. ---
**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, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-personality-is-attracted-to-the-modern-military/636296/139 "2012-10-02T18:26:47Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > No grey areas. Really? Explain the proper response to a genocide in progress in a foreign nation that has never invaded the U.S… let’s say… Germany. Cambodia. Bosnia. Rwanda. Darfur. > > Most people consider the US’s intervention in some of these conflicts to be an objective good; similarly the U.S.'s military’s failure to act in others is considered a moral failure as well as a policy failure. I see that in your opinion the US standing back as people are murdered wholesale is an objective good as long as the dead people are on foreign soil. > > Since there are no grey areas. > > Seriously, what an absurd statement. please post in the new thread > **[Service in the US Military is immoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=667416)** > > I am posting this here because I started this topic on another thread and was told it would be better to make it it’s own thread… Service in the US Military is wrong because the military is used to enforce American political agenda. America has a... ---
**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, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-personality-is-attracted-to-the-modern-military/636296/140 "2012-10-02T21:03:12Z")
> [@Robert163](#): > > I’ve been advised to start this topic in a new thread… would you agree that it is better to continue there. It is fine with me if you cut and paste your response to that thread: > > [Service in the US Military is immoral - Great Debates - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=667416) Nah. I stay out of the mass masterbation that is GD. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-personality-is-attracted-to-the-modern-military/636296.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-personality-is-attracted-to-the-modern-military/636296.md?page=8)