It's mainly in the U.S that military personnel are put on a pedestal. In places like the UK, the army is an alternative path for people who need a clearer path after school but not smart enough for Uni, like a continuation of school. Or for those who go to Uni and want to be an officer, I was considering joining the Royal Airfoce as an engineer.

Joining the military comes with lots of benefits - job training, solid pension, early retirement, and insurance for families. It's a job, like any other, chosen for personal gain. A friend of mine serving in the marines loves bragging about his pension and retirement in 4 years coming up.

I just watched Vivek's interview with the breakfast club.



The insufferable woman keeps saying "country that my ancestors built" clearly in a manner to antagonise and to claim higher importance/superiority, so ironically being racist towards the immigrant by their standards. Then the laughable did you volunteer at school "selflessly" because creating medicine that saves peoples lives or volunteering at the hospital for self-benefit is not good enough because it's not "selfless". She's an army veteran so she's the epitome of "selflessness" and civic duty.

But why is military service considered more selfless? Why the extra reverence? Everyone picks a job. Teacher, garbage man, entrepreneurship - they're all serving the country? Everyone gets paid for their work.

Is it because they're fighting for their country? I doubt most people join the army because they think their country's in imminent danger. And even if so, what exactly are they defending against?

- We need to invade Vietnam? lol.
- We need more soldiers to attack Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq?
- Oh it's men like you that guard our walls, that deter other countries from fkin around. Really, are you sure it's not the nukes we have? Nobody dares fk around with North Korea like we did with Iraq, I'm pretty sure it's not because of their army.

The only time I'd have extra respect for a veteran is if there was a draft and they were forced to go fight while I stayed safe at home. Or if someone voluntarily joined the military (voluntary as in volunteer, free work) purely to bolster the country's defenses. But generally, it's a job choice, no more, no less. It's ironic that cops, who face similar risks locally, receive so much hate while soldiers are almost deified for doing their job.

And this is not to disrespect veterans or minimise their work, everyone is fighting their own battles, you chose yours as a career, not 'selflessly' because you needed to defend your country.

Im a veteran and I think its weird when people say it. That being said. There's nothing wrong with people expressing appreciation for those they feel have gone above and beyond the average person. Especially when their acts, as a whole, benefit the citizens of their country. That being said, police offiers, fire fighters, first responders, etc dont get quite the same love and they probably should.

Didn't read but agree. I'm a Purple Heart recipient and hear the word "hero" a lot. I'm a loser who didn't duck fast enough lol. Heroes are usually dead.

Thank you for your post OP

I'd argue that a good portion of firefighters chose that job because they actually want to be a hero of some sort. Running into a burning building to save someone is the pinnacle of a heroic image.

I considered joining the army after I took a gap year, didn't know what to do with my life. My friends did precisely that.

Honestly, how many of your colleagues actually joined the army for a noble cause? They really wanted to fight for their country. They had other options, be a lawyer, doctor, whatever, but joining the army, and protecting the country from would-be opressors was the motivation. Or was it simply a convenient career choice?

only thank WW2 vets

I would've joined but I would've punched my drill sergeant if he got in my face. That's why I didn't...

I'm not a veteran but respect anyone who spends time in public service a little more than say a plumber who I also respect the hell out of. There's an aspect of patriotism that exists with the military even if it's misguided and you have no idea why any individual chose to sign up. I cringe at "thank you for your service" though and don't say it unless in the exact right setting.

Thank you for being retarded OP

My personal opinion is that it is thanks to those in the military that I enjoy the life I do.

Telling someone "thank you for your service" is an individual thing and should be delivered/not delivered based upon an assessment of that individual and their feelings about their service, IMO.

I don’t think there is an expectation from a current or former service member for this to be said to them. Some people say it bc they appreciate others serve when they didn’t/couldn’t or whatever. Really not a big deal.

I usually tell first responders to be safe, I’m probably retarded too

Thanks to all service men who put their life on the line for the men wearing suits in Washington DC. I am unsure how people keep enlisting knowing that the elite use your life to line their pockets.



Patriotism is dead.

Lol @ this brain dead take, son. Like, when did you figure out that suits were sending the poor to die for them? I'll give you a hint: horses were used instead of tanks, son.

Enlistments skyrocketed for a while after 9/11.

This. Mostly.



I’m a vet. What you see in America today is an over correction due to the treatment vets got during and immediately following Vietnam.


The military should not be a sacred cow and most people serving are idiots.


Imo speaking for myself, I did nothing notable during my service and deserve no real thanks. I provided no actual service.

However, the military is a reflection of the society it serves. Soldiers go where the civilian populace “votes” (lol) that they go. So if you don’t like a war don’t blame the troops blame your own damn self.

I am retired 20 year Navy and find it weird when people say it.

Its actually a fairly new thing, No one said it a until about the last 10-15 years or so.

I got "smoked" so many times for laughing. (Super Ded fkn Srs)

I was friends with some military recruiters back in 2008-2009. They straight-up admitted that they go after people who poorly in school and don't know what else to do with themselves. Most people don't join for patriotism or service

Ok? This is about humans. Not horses.


Suits in DC send you off to a created war to die for their personal gain. Nothing else to dispute.

Why do we have to thank them? Don't they get paid? Were they forced to join? Hell for most of them it's their best option.

Then don't join and be smart enough to be a suit in DC.

Seems simple enough...oh wait, you have to work hard in school, be smart, be ambitious to be a high functioning US male. Note this does not include silver spoon douchebags like Trump.

it virtue signaling to make the person who said it feel good for doing it

Absolutely fine with this. But I'm not American, all I see is TV, whether that's TV shows, movies, awards or news. It feels almost like tipping culture in the U.S. I'm a very generous tipper, I prefer that restaurant accepts tips than not because it allows me to 'reward' quality service and make someone's day that much better. With that said, the requirement and entitlement that comes with it in American culture irks me, and I think I wouldn't tip just because it's demanded.

I get the feeling that holding vets in high regard seems similar in that it's almost a requirement. That Vivek interview with that woman is an example, "I'm a veteran, I have done my civic duty to serve my country" and nobody pushed back. Like b1tch, you worked like everyone else. You killed men for the suits at DC. My net contribution to American society is much larger than yours.

I always thought the increase was after 9/11. Regardless, I also remember it not being said as much over 20 years ago.

Yup.
Why would you be thankful for someone who risked their lives fighting a war for Israel interests?

If it's good for mossad/Cia it is bad for the people.

I live in Coronado, a large military base town. Military everywhere. I would rarely say something like that unless it was a really old veteran. I'll pick up their tabs in coffee shops or some restaurants as I think it's more appropriate. A female soldier was in Vons market buying a lot of diapers and baby food and I paid her bill (that's a woman to the liberals here)

Extremely cringe. Would only not think it's cringe to say to the front lines in WWII. My older friend was stationed in Panama in the 90's. He literally just said they sat around bull****ting, drinking, and banging the locals. Never deployed, but he gets the military discount and everything else that comes along with it. He even says it was a cake walk and the best years of his life. I'm actually proud of him for not wearing military gear like tryhards do.

Doing this still requires balls of steel (metaphorically). Their motivations for saving peoples’ lives is irrelevant.

Ha Ha

It's hard to nail down someone's motives. I was in the Navy. There were people looking for citizenship, some with no other options, some that wanted to get out of their hometown, some that wanted to bomb Muslims. Almost all are patriots though.