I Hate the Veterans

[pogo stick]

Well tell me then Professor, what might those motives be?

The desire to keep the old alliance between libertarianism and cultural conservatism alive. It's the very same reason you feign consternation about "relativism", when all genuine libertarianism is predicated upon relativism.

This is why your are a epic piece of fail.

Aren't you a religious Jew?

Are you aware the Christians only want to keep you around for the end-times, after which, they believe, they'll have no need of you?

Aren'y oyu aware that your fanatical views hurt your cause?

[Scam of God]

Well tell me then Professor, what might those motives be?

The desire to keep the old alliance between libertarianism and cultural conservatism alive. It's the very same reason you feign consternation about "relativism", when all genuine libertarianism is predicated upon relativism.

This is why your are a epic piece of fail.

Aren't you a religious Jew?

Are you aware the Christians only want to keep you around for the end-times, after which, they believe, they'll have no need of you?

Aren'y oyu aware that your fanatical views hurt your cause?

"Centrism" 1= the truth.

I hope you sleep well at night. Maybe you won't dream of those crematoriums above which crucifixes were nailed into the walls.

[pogo stick]

Well tell me then Professor, what might those motives be?

The desire to keep the old alliance between libertarianism and cultural conservatism alive. It's the very same reason you feign consternation about "relativism", when all genuine libertarianism is predicated upon relativism.

This is why your are a epic piece of fail.

Aren't you a religious Jew?

Are you aware the Christians only want to keep you around for the end-times, after which, they believe, they'll have no need of you?

Aren'y oyu aware that your fanatical views hurt your cause?

"Centrism" 1= the truth.

I hope you sleep well at night. Maybe you won't dream of those crematoriums above which crucifixes were nailed into the walls.

Your crazy.

[k-onmmunist]

Actually, thanks JC. You've reminded me that Xahar needs to be slapped onto my ignore list.

[JSojourner]

I still say we should burn Einzige on the stake. He does nothing  productive and bashes God and our Military at every corner.

If I was near Einzige I punch him in the face.

You would have to put down your all-day sucker and get out of your stroller first.

[Holmes]

hey guys what's goin on here?

[The Mikado]

hey guys what's goin on here?

Lunar posted some flamebait.  Einzige treated it as a serious post and agreed with it.  A bunch of other people saw the "shock the bourgeoisie" antics in this thread and did the usual "gasp" "I do declare" "I'm so offended" thing, falling right into Einzige's trap.  Einzige called them braindead Christian or sellout Christian enablers.

Just another regular day on the Atlas Forum, nothing to see.

[Scam of God]

hey guys what's goin on here?

Lunar posted some flamebait.  Einzige treated it as a serious post and agreed with it.  A bunch of other people saw the "shock the bourgeoisie" antics in this thread and did the usual "gasp" "I do declare" "I'm so offended" thing, falling right into Einzige's trap.  Einzige called them braindead Christian or sellout Christian enablers.

Just another regular day on the Atlas Forum, nothing to see.

You might actually be intelligent if you weren't so stupid.

[Ban my account ffs!]

I don't agree with Lunar's statement, but I don't believe that somebody should receive eternal praise or should go completely unquestioned just because they're a veteran.

One of my best friends is a marine and has this idea that anybody from India west through to Europe are just a bunch of "ragheads" because "he fought them in Iraq."

It's disgusting and I've told him as much.

He got mad and said "You didn't almost get killed by them every day" and I said "neither did you"...

Most veterans can take care of themselves.  They deserve pensions and medical care just as much as the rest of us and should be provided that by the government since they were performing a service for the government and the people in general.

But to offer a healthy veteran "goodies" and "extras" while actively advocating against helping the indigent and scorning them is about the worst thing I can think of.

You're basically thanking the veterans and rewarding them for defending your right to step on the necks of those least able to fend for themselves.  That's about as inhumane as it gets, even if you never have real blood on your hands because of it.

[The Mikado]

hey guys what's goin on here?

Lunar posted some flamebait.  Einzige treated it as a serious post and agreed with it.  A bunch of other people saw the "shock the bourgeoisie" antics in this thread and did the usual "gasp" "I do declare" "I'm so offended" thing, falling right into Einzige's trap.  Einzige called them braindead Christian or sellout Christian enablers.

Just another regular day on the Atlas Forum, nothing to see.

You might actually be intelligent if you weren't so stupid.

Might be intelligent if not so stupid...Ah!  A paradox!  How can we unwrap this little gem?

Perhaps I am the really smart prisoner in the Allegory of the Cave, able to interpret the movements of the shadows on the wall with unparalleled alacrity but quick to condemnation of those who claim that there's a whole world outside the cave?

Perhaps I am a classic idiot savant, able to perform Herculean feats of mental labor in certain contexts yet barely more than a babe in other fields?

Perhaps I am a hidebound reactionary, clinging to the truths of a bygone age because I am incapable of challenging my preconceptions?

I must admit that none of these possibilities seem likely, and I am flummoxed by your paradox.  It's a shame, I usually love logic puzzles like these.

[Vepres]

Lunar, it's true that most veterans get WAY more praise and respect than they deserve. However, it's not their fault as few expect it, but the fault of politicians and senior military officers who encourage civilians who act this way. Being in the military is a job, and like most other jobs it deserves respect, probably more since it can be dangerous and the pay is subpar. However, people should remember that it is still a job.

Of course, I would bet most veterans view the military as just a phase in their life, a job, or career for some. Sure, they have a disproportionate amount of macho jerks, but out of all the veterans I've met, only one has been a jerk about it. In fact, I wonder if veterans are sometimes embarrassed by all the attention they get.

You'd probably be surprised as to how many veterans you know but just don't realize it. I would also wager that many veterans look up to and respect life-long civilians.

Ultimately this is caused by baby boomers feeling guilty about how they treated Vietnam veterans, and the pendulum will swing the other way.

[Citizen James]

A weakish trolling post, followed by some interesting mellowdramatics from our local 101st fighting keyboardist.   I suppose it's understandable, he's just a kid and really has not clue the sort of hell our troops go through.  He probably only knows the glory of video game victory, not how seeing a nine-year-old kid caught in the crossfire will mess you up for life. (PTSD is very real, and very common.  Our troops do a job which is often very dangerous - not only to life and limb by psychological too).  War is horrible and ugly, but in our imperfect world it is sometimes necessary.   The soldiers don't pick the wars - the politicians alone deserve the credit (or blame) for that.

Soldiers by and large deserve respect, though not deification.  The vast majority of them are good people and most certainly should not be confused with the hacks who equivocate 'supporting the troops' with 'supporting a hawkish policy'.   After all, what could be more supportive than not sending them into harms way without a damn good reason.  No sane soldier prays for war just as no sane firefighter prays for an inferno.  They prepare for it, and are ready if needed (which, in this imperfect world, they often are), but no sane man longs for death and destruction.  Not even if they are a heavy metal fan.

[Lunar]

To be fair, it was sort of open-ended with multiple possibilities.  I was half expecting the next post to be "I hate puppies."

[John Dibble]

Well this has been quite amusing. If it comes to blows, please do record it as I am quite looking forward to that prospect.

[Vepres]

A weakish trolling post, followed by some interesting mellowdramatics from our local 101st fighting keyboardist.   I suppose it's understandable, he's just a kid and really has not clue the sort of hell our troops go through.  He probably only knows the glory of video game victory, not how seeing a nine-year-old kid caught in the crossfire will mess you up for life. (PTSD is very real, and very common.  Our troops do a job which is often very dangerous - not only to life and limb by psychological too).  War is horrible and ugly, but in our imperfect world it is sometimes necessary.   The soldiers don't pick the wars - the politicians alone deserve the credit (or blame) for that.

Soldiers by and large deserve respect, though not deification.  The vast majority of them are good people and most certainly should not be confused with the hacks who equivocate 'supporting the troops' with 'supporting a hawkish policy'.   After all, what could be more supportive than not sending them into harms way without a damn good reason.  No sane soldier prays for war just as no sane firefighter prays for an inferno.  They prepare for it, and are ready if needed (which, in this imperfect world, they often are), but no sane man longs for death and destruction.  Not even if they are a heavy metal fan.

Uh, me?

Edit: Oh, Einzige

[President Mitt]

If I was near Einzige I punch him in the face.

Have you seen a picture of Einzige? I would not recommend it.

He pretty much looks like the epitome of evil. jk

If anything such as evil existed.

[Хahar 🤔]

I still say we should burn Einzige on the stake. He does nothing  productive and bashes God and our Military at every corner.

If I was near Einzige I punch him in the face.


Now, Xahar isn't only on my Ultimate Epic Fail List, Xahar welcome Einzige to the list!

CONGRATS YOU EPIC PIECE OF MOTHER F***ING  FAIL

Welcome, Einzige. I think you'll like it here.

Actually, thanks JC. You've reminded me that Xahar needs to be slapped onto my ignore list.

Actually, thanks JC. You've reminded me that Xahar needs to be slapped onto my ignore list.

It is an honour that I dream not of.

[J-Mann]

A weakish trolling post, followed by some interesting mellowdramatics from our local 101st fighting keyboardist.   I suppose it's understandable, he's just a kid and really has not clue the sort of hell our troops go through.  He probably only knows the glory of video game victory, not how seeing a nine-year-old kid caught in the crossfire will mess you up for life. (PTSD is very real, and very common.  Our troops do a job which is often very dangerous - not only to life and limb by psychological too).  War is horrible and ugly, but in our imperfect world it is sometimes necessary.   The soldiers don't pick the wars - the politicians alone deserve the credit (or blame) for that.

Soldiers by and large deserve respect, though not deification.  The vast majority of them are good people and most certainly should not be confused with the hacks who equivocate 'supporting the troops' with 'supporting a hawkish policy'.   After all, what could be more supportive than not sending them into harms way without a damn good reason.  No sane soldier prays for war just as no sane firefighter prays for an inferno.  They prepare for it, and are ready if needed (which, in this imperfect world, they often are), but no sane man longs for death and destruction.  Not even if they are a heavy metal fan.

I would generally agree. From my time in the military, I met all kinds -- those who served for lack of a better option, those who served because they felt called to do so, and those who flat-out served for the wrong reasons. I ran into those serving (or planning to serve) for the wrong reasons most often in ROTC ... they wanted to play with weapons, they wanted to kill "ragheads" and they wanted a military background to justify behavior that would be social unacceptable for anyone else of any other profession. Supporting a hawkish foreign policy and hating those who didn't was just part of the persona.

One of the weaknesses of the military (and one that I'm not sure how to overcome) is that soldiers -- and through ROTC, future officers -- don't get a good sense of the wider, ambassadorial role the US military plays around the world. Some of the best officers I worked with knew this; their leadership was strong, and they were guided by their heads, not their hearts. They knew when to separate their emotion from the job they had to do.

Unfortunately, I've seen a lot of soldiers who take the "respect the troops" shtick too far -- to the point where they become bullies in the civilian world and believe it's their right to intimidate everyone else into submission regardless of the venue. That's the sad result when deification is confused with duty.

But you're also right that the majority are good folks who deserve respect for their service, honoring their sacrifices (actual or potential) regardless of whether we agree with the powers-that-be who make decisions on how to use our forces.

[cannonia]

hey guys what's goin on here?

Lunar posted some flamebait.  Einzige treated it as a serious post and agreed with it.  A bunch of other people saw the "shock the bourgeoisie" antics in this thread and did the usual "gasp" "I do declare" "I'm so offended" thing, falling right into Einzige's trap.  Einzige called them braindead Christian or sellout Christian enablers.

Just another regular day on the Atlas Forum, nothing to see.

Correct.  It wasn't even very good trolling!

[Lunar]

I suppose I should have misspelled more words Coburn-style and then everyone would take me seriously.

But in all seriousness, it wasn't designed to piss people off, but I still got some laughs from all this


veterans day is over, locking the thread, expect me to talk about why I hate pilgrims in a couple weeks.