The "I was in the military" card

[Chinese Peoples]

The "I was in the military" card only works in so many societies. Not all countries think highly of the military, and I lived in one that primarily doesn't. Historically, this country regarded the military as a place where the unemployed, convicts, and vagabonds were sent to prevent them from causing unrest. This country denigrated the military as a place where losers and the culturally uninitiated spent their lives. This country has the adage, "Good men do not serve in the military; good iron is not used as nails." This country is China.

Conversely, the "I was in the civil service" card works well. My grandfather has both cards, and the civil service card is what I think helped him later in life to be a respected person of influence in several organizations. Perhaps it is due to the fact that he served in the armed forces during a period of mass mobilization, so the military card was far too common to be valuable.

While "I was in the military" may not get you very far, something like "I was a colonel" would. It proves that you have at least some competence, and you're entitled to a pension and probably influential in more exclusive circles. So far we've covered the conscript and the officer, so what about the professional soldier who has no commission? They are regarded as being locusts on state grain, since professional soldiers in peacetime don't actually do anything useful; at least officers perform administrative functions.

[Cedoria]

I always respond with. "And I sleep in a bed, that doesn't make me any more likely to be right."

[Thermodolia]

Ahem, John McCain.

Ron Paul ran in 2012, John "Not as stupid just as dangerous as George Bush" McCain ran in 2008.

Both of you are wrong. Jim Webb was the last one 2016

[Infected Mushroom]

Being in the military shouldn't be cause for superior legitimacy/credibility.

However, "I was in the police force" is a plus for me. If someone's a police officer, my respect for them instantly goes up. This is because it shows commitment to justice and law and order.

The military doesn't really stand for those things.

[Thermodolia]

Being in the military shouldn't be cause for superior legitimacy/credibility.

However, "I was in the police force" is a plus for me. If someone's a police officer, my respect for them instantly goes up. This is because it shows commitment to justice and law and order.

The military doesn't really stand for those things.

Well that's the most hilariously hypocritical things I've seen all day

The military doesn't stand for those things?

[Infected Mushroom]

Being in the military shouldn't be cause for superior legitimacy/credibility.

However, "I was in the police force" is a plus for me. If someone's a police officer, my respect for them instantly goes up. This is because it shows commitment to justice and law and order.

The military doesn't really stand for those things.

Well that's the most hilariously hypocritical things I've seen all day

The military doesn't stand for those things?

The military's generally about invading things. See they may claim to be "protecting the nation" but they are really about invading other people in the name of Western imperialism.

Meanwhile, the police are really the people who defend every day Americans from criminals, terrorists, and gangsters. They risk their lives on a daily basis.

Hence I wouldn't bat an eyebrow if someone said "I was in the military, listen to me" but if someone says "I was in the police...", I'm listening with 100% increased attention.

[Genivaria]

Well that's the most hilariously hypocritical things I've seen all day

The military doesn't stand for those things?

The military's generally about invading things. See they may claim to be "protecting the nation" but they are really about invading other people in the name of Western imperialism.

Meanwhile, the police are really the people who defend every day Americans from criminals, terrorists, and gangsters. They risk their lives on a daily basis.

Hence I wouldn't bat an eyebrow if someone said "I was in the military, listen to me" but if someone says "I was in the police...", I'm listening with 100% increased attention.

Maximum eye-rolling.
What is the word for irrational fear of the west?
Is there one? Because clearly there needs to be.

but if someone says "I was in the police...", I'm listening with 100% increased attention

If I hear that I'd hide my dog for fear of them getting shot.

[Infected Mushroom]

The military's generally about invading things. See they may claim to be "protecting the nation" but they are really about invading other people in the name of Western imperialism.

Meanwhile, the police are really the people who defend every day Americans from criminals, terrorists, and gangsters. They risk their lives on a daily basis.

Hence I wouldn't bat an eyebrow if someone said "I was in the military, listen to me" but if someone says "I was in the police...", I'm listening with 100% increased attention.

Maximum eye-rolling.
What is the word for irrational fear of the west?
Is there one? Because clearly there needs to be.

but if someone says "I was in the police...", I'm listening with 100% increased attention

If I hear that I'd hide my dog for fear of them getting shot.

As someone who lives in the West, I take no issue with the West. In fact, I believe many aspects of Western civilisation is top class.

Just not a big fan of the people who go overseas to invade other people that's all.

[The Realm of Lordaeron]

I have some very strong personal and familial ties with the U.S. military.

The U.S. military is ridiculously large. 7.3% of the U.S. population has served at some point in the U.S. military. That number is obviously boosted by the previous generations of draftees. Nowadays, the U.S. military is a lot more technologically advanced and requires fewer soldiers. The end of the Cold War has meant that only .5% of the current U.S. population is in the military. That's according to the Defense department and Veterans Affairs

Being in the U.S. military is just like having any other job, depending on your branch and MOS(your job.) probably 80%+ of the U.S. military is not involved in combat. Most U.S. military jobs involve logistics or support. about 20% of the U.S. military is combat arms, the rest are just support units.

I don't have the exact number, but i know that a very, very small minority of that ever sees combat. Of course, it's impossible to get an exact number because of the nature of the war we're fighting.

A soldier who serves as a patriot missile repairman in Poland knows about as much about the military, warfare etc as a walmart or target employee knows about how to run a corporation/business. Training is very compartmentalized in the U.S. military. A General is going to be trained in warfare and geopolitics, but having served as a chef on a U.S. Navy ship doesn't mean that you know more than the average joe about jack shit. Sure, maybe you learned how to take apart and fire an M-16 and make a mean nasty, but that doesn't mean you know more than the average civilian.


Those soldiers who have served in combat, who have seen their friends killed and have sacrificed limbs and lives for this country have my highest respect.

But not everyone who joins the military is some sort of honorable hero. The only difference between them and an employee at mcdonalds is the training and conditioning that those kids receive when they join. the U.S. military has an enormous turnover rate of something like 80-90%. Most people do their time and get the heck out. Most of them don't join because they love America or some altruistic bullshit like that. I'm not saying there aren't some that do, and anecdotally, they do exist.

But most military guys i've talked to did it for their own reasons. They made the calculation that benefits + pay > risk. I've talked to people who joined the military, who couldn't even kill a rabbit. They never expected to kill anybody or anything, they thought they chose a 'safe' job. But it turns out driving around a truck in Iraq can be dangerous, more than they bargained for.

Many of the people in the combat arms roles tend to be on the less intellectually gifted side or have had serious problems in the past that prevented them from scoring well on the ASVAB. Infact, if you get a really low ASVAB score, those are often the only jobs you can get your hands on. The only exception to this tends to military officers, who see the career opportunities that combat-arms afford(you rank faster as an officer in combat arms branches). It's hard to believe that the average enlistee only makes about ~50 on the ASVAB. Combat arms guys usually score closer to 30 on the ASVAB according to statistics i've seen in the past(but can't seem to find now.)

So unless your job had something specifically to do with the topic at hand, it's completely irrelevant. I wouldn't say a mcdonalds employee has some sort of authority in regards to corporate tax policy or the minimum wage than a soldier has more authority in regard to the actions our military should take, for example.


This is very common in all militaries, however. I was talking with a couple lads, vets of the british armed forces, about how we should do things in Iraq. I had one opinion, and their opinion was that my opinion didn't matter because i was a civvie. I think, if you've served in Iraq, you might have some authority on experience as to what it's like over there. But it doesn't mean your opinion is necessarily better or correct.


Fortunately, every opinion and vote matters the same in a democracy. and having served in the military makes your opinion no more valuable or your vote any more powerful.

[Thermodolia]

I have some very strong personal and familial ties with the U.S. military.

The U.S. military is ridiculously large. 7.3% of the U.S. population has served at some point in the U.S. military. That number is obviously boosted by the previous generations of draftees. Nowadays, the U.S. military is a lot more technologically advanced and requires fewer soldiers. The end of the Cold War has meant that only .5% of the current U.S. population is in the military. That's according to the Defense department and Veterans Affairs

Being in the U.S. military is just like having any other job, depending on your branch and MOS(your job.) probably 80%+ of the U.S. military is not involved in combat. Most U.S. military jobs involve logistics or support. about 20% of the U.S. military is combat arms, the rest are just support units.

I don't have the exact number, but i know that a very, very small minority of that ever sees combat. Of course, it's impossible to get an exact number because of the nature of the war we're fighting.

A soldier who serves as a patriot missile repairman in Poland knows about as much about the military, warfare etc as a walmart or target employee knows about how to run a corporation/business. Training is very compartmentalized in the U.S. military. A General is going to be trained in warfare and geopolitics, but having served as a chef on a U.S. Navy ship doesn't mean that you know more than the average joe about jack shit. Sure, maybe you learned how to take apart and fire an M-16 and make a mean nasty, but that doesn't mean you know more than the average civilian.


Those soldiers who have served in combat, who have seen their friends killed and have sacrificed limbs and lives for this country have my highest respect.

But not everyone who joins the military is some sort of honorable hero. The only difference between them and an employee at mcdonalds is the training and conditioning that those kids receive when they join. the U.S. military has an enormous turnover rate of something like 80-90%. Most people do their time and get the heck out. Most of them don't join because they love America or some altruistic bullshit like that. I'm not saying there aren't some that do, and anecdotally, they do exist.

But most military guys i've talked to did it for their own reasons. They made the calculation that benefits + pay > risk. I've talked to people who joined the military, who couldn't even kill a rabbit. They never expected to kill anybody or anything, they thought they chose a 'safe' job. But it turns out driving around a truck in Iraq can be dangerous, more than they bargained for.

Many of the people in the combat arms roles tend to be on the less intellectually gifted side or have had serious problems in the past that prevented them from scoring well on the ASVAB. Infact, if you get a really low ASVAB score, those are often the only jobs you can get your hands on. The only exception to this tends to military officers, who see the career opportunities that combat-arms afford(you rank faster as an officer in combat arms branches). It's hard to believe that the average enlistee only makes about ~50 on the ASVAB. Combat arms guys usually score closer to 30 on the ASVAB according to statistics i've seen in the past(but can't seem to find now.)

So unless your job had something specifically to do with the topic at hand, it's completely irrelevant. I wouldn't say a mcdonalds employee has some sort of authority in regards to corporate tax policy or the minimum wage than a soldier has more authority in regard to the actions our military should take, for example.


This is very common in all militaries, however. I was talking with a couple lads, vets of the british armed forces, about how we should do things in Iraq. I had one opinion, and their opinion was that my opinion didn't matter because i was a civvie. I think, if you've served in Iraq, you might have some authority on experience as to what it's like over there. But it doesn't mean your opinion is necessarily better or correct.


Fortunately, every opinion and vote matters the same in a democracy. and having served in the military makes your opinion no more valuable or your vote any more powerful.

Let me make a few points. 1) The main reason why you can't find those ASVAB statistics is because the military won't let them out anymore. Sharing ASVAB score information is strictly prohibited.

2) The ASVAB doesn't measure intelligence it just measured the ability to learn and to be trained.

3) Just because you are support doesn't mean that you won't see combat on the regular and the reverse is true for combat arms. About 90% of combat arms, especially infantry, is sitting around waiting and standing guard. Medical is a a job field that isn't apart of the combat arms yet can see combat. Same with MPs and Air support.

[The Realm of Lordaeron]

I have some very strong personal and familial ties with the U.S. military.

The U.S. military is ridiculously large. 7.3% of the U.S. population has served at some point in the U.S. military. That number is obviously boosted by the previous generations of draftees. Nowadays, the U.S. military is a lot more technologically advanced and requires fewer soldiers. The end of the Cold War has meant that only .5% of the current U.S. population is in the military. That's according to the Defense department and Veterans Affairs

Being in the U.S. military is just like having any other job, depending on your branch and MOS(your job.) probably 80%+ of the U.S. military is not involved in combat. Most U.S. military jobs involve logistics or support. about 20% of the U.S. military is combat arms, the rest are just support units.

I don't have the exact number, but i know that a very, very small minority of that ever sees combat. Of course, it's impossible to get an exact number because of the nature of the war we're fighting.

A soldier who serves as a patriot missile repairman in Poland knows about as much about the military, warfare etc as a walmart or target employee knows about how to run a corporation/business. Training is very compartmentalized in the U.S. military. A General is going to be trained in warfare and geopolitics, but having served as a chef on a U.S. Navy ship doesn't mean that you know more than the average joe about jack shit. Sure, maybe you learned how to take apart and fire an M-16 and make a mean nasty, but that doesn't mean you know more than the average civilian.


Those soldiers who have served in combat, who have seen their friends killed and have sacrificed limbs and lives for this country have my highest respect.

But not everyone who joins the military is some sort of honorable hero. The only difference between them and an employee at mcdonalds is the training and conditioning that those kids receive when they join. the U.S. military has an enormous turnover rate of something like 80-90%. Most people do their time and get the heck out. Most of them don't join because they love America or some altruistic bullshit like that. I'm not saying there aren't some that do, and anecdotally, they do exist.

But most military guys i've talked to did it for their own reasons. They made the calculation that benefits + pay > risk. I've talked to people who joined the military, who couldn't even kill a rabbit. They never expected to kill anybody or anything, they thought they chose a 'safe' job. But it turns out driving around a truck in Iraq can be dangerous, more than they bargained for.

Many of the people in the combat arms roles tend to be on the less intellectually gifted side or have had serious problems in the past that prevented them from scoring well on the ASVAB. Infact, if you get a really low ASVAB score, those are often the only jobs you can get your hands on. The only exception to this tends to military officers, who see the career opportunities that combat-arms afford(you rank faster as an officer in combat arms branches). It's hard to believe that the average enlistee only makes about ~50 on the ASVAB. Combat arms guys usually score closer to 30 on the ASVAB according to statistics i've seen in the past(but can't seem to find now.)

So unless your job had something specifically to do with the topic at hand, it's completely irrelevant. I wouldn't say a mcdonalds employee has some sort of authority in regards to corporate tax policy or the minimum wage than a soldier has more authority in regard to the actions our military should take, for example.


This is very common in all militaries, however. I was talking with a couple lads, vets of the british armed forces, about how we should do things in Iraq. I had one opinion, and their opinion was that my opinion didn't matter because i was a civvie. I think, if you've served in Iraq, you might have some authority on experience as to what it's like over there. But it doesn't mean your opinion is necessarily better or correct.


Fortunately, every opinion and vote matters the same in a democracy. and having served in the military makes your opinion no more valuable or your vote any more powerful.

Let me make a few points. 1) The main reason why you can't find those ASVAB statistics is because the military won't let them out anymore. Sharing ASVAB score information is strictly prohibited.

2) The ASVAB doesn't measure intelligence it just measured the ability to learn and to be trained.

3) Just because you are support doesn't mean that you won't see combat on the regular and the reverse is true for combat arms. About 90% of combat arms, especially infantry, is sitting around waiting and standing guard. Medical is a a job field that isn't apart of the combat arms yet can see combat. Same with MPs and Air support.

1. I've seen some of them before, i just can't find them now. I believe the ASVAB was created in the 90's.


2. When i said "less intellectually gifted", i mean the ability to learn and be trained. Intelligence is all about the ability to learn and be trained.

3. That's true. But even most of the 'combat arms' do not see combat. My main point was that combat is very rarely seen, and most people do not join the military to see combat. When people think of the military, they think of brave heroes in the line of fire. Not some guy shuffling paperwork at Lackland AFB

[Ancient Pluto]

Race card, Gender card, "I was in the military" card... gee, Magic: The Gathering sure has changed a lot since I stopped buying packs three years ago.

[Thermodolia]

Let me make a few points. 1) The main reason why you can't find those ASVAB statistics is because the military won't let them out anymore. Sharing ASVAB score information is strictly prohibited.

2) The ASVAB doesn't measure intelligence it just measured the ability to learn and to be trained.

3) Just because you are support doesn't mean that you won't see combat on the regular and the reverse is true for combat arms. About 90% of combat arms, especially infantry, is sitting around waiting and standing guard. Medical is a a job field that isn't apart of the combat arms yet can see combat. Same with MPs and Air support.

1. I've seen some of them before, i just can't find them now. I believe the ASVAB was created in the 90's.


2. When i said "less intellectually gifted", i mean the ability to learn and be trained. Intelligence is all about the ability to learn and be trained.

3. That's true. But even most of the 'combat arms' do not see combat. My main point was that combat is very rarely seen, and most people do not join the military to see combat. When people think of the military, they think of brave heroes in the line of fire. Not some guy shuffling paperwork at Lackland AFB

1) 1968 that's when the ASVAB was created. Though it has gone through multiple revisions.

2) A misunderstanding then.

3) I literally said that.

About 90% of combat arms, especially infantry, is sitting around waiting and standing guard.

[USS Monitor]

You mean my service to the Union during the Late Unpleasantness doesn't make me omniscient? I am disappoint.

It is a bit of a sore nerve for me, because there are those of us out there who're ineligible for military service.

My eyesight isn't good enough, so I'm excluded from service with any branch I could conceivably sign up for. I'm not going to bother applying if I know beforehand that I'll fail any physical. I've looked up the requirements and talked to recruiters in the know and I at least have it verified that I'm not what they're looking for. If I get 4F status put on my record, some people might discriminate against me if they see that.

Just another opportunity closed off to me because I was born into an imperfect body. I just wanted a job that doesn't pay pennies and didn't require a resume as a temporary meal ticket, whilst maybe learning some useful skills and overcoming adversity. It was never meant to be.

Am I still a chickenhawk if I'm more in favor of the use of force but never served, if the US military literally won't take me, even if there were a draft?

No, being ineligible is different from being unwilling.

It was a sore subject for my grandfather who was 4F during WWII because he had a bad leg. He felt left-out because the rest of his generation was out there stopping Hitler, but he couldn't get in on it, even though he wanted to. Never did get over his insecurities about it.

So I've seen what that can do to a guy, and I get where you're coming from.

[The Realm of Lordaeron]

You mean my service to the Union during the Late Unpleasantness doesn't make me omniscient? I am disappoint.

It is a bit of a sore nerve for me, because there are those of us out there who're ineligible for military service.

My eyesight isn't good enough, so I'm excluded from service with any branch I could conceivably sign up for. I'm not going to bother applying if I know beforehand that I'll fail any physical. I've looked up the requirements and talked to recruiters in the know and I at least have it verified that I'm not what they're looking for. If I get 4F status put on my record, some people might discriminate against me if they see that.

Just another opportunity closed off to me because I was born into an imperfect body. I just wanted a job that doesn't pay pennies and didn't require a resume as a temporary meal ticket, whilst maybe learning some useful skills and overcoming adversity. It was never meant to be.

Am I still a chickenhawk if I'm more in favor of the use of force but never served, if the US military literally won't take me, even if there were a draft?

No, being ineligible is different from being unwilling.

It was a sore subject for my grandfather who was 4F during WWII because he had a bad leg. He felt left-out because the rest of his generation was out there stopping Hitler, but he couldn't get in on it, even though he wanted to. Never did get over his insecurities about it.

So I've seen what that can do to a guy, and I get where you're coming from.

There are other ways to serve your country that don't necessarily involve the military. Military service is a very noble thing, indeed.

In my mind, answering the call and going to the MEPs when called for duty is fulfilling your obligation to serve, from my point of view. Even though he was rejected, he did go and put himself up for it. He didn't try to run to Canada or shirk his duty to his country. He fulfilled his obligations, as far as he was able.

It's very easy to get rejected from today's military. It's a volunteer military that relies on technology and training far more than manpower. They can afford to have high standards.

Of course, there's always waivers.

[Big Jim P]

You mean my service to the Union during the Late Unpleasantness doesn't make me omniscient? I am disappoint.

It is a bit of a sore nerve for me, because there are those of us out there who're ineligible for military service.

My eyesight isn't good enough, so I'm excluded from service with any branch I could conceivably sign up for. I'm not going to bother applying if I know beforehand that I'll fail any physical. I've looked up the requirements and talked to recruiters in the know and I at least have it verified that I'm not what they're looking for. If I get 4F status put on my record, some people might discriminate against me if they see that.

Just another opportunity closed off to me because I was born into an imperfect body. I just wanted a job that doesn't pay pennies and didn't require a resume as a temporary meal ticket, whilst maybe learning some useful skills and overcoming adversity. It was never meant to be.

Am I still a chickenhawk if I'm more in favor of the use of force but never served, if the US military literally won't take me, even if there were a draft?

No, being ineligible is different from being unwilling.

It was a sore subject for my grandfather who was 4F during WWII because he had a bad leg. He felt left-out because the rest of his generation was out there stopping Hitler, but he couldn't get in on it, even though he wanted to. Never did get over his insecurities about it.

So I've seen what that can do to a guy, and I get where you're coming from.

I had an uncle with the same issues. He was too short for the military and his job was strategically important, so he couldn't enlist.

[The Archregimancy]

No, being ineligible is different from being unwilling.

It was a sore subject for my grandfather who was 4F during WWII because he had a bad leg. He felt left-out because the rest of his generation was out there stopping Hitler, but he couldn't get in on it, even though he wanted to. Never did get over his insecurities about it.

My late grandfather was in a similar position, though in his case he was in a 'reserved occupation' rather than kept out by a physical infirmity. Following problems in the First World War over initially calling up too many people industries necessary to keep a war economy running, some professions were 'protected' from call ups in the Second World War; this encompassed my grandfather's expertise.

He ended up running an ammunition factory where, as the manager, he was eventually virtually the only male employee. In that role he devised a new method of production that greatly increased British ammunition production. In that sense, he certainly made a contribution to the British war effort; but right up until the end he regretted that, in his view, he'd never 'properly' served. But then he hadn't been given much choice; he wasn't allowed to sign up.

[Auristania]

Well that's the most hilariously hypocritical things I've seen all day

The military doesn't stand for those things?

The military's generally about invading things. See they may claim to be "protecting the nation" but they are really about invading other people in the name of Western imperialism.

Meanwhile, the police are really the people who defend every day Americans from criminals, terrorists, and gangsters. They risk their lives on a daily basis.

Hence I wouldn't bat an eyebrow if someone said "I was in the military, listen to me" but if someone says "I was in the police...", I'm listening with 100% increased attention.

To be a great warrior, one must also be a philosopher, a scholar and a poet.

Awesome ain't it? Until you learn it was said by some fake Hollywood poseur.

If he had just said "To make a better movie about Warriors, then show those warriors as poets etc." then excellent, he would be talking about stuff he knows. Likewise, soldiers and cops know about soldiering and copping.

Pulling the military Card is way more than soldiers know soldiering. It is the doctrine that doing Militia Duty makes you an expert about everything.

The lesser Military Card is the doctrine that Military Virtues are Best virtues of all possible virtues, therefore soldiers are experts on Virtue.

True Military Card is that I have met so many, many people in many, many Pubs, everyone single one of whom has served in SAS (UK version of USA Delta Force) that I cannot comprehend how Britain lost our Empire

[Republic of the Cristo]

Simply being in the military does not grant one some kind of secret and rare knowledge or wisdom about the world. However, those whom have served in combat or other highly intensive situations have indeed seen a part of the world - and in turn, humanity - that most people never get to see. In regards to creating a new tax code, no this insight into true human nature is not important, but in matters of foreign policy, security, assistance programs, immigration, it most certainly does!

[Kubra]

The military's generally about invading things. See they may claim to be "protecting the nation" but they are really about invading other people in the name of Western imperialism.

Meanwhile, the police are really the people who defend every day Americans from criminals, terrorists, and gangsters. They risk their lives on a daily basis.

Hence I wouldn't bat an eyebrow if someone said "I was in the military, listen to me" but if someone says "I was in the police...", I'm listening with 100% increased attention.

To be a great warrior, one must also be a philosopher, a scholar and a poet.

Awesome ain't it? Until you learn it was said by some fake Hollywood poseur.

If he had just said "To make a better movie about Warriors, then show those warriors as poets etc." then excellent, he would be talking about stuff he knows. Likewise, soldiers and cops know about soldiering and copping.

Pulling the military Card is way more than soldiers know soldiering. It is the doctrine that doing Militia Duty makes you an expert about everything.

The lesser Military Card is the doctrine that Military Virtues are Best virtues of all possible virtues, therefore soldiers are experts on Virtue.

True Military Card is that I have met so many, many people in many, many Pubs, everyone single one of whom has served in SAS (UK version of USA Delta Force) that I cannot comprehend how Britain lost our Empire

plus being a proper warrior poet is a good way to either get passed for promotion or do weird things like storm German trenches, kill off the inhabitants, and then just sit their leisurely reading poetry.

[Imperializt Russia]

Giving yourself legitimacy based off of your occupation, gender, or race is pretty popular and not just what the military does.

This. That the military one is so prevalent is to do with how we tend to lionise our militaries in the west.

The non-military example of the same behaviour I was going to bring up was "but you aren't a mother", which is the other common tropey one in the west.

[Nilla Wayfarers]

In regards to creating a new tax code, no this insight into true human nature is not important, but in matters of foreign policy,

Knowing how to fight doesn't mean one knows when they should, or with whom.

security,

Only by means of lethal violence, which I hope you think isn't commonly applicable.

assistance programs,

I just don't see why you'd expect them to be proficient in this respect.

immigration, it most certainly does!

This is an aspect of foreign policy. Again, fighting doesn't make someone inherently knowledgeable of immigration.

[Grave_n_idle]

The military's generally about invading things. See they may claim to be "protecting the nation" but they are really about invading other people in the name of Western imperialism.

Meanwhile, the police are really the people who defend every day Americans from criminals, terrorists, and gangsters. They risk their lives on a daily basis.

Hence I wouldn't bat an eyebrow if someone said "I was in the military, listen to me" but if someone says "I was in the police...", I'm listening with 100% increased attention.

To be a great warrior, one must also be a philosopher, a scholar and a poet.

Awesome ain't it? Until you learn it was said by some fake Hollywood poseur.

If he had just said "To make a better movie about Warriors, then show those warriors as poets etc." then excellent, he would be talking about stuff he knows. Likewise, soldiers and cops know about soldiering and copping.

It seems likely it's an interpretation of "The nation that will insist on drawing a broad line of demarcation between the fighting man and the thinking man is liable to find its fighting done by fools and its thinking done by cowards" - originally composed by Sir William Francis Butler - definitely a fighting man AND a thinking man.

[Saiwania]

Historically, this country regarded the military as a place where the unemployed, convicts, and vagabonds were sent to prevent them from causing unrest. This country denigrated the military as a place where losers and the culturally uninitiated spent their lives. This country has the adage, "Good men do not serve in the military; good iron is not used as nails." This country is China.

Is that really true though?

Didn't China build a wall to keep out invaders and did they not have men to man the wall? Bruce Lee in an interview even said that Kung Fu warriors have a different way of walking than say- a scholar, and obviously someone from the warrior class would be able to beat the tar out of someone who wasn't, in ancient China going all the way up towards perhaps the end of the Qing dynasty in 1912.

[Aclion]

It's just an appeal to authority fallacy.

I remember a few years ago someone - I think it might have even been on NS - used "I served in the military" as a justification for "There is a God". Seriously, how does that even work?

Well they say there are no atheists in the trenches.