Is it true that being in combat is just like playing video games?

emucompboy

No. In combat the danger is real. You're camped out and traveling in hostile territory 24/7 -- which means that people are trying to blow you up whenever you're on the move and shoot you when you're not. You're working in an environment without air conditioning, and sand gets into everything -- your clothes, your weapon, caking on your teeth. (If you're old enough to remember the Viet Nam era, then, well, damp and mud get into everything).

You hold a real weapon. It's not too heavy, but it's not light either, especially if you've been carrying it for a few miles. You get hot and tired. You have to keep your eyes open, though, for a flash of light that could mean an enemy's gunsight pointing at you.

Dinner tonight will be the same as it was last night -- something that didn't have a lot of flavor to begin with, and has been packed in a pouch for months.

You don't have a phone, so you can't call your friends. Not that it matters. Your real friends are the ones nearby who are helping to make sure you don't get shot.

==
Compare that with video games. You sit in your comfortable living room with a joystick in your hand. Your clothes aren't dirty 'cause your mom does your laundry. Your mom cooks dinner too -- fresh. You take breaks to go to school, hang out with friends. It's not a way of life. It doesn't occupy all your time.

night_trekker

No, of course not.

veenteam

No. Easy answer. There is no "just like".

There is similarity, however. Many factors have increased military willingness to kill. During the American Civil War, a mere 20% of combatants shot to kill (the rest intentionally shot into the air or into the ground). Present military training systems have increased that percentage to around 80%. Video games train dehumanization and desensitization, making it emotionally easier for individuals to shoot "targets" with intent to "neutralize" them.

Aaron M

Yeah, it's like an FPS with really good graphics. But when you get shot, you die for real or you get to sit in your own piss and blood until you die or get dragged out of there by a medic. If you don't die, the game goes on forever even when you want it to stop and you dream about what you've seen and fireworks freak you out and you get back to the states and the VA screws you over.
So it's like a really crappy video game. I give it 1/10.

Heather W

real combat and video games are completely different.

a military wife

Rich P

Thats a legitimate, but ridiculous question at the same time. You can sit and play SOCOM all you want, and not want to lose, however, until you feel the stress and have rounds impact within feet of where you are, then no, they are nothing alike. Yes, personal experience.

ivescon

no its not playing like a video game. you die for real in combat

JulyBaby

NO!!! Let's see --There is no reset button! You can't decide not to save your game when the people around you are injured are dead. You can't take a nap and start where you left off. F it you can't take a nap. You can't do whatever the hell you want. You can't carry unlimited wepons on another screen. You can't feel the 120 degree heat. You can't roll up your sleves when things are getting tuff. Your equipment won't work like new, if at all. etc. etc. etc.
NO similarities!!!!
Im just hoping your question was a joke.

kevman0713

in no way shape or form is being in combat like playing a video game. there are so many differences to it speaking from experience. in combat you feel an adrenaline rush in certain situations unlike a video game where you feel just plain excitement. plus in real life you don't get unlimited lives you are fighting with just the one you have and if you make a mistake it can cost you that life.

kmt987

You cant restart the game. Plus being in real combat is stupid.

Jimi

Dead

um.. no

driveranderson

That depends on what activitiy your are participating in.
If you are using the Predator the answer is yes, If you are a grunt
no.

J.D.

No.
In a video game if you get killed you simply hit the "reset" button and start over.
There are no similarities whatsoever.

ninedemonsgod

Not at all! In real combat, you can fall, trip, hit things, people can be creative, you feel real fear, your body doesn't alway funiction the way as you want it to, you never know what may be around the corner, etc...

HHH

if that was true i would be in the army right now cause i love video games.if only life was that easy

Garry B

Lots of good answers to your question but they all left out the most important one of all. Speaking from experience, on video games you the blood splatters and you move on to the next "kill". Then when the game is over, you go do something else and forget about it. In combat, if you're unfortunate enough, you may end up making a kill. But the game is never over and you can never forget what happened, where you were, what was going on, what you were feeling, the fear, the smell, the sounds, what you saw, etc etc etc. Get the point?

dan-kdy/2

Yes little girl, try it!

shannon b

None. Games are totally useless in comparison.

The Pooh-Stick Kid

NO!!!!

WDE

Um...if you die or are injured you can't hit reset or start over so....NO IT'S NOT THE SAME!!!

Ã¢?Â¥Ã¡?Â¦Ã¡?Â¦Elke Ã¡?Â¦Ã¡?Â¦Ã¢?Â¥

My Husband been to war 4 times my dear... if he was playing a video game i wouldn't worry about him while he was deployed... Video games isn't reality..WARS ARE!

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