Why are there so many military people with such bully mentalities?

wireflight

You pegged it.

I originally joined (USAF) for reasons of patriotism and civic duty, but BMT was so much better than the hell I'd endured as a civilian that I wanted to stay: it was the only vacation I can remember having enjoyed.

After I started doing my job, I had to sort out what I thought about killing other people. Originally, I bought the propaganda, but I became privy to certain things that caused me to investigate further, and I came to the conclusion that I was participating in war crimes.

Unfortunately, I had by then a seared conscience, and I decided I could do anything Uncle Sam paid me to do -- after all, it wasn't personal: it was just my job. Within a couple of weeks, I actually got off on the idea that my labor was ending the lives of LARGE numbers of other people.

And then I saw some bootleg photos of my handiwork -- and I realized for the first time that "right" and "wrong" were more than mere linguistic affectations, that "war crimes" were so labeled because they really are utterly reprehensible behavior.

From then until the end of my hitch, I focused my efforts on improving safety for our guys, and dissociated myself from combat operations. I did not re-up.

I don't buy the notion that a person eventually gets used to it: there is a point at which one loses his or her personal identity (as I did, in the account described above). Halfway through Desert Storm, I didn't want to fly with guys that were stupid enough to believe US propaganda -- and if I'd been on the ground, I sure wouldn't have wanted my life depending on a Bush Administration ideologue.

And the same thing applies to so-called cowards: they don't belong in combat. Of course, I'd say that they don't belong in the White House, either, but that would mean tossing GW Bush (which, come to think of it, ain't a bad idea).

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Be glad they are who they are, or your little whinny a$$ wouldn't be able to cry about it!

lrw

um, if everyone's views were respected in a combat situation, you couldn't move as a unit and would be killed.

Also, most pacifists are disinclined to join the military, so the pool of potential soldiers is always more agressive than that of the average population.

knufflebunny

go back to the ACLU where they'll give you a hug and a cookie and let you take a nap...wuss!

Q-burt

Most of the people answering these questions are not military. You have simply assumed that. Why do Soldier become "bullying"?

What if I told you that your a loser for being a civilian? How about I told you that you are nothing but crap for doing what you do? How about I say that by putting your life on the line for me, I owe you nothing because you owe me?

That is the life of a Soldier. i think a lot of their statements are valid. If it looks like bullying, I bet you there is something deeper.

I have seen two conflicts and will do a third as soon as I can. Why? It is what the Armed forces do. I am there, on the ground, making sure my Soldiers come home. Mission first, but those Soldiers have to get home. When people bash and :buly" Soldiers I get upset. Here are men and women that risk their lives for the citizens of the US, so they don't have to see the hell we see and they want to bash us.

Let them take the bullying. It builds character.

PStone

Because that is the type of attitude it takes to be successful in the military.

bd5star

Can't we all just hug and get along ??????????????????? How old are you, 12 ?

Our military encompasses all walks of life across all sections of the country. We have many fair and open minded individuals as well as the "bully's." Unfortunately out of necessity not everyone who joins the military is pre-screened for having a delightful personality and the ability to objectively argue and see all sides of the board. Don't worry, we do not all have tough guy attitudes.

Sam

i think bcoz they are treated as a u know like their desipline, their goal and their target in short target oriented might be thats y.....

I Hate Liberals

If your view isnt my view your wrong

Michael Darnell

I was in the Canadian military. First as armoured reconnaisance (reserves) in my teens and after I finished school and worked a decade in the civilian world, I returned to the regular service (CAF) - and I for one agree with you. The quality of recruits has dropped -significantly- ... There used to be certain psychological "types" who were automatically rejected, you know like the ones who were sociopaths, (or worse) who are as much a hazard to our soldiers as any enemy - but the need for warm bodies to be cannon fodder seems to have changed that policy. Now we have exactly that, bullies, or whatever the pc term is for these recruits being welcomed with open arms. As if war was simply a numbers game -This is what comes of letting corrupt politicians and bean counters run the forces - All soldiers are just a mirror of the men who lead them and ultimately that means that if you see soldiers who act like bullies instead of heros you must ask yourself what kind of man is in command of men such as these.

besogitana

There was a very famous and interesting experiment run in the 1970's called The Stanford Prison Experiment, which explored the nature of human beings in this sort of heirachy environment.

(SEE LINK FOR STANDORD PRISON EXPERIMENT INFORMATION)

In short, the experiment was made up of 24 healthy, average young men, who were randomly divided into 2 parts "prisoners" and "guards".

As weeks progressed with this experiment, the ego and addiction to power and control turned the good-natured "guards" into bullying, aggressive monsters who were cruel to the inmates.

Situationally, peoples' behaviour changes- I'm not sure why, but when in roles of great control, many people lose the ability to remain level-headed.

I don't really know how to verbalise this, but check out the link to the website, it's a very interesting study of human behaviour in different environments.

abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz

The military category is tame compared with most at Yahoo! Answers.

Look at Immigration if you don't believe me.

Quiet one

Because the Bully mentality is part of what makes today's military do what's cut out for it. Respect for views is still needed

DexterLoxley

it's kinda like what coaches pump into the minds of the team.

the miltary pumps in thoughts like:
"Nobody is tougher than you."
"The enemy is weaker than you are."
"You are top dogs."

It seems like a type of brainwashing or conditioning for wartime conditions. Also, this sort of thing many times helps someone endure their training as well. Mind over matter type thing.
Layman's terms. Dontcha love it?

Hooah!

earthsagirl

Jarhead mentality...

wheels

YOU COULN"T HANDLE THE TRUTH!

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