Why is this always the first question?

Kristibell

Perhaps because we do not understand it--it horrifies and intrigues us. We do not know how to respond, because we are so innundated by media that glorifies it, and laws that rebuke it, that we don't know or understand the real-life extent of it, and when we run into someone who does, or who might, we seek to gain any insight we can.

Thanks for your service. Be well.

S.A.M. Gunner 7212

I just look'em straight in the eye and say "not recently"and give'em a slight evil grin. That tends to shut'em up PDQ.

HOOAH! It's an Army Thing

Morbid curiosity, I would imagine. It's just like rubber-neckers at an accident site. They can't do anything but stare.

God bless you for your service to your nation!

afafae25

well, the everyday average human being goes about their day, eating breakfast, going to work, coming home, taking care of family and then going to bed, with a little more activity here and there, and a little differant depending on the person. Killing someone isn't an everyday occurance. The same thing happens to me when I tell people I'm a dental assistant. The first thing they do is tell me about a problem to see if what I have to say is any differant from what their doc told em. My husband told me that if you put 60 people in one room, statistically only 1 person will be in the military. I can imagine what an everyday conversation in Iraq is with some of the people "So, how many people did you have to kill today?"! They're not obsessed, people are just curious about what they are unfamiliar with. I constantly ask my husband what it is like to drive around in a tank as his "typical day at the office"!

Mr Ed

They are being very incentive to what you all have been through, to heck with them.

ravin_lunatic

My ex husband was in Iraq. This also bothered him, very much. Because even if you didn't kill anyone, you saw horrible things. And my heart hurts for you. But please understand, we are imbeciles. We live in a land that YOU went to another country to defend. We do not worry about war in our country because of our brave soldiers. Try to overlook some of the things we might say. We are ignorant of what you have actually experienced. And the media has made you the bad guys, when in fact, you have done so much it should make the media fall on their faces and beg forgiveness. THANK YOU SOLDIERS AND VETS!!!

Nick the Dick

Well you did not answer the question ... have you killed someone ???

mona the 1 and only

YES

Sara

My first question is all ways "is there anything I can do for you?"
My first comment is "Thank you."

Joseph, II

Probably because in this country whenever we see a soldier on the News- he's killing someone in a war somewhere, so people automatically think ALL soldiers have. That's nonsense, of course, but such is the role the Media plays in our perceptions.

yahoohoo

My first question would be where were you, & welcome back!

Nicole

I think a lot of people don't really know what goes on over there. When most people think of combat or war, they think of Full Metal Jacket kind of stuff... not all the other things that go on. It's sort of like an ignorance, I guess you could say.

Nat

Cheer up. The last question I got from a civilian was "Are you going to die?" ... and this was from a girl who couldn't have been more than ten years old, in the airport when I was getting ready to go back to Iraq after R&R.

You're not the only one who gets screwed up questions. I wonder how the soft-skill MOS people take it. Or those from service branches like the Navy or Coast Guard who get asked that.

The average civilain just doesn't seem to know any better, or show any desire to be informed. I quit thinking about what the American public thinks as being important long ago. You'll feel better that way. Really.

Beth

It's because our society has been so conditioned by the media to focus on death tolls and mortality rates that it is the first question that comes to mind most times. When you turn on the news, you don't hear about all of the great things our troops are doing overseas, all you hear about is how many people were killed.

Thank you so much for your service to our country...It is greatly appreciated!!

Xtal

Many people think of guns = kill. They must have thoughts of killing themselves.

bootjack

I think they are obsessed with the unthinkable.

Dick Skinner

I dunno about obsessed, but there IS a natural morbid curiousity regarding death in general. It's most clearly demonstrated than with a car wreck. We ALL know how backed up traffic becomes, even with a silly fender bender. With death being in the future for us all, it's one of the few issues universal to every human.
Having "seen the elephant" like yourself, I usually get the question: "What's it like to be shot at?" first. Maybe it's a subconsious way for folks to guage my attitude before asking the next, "DId you ever kill someone?" question. Like you, I consider the question to be moderately rude. When asked, that's what I tell them.

gymfreak

Morbid curiosity or they are not sure how to hande the rest of the conversation. They are uncomfortable with themselves and don't have the manners to not ask. They may not know how you feel about your time served in the military and not know how to gracefully change the subject or ask more thoughtful questions like, Are you enjoying being home with your family? I bet they are happy to see you. Glad you are hear with us.... ect. And may I also add, thank you!

CrazyCatLady

I have to concur with the first poster...morbid curiosity...we are desensitized to violence on a movie or TV screen and that is all most people can equate you experience to...it is not real to them, not like it is to you and the other military personnel.
I am sorry people are so crass.
Welcome Home!!!!
I don't care what you did there, you served your country and came home, that's all that matters!
Thank you!!!!!

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