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Comment by sho_hn

4 days ago

You point out agency yourself, which is indeed the differentiator. Combatants in wars are rarely on the battlefield by their own choice or design.

23 comments

sho_hn

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weard_beard  4 days ago

Everyone has a choice.

  • Jedd  4 days ago

    This is the kind of belief that people with the luxury of choice often assume applies to everyone else.

    • HenryBemis  4 days ago

      Semi-irrelevant comment, but I think it is required for the wider topic on battle/luxury/comfort zones/etc. I don't like to 'tell people what to do', especially on massive scale. I am of the opinion though that ALL (able) MEN must go basic military training (and why not.. women too).

      I have ran one of them 'obstacle courses + distance + mud + pain + cold' some years back. I was by far NOT the stronger man there, and I saw some guys that were STRONG (hulk-smash dudes) and they couldn't crawl in the mud to save their lives, or they were skipping leg day, or.. or.. or.. I could see men that were 'normal/average' with military training and plowed through (perseverance to the max) while gym-boys an gym-girls were (rightfully afraid) of injuries as their bodies were 'too clean'.

      So, in my 'checklist' of 'basic military training' (fully able/healthy people should/would/could..)

        Know how to crawl and/or spider-walk in the mud/forest/river/etc. for 5km
  Know how to climb up & down on a rope. 
  Know how to use a gun (and never have to). 
  Know how to carry a wounded/incapacitated person. 
  Know how to administer (the very) first aid. 
  Know how to (try and) stop bleeding. 
  Know how to read a map. 
  Know/practice rucking with 50kg for a 20km brisk walk (maintain speed 7-8 km/h) on uneven terrain, and no water (speak to your doctor first)
  Fast for 3-4 days (just to see what it feels like)(speak to your doctor first)
  Thirst for 1-2 days (just to see what it feels like)(speak to your doctor first)

      And then... many of the 'free spirit' people might get a new perspective in life. many of the city-dwellers might start seeing the benefits on being in/near nature

      5 replies →

  • D-Coder  4 days ago

    Well, in the olden days, your choice was between being drafted, or being executed on the spot.

    • lukan  4 days ago

      No, there were always ways. Folklore is full of stories of people avoiding being drafted. You can only draft someone who is there (and who is healthy).

      5 replies →

  • HenryBemis  4 days ago

    You are a free spirit, and the very first to take a bullet in the head when someone (in time of war) will tell/order you "do _this_" and you will say "no". Better a corpse than a naysayer.

    I don't know how many here are Iron Maiden fans/listeners, but for those who don't know their work, I propose a read at the lyrics of The Trooper [0]

    [0]: https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/ironmaiden/thetrooper.html

    War is hell.