Posted on Jan 28, 2014

Veteran, Retired, Retired Veteran who cares? You should still respect others rank, right?

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...still respect others rank, right?<div><br></div><div>I have noticed that on many occasions SM no longer serving are extremely disrespectful to those senior in rank, on social media.<div><br></div><div> While they are not bound anymore by UCMJ, do you believe that respect should be given to seniors still serving even after your military service is finished?<br></div><div><br></div><div>Do you feel if a member of rally point can not conduct themselves in a professional manner in regards to rank structure or any other form of disrespect, even as retired or veteran, they should be barred from the site?</div></div>

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Customs and Courtesies

Posted 12 y ago

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Edited 12 y ago

Posted 12 y ago

SGT Blackburn,

I am on exactly the same page with you. I could not agree more.

But, after reading a great many questions and comments from some of RP's highest ranked contributors, I cannot help but feel that most of the unprofessional remarks on the RP website started with either explicit or implicit baiting of less experienced contributors by more experienced contributors.

I have mentioned these concerns to RP management and asked them to review the pattern of behavior RP is rewarding with the highest point scores for influence; and asked whether minimal moderation or a change in the reward system may be appropriate for the sake of their users, potential clients, and investors.

So far, their best advice is for anyone who is the victim of this kind of baiting to simply delete their own photos and words, leaving only the word deleted, edited, or perhaps just the "." (period) punctuation mark. But, they will remove any content that does not conform to the website rules or hurts any individuals.

All that said, I would counsel everyone to keep in mind showing the utmost respect and preserve chivalrous gentlemanly conduct toward everyone regardless of status & rank.

There is no good reason to bait, demean, insult, or otherwise degrade anyone here.

Warm Regards, Sandy

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SSgt (Join to see)

12 y

I was kind of dumbfounded at the insolence and disrespect.

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Suspended Profile

12 y

Probably the same one that I'm referring to in my post.

SFC James Baber

12 y

We all know which one is being referred to, but we are all respectfully not naming names, but everyone most likely on this thread knows EXACTLY who is being talked about.

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Suspended Profile

12 y

You're probably right SFC Baber.

MSgt Timothy Bridgham

Posted 12 y ago

Interesting Topic, As a Retiree that spent almost 10 years in a Joint environment and Held his tongue when those that outranked him said some of the stupidist things every said, some of us feel that now that we are no longer in uniform and have done our time we have earned the right to say whatever we want. Not saying that being disrespectful is good, but the are times that you feel the need to slap the stupid out and now we can. Now that being said, I dont condone just being disrespectful because you have a chip on your shoulder. Senior NCO and Senior Officer on this forum that have retired should act like mentors to those that are still serving and proved only the truth, no politics. So if we insult you by the way we speak, then sorry, but I know I am not changing for anyone every again.

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SGT Mitch McKinley

Posted 12 y ago

I agree. I have been out for 9 years, but I still address active and other retired service members by their rank. Once it has been obtained, it speaks to the character of the individual and what they accomplished during their career.

That being said, the respect still must go both ways. I won't be talked down to or condescended/patronized because I was "only a SGT" and I will tactfully respond to those who do so. I am proud of my career and what I accomplished, and won't be disrespected by those who advances farther than I was able to.

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PV2 Jason Bewley

Posted 12 y ago

Sgt,

I can tell you that I personally do still give the same respect that I did when I was in. I even refer to the SM in question in the same manner that I would have when I was in. Those that don't are disrespecting the uniform AND turning there back on the discipline and military bearing that many have cultivated over their time while serving. To do any less, as a veteran, is a disgrace to their OWN service. As well as the service of those that have served, or are currently serving. I don't personally expect veterans to address someone by their rank (though in a place such as this, it's just good manners), but at least show the respect due the rank. This is not Facebook, it just looks like it.

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PV2 Jason Bewley

12 y

Oh, and as far as my rank goes...

Soju Night, nuff said.

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PFC Zanie Young

>1 y

Just go easy on the Soju, PV2 Bewley... A bottle is too much for anyone... js from experience.

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SGT Tyler H.

Posted 12 y ago

This is not just a military problem. This is a global problem. The Internet as a whole, which includes all social media websites and various other sites that allow users to comment offer a false veil, in that there are no repercussions for 'foaming at the finger tips'.

Here's the thought process, "You can't do anything about it, so I am going to completely obliterate you and your position on 'X' because to me you are just a picture on a screen." Sound familiar? In fact, it is the way most who are using this medium are thinking. There are many blue chip companies and communities that are seeing increased amounts of cyber-bullying and have elected to turn off the comments to their pages and articles. We live in a world where our technology has surpassed our humanity and we, as a society, are now conditioned to sending and receiving messages in 140 characters or less.

Here's my take on the Golden Rule: I believe that if you would not have the intestinal fortitude to say it to my face, then you should not say it at all. Respect!

~The End

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SFC (Join to see)

12 y

SGT Hartle,

There is a theory on the internet called the "greater internet F-wad theory". This forum is not exempt from it. I think its even worse when you have a Rank (Service member) tag.

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SGT Thomas Sullivan

Posted 12 y ago

Maintaining professionalism is the only way to keep a wonderful tool such as RallyPoint alive and thriving. I respect those of higher rank and higher position and though I am a civilian now, I still call them sir and maam and mister and miss, unless they ask me to call them something different. I afford respect to those who not only respect me in return but to those who have earned it by their actions to me.

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SFC James Baber

Posted 12 y ago

I have been the brunt of it firsthand and I will leave it at that.

What I have noticed though is that many of the veterans are ones who seem to have an issue with anyone of senior rank trying to explain something to them to assist or guide, but because they are senior it has to be an attack on the juniors rank or a personal attack when it is quite the contrary. I have had it happen on here as I have also witnessed it happen to others as well, now to play devils advocate, as the PO3 mentioned it does go both ways, but on the majority level I think that I could count on one hand the number of times a senior NCO/Officer has gotten over the top with a junior veteran/retiree, but it has been mostly the junior veteran/retiree that has gone above and beyond to straddling that disrespect line towards the senior whether active/veteran/retired.

Many times the one that is the issue either had an issue with a NCO/Officer while in, one of the reasons they are now a veteran and not either still AD or an retiree, or had a bad experience with someone and is making it personal with everyone of higher rank who questions or disagrees with them. I don't think they should be banned as they are entitled to be a part of the RP family, but there could be some sanctions that could be rendered if they continue in the manner that could be determined to be disrespectful not just to members senior to them but to anyone on RP that they are abusive/rude/disrespectful too.

Give me feedback if you think I am wrong and school me on the way to change my thinking on this.

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SSgt (Join to see)

12 y

SSG Woods. I agree and he does make sense most of the time. I've seen this over time.

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SFC James Baber

12 y

Larry, I am not sure how to take that statement, is or was it meant to be positive, if I have done something you feel was inappropriate, please let me know as I respect your opinion and input to me as being a senior veteran in time to me. I have the utmost respect for you and what you try to share with us on here related to the passing of prior heroes to us all.

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SSgt (Join to see)

12 y

It was a compliment and maybe it were the seizures that scrambled my mind.. lol

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SSG Lisa Rendina

12 y

I couldn't have said it better myself SSG Woods!

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SGT (Join to see)

Posted 12 y ago

I couldn't agree with you more. One of the first principles we are taught is respect and regardless of someones status (active, reserves, or retired) respect is something that should be given to all especially on a professional social media site such as this.

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COL (Join to see)

Posted 7 y ago

A veteran is someone who has honorably served and is a civilian. A retiree is still serving, albeit with a change in status

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LTC Paul Heinlein

Posted >1 y ago

This is a social media site, not a Military Event. If someone is no longer a service member (retired or veteran), then they should not/ are no longer bound by titles of Active Duty Service Members.

That said, I normally include rank (it is something they have earned) as a sign of respect until they demand/ beg for me to use their name.

For me, part of the transition to civilian life is that my title no longer goes with me (yes, technically it does...with Retired Status...but I'm referring to a mental state of mind).

From my point of view, when you enter social media sites like this, and engage in conversations, you have to let go of your ridged military mindset (cause you are asking for peoples opinions and views), if you can't then you should seriously consider cancelling your account.

Now if someone is just blatantly disrespectful (extreme unnecessary insulting foul language), threatening, etc.. Then absolutely the Administrators should ban them from the site.

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Veteran, Retired, Retired Veteran who cares? You should still respect others rank, right?

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