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Posted on May 11, 2017
What are your thoughts on how the military community portrays itself in social media? How we should conduct ourselves on social media?
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Many of us follow different social media that are geared towards we veterans. FB pages like Dysfunctional Veterans (my personal favorite) and ASMDSS to maybe others of a more professional nature. My question is, what does everyone think of some of the ways our community portrays itself in such forums, and maybe what are your personal opinions for how we should conduct ourselves on social media?
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Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 5
The Military portrays itself just fine in Social media...
I think what your asking is how do individuals IN the Military portray them selfs and the answer is like individuals.
Most good, some bad, some really ignorant, hateful and worse.
I think what your asking is how do individuals IN the Military portray them selfs and the answer is like individuals.
Most good, some bad, some really ignorant, hateful and worse.
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SGT Joseph Gunderson
Do you believe that the individuals that lean more towards that bad side of the aisle sort of give the rest of the community a black eye? Or do you think that the civilian populace can look past those cases and still see the military as a whole as a group of honorable and dedicated people?
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SGM Erik Marquez
SGT Joseph Gunderson - Perception is real...And those with no personal experience of Military life will absolutely perceive the actions of the few to be common of all.
No different then how the general populace perceives the actions of a few bad cops to be the common of all.
A few bad men raping or abusing women to be the common of all.
So the question is, how to "Change" the actions of the few that impact the many..the answer? You cant.
The military is made up of folks from across this great nation, as such we have the same cross section your home town does, Great American people, and a smaller number of murders, rapist, thugs and thieves.
The only thing we can do is address the bad apples as we find the worm.
You can not regulate out long learned human behavior.. If the SM is apt to do dumb stuff on social media, writing a regulation, having a 1 hour mandatory training session saying don't do dumb stuff is not going to be effective.
You make SM's aware of the standards, the ramifications should they run afoul of those regulations and policies, then deal with the individuals as needed ...using UCMJ and administrative separation as needed.
No different then how the general populace perceives the actions of a few bad cops to be the common of all.
A few bad men raping or abusing women to be the common of all.
So the question is, how to "Change" the actions of the few that impact the many..the answer? You cant.
The military is made up of folks from across this great nation, as such we have the same cross section your home town does, Great American people, and a smaller number of murders, rapist, thugs and thieves.
The only thing we can do is address the bad apples as we find the worm.
You can not regulate out long learned human behavior.. If the SM is apt to do dumb stuff on social media, writing a regulation, having a 1 hour mandatory training session saying don't do dumb stuff is not going to be effective.
You make SM's aware of the standards, the ramifications should they run afoul of those regulations and policies, then deal with the individuals as needed ...using UCMJ and administrative separation as needed.
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Well I think we are an entirely different breed. We are extremely desensitized compared to most people who haven't served, it is for this reason why I follow mostly military pages. Civilians as of late seem far too sensitive and over emotional.
It also builds us a network. I have witnessed numerous times where a person posts something about a vet or service member in need and complete strangers flock to provide assistance. We take care of our own.
It also builds us a network. I have witnessed numerous times where a person posts something about a vet or service member in need and complete strangers flock to provide assistance. We take care of our own.
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SGT Joseph Gunderson
I agree. I do like the humor that I get out of my military pages. I do however notice that there are quite a few instances in which veterans are not so like minded. A few times I have been told that those of us that partake in the darker humor should be "ashamed" of ourselves and should conduct ourselves in a manner more befitting our titles.
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PO2 (Join to see)
We should all have our boundaries .. sadly some exceed them and put a black eye on all service members. When I am among brothers we are crazy, chaotic, and absolutely ridiculous. Yet, when I am among civilians, especially if the know I'm active duty, I am an entirely different person.
Biggest difference being people fail to realize that just because its funny to your friend, doesn't mean the 200,000 other people that see your post will think its ok.
Biggest difference being people fail to realize that just because its funny to your friend, doesn't mean the 200,000 other people that see your post will think its ok.
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1SG (Join to see)
PO2 (Join to see) - I would agree with your comment, and to take it a little further I hold a personal and special place in my heart for my comrades and keep most things military between me and them. If the civilian population what's that inside comradery I suggest they raise their right hand. Until that happens we are the 1% and they are not part of our club. If that offends anyone than I guess they need to join.
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There may be views shown that may be off-putting to some thinner skinned people. That's the military though. We're different personalities with a different sense of humor. I do like the way that some pages (specifically USAWTFM) tend to act as something of a police force in an attempt to clean up questionable situations with questionable commands. That page seems to be a powerhouse and apparently has some key people monitoring it.
Most of the pages like USAWTFM, ASMDSS, DVs, and G4G seem to have established support networks as well. As PO2 (Join to see) said, I've witnessed numerous times where a person posts about a vet or SM in need and everyone flocks to assist.
And if anyone didn't know, Dysfunctional Veterans set up the DV Farm which is a nonprofit setup to help homeless vets and vets suffering from PTSD and addiction.
http://www.dvfarm.org/
I have nothing to do with them or the page other than being a follower on Facebook. I just thought it was an interesting concept and figured I'd share. I know we've seen situations with people here on RP that probably could've benefited from this type of program.
Most of the pages like USAWTFM, ASMDSS, DVs, and G4G seem to have established support networks as well. As PO2 (Join to see) said, I've witnessed numerous times where a person posts about a vet or SM in need and everyone flocks to assist.
And if anyone didn't know, Dysfunctional Veterans set up the DV Farm which is a nonprofit setup to help homeless vets and vets suffering from PTSD and addiction.
http://www.dvfarm.org/
I have nothing to do with them or the page other than being a follower on Facebook. I just thought it was an interesting concept and figured I'd share. I know we've seen situations with people here on RP that probably could've benefited from this type of program.
The Official Website For The DV Farm. Operated By Vets for Vets. Working Together To Reintegrate Back Into Civilian Life. Located In Gilsum, NH.
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SGT Joseph Gunderson
Oh you're preaching to the choir brother. I'm a long standing fan of DV (just bought a shirt and hat last month) and I enjoy the dark humor. I am just try I g to get a feel for how others may see everything.
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SSG (Join to see)
Overall I don't think that it's terrible. The one thing that I do have issue with is all of the "fire missions" I see. A lot of the targets of those are people who either need to be civilly educated or they're people who are just trying to get a rise out of the masses or they're looking for attention. All that you're doing by going and berating these people is making us all look like a bunch of overly aggressive, butthurt a-holes and giving them the attention that they so crave.
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I tend to try and keep a lot of my military opinions off Facebook. The main reason I prefer Rally point is because you know who's account has been verified and who's accounts has not. I tend to veer away from those who have not validated their accounts because I don't know if their profile is 100% truthful. Facebook is a free-for-all and people like to spew a lot of BS on that site. I am really disappointed that the military has taken so much stock in the social media space know as Facebook. I have seen Facebook be used by Soldiers who put a lot of OPSEC related information on the site and this makes our military vulnerable to insider threats, not a good thing at all.
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SGT Joseph Gunderson
I can definitely understand where you're coming from. In the past, I have seen many of different OPSEC violations and, sadly, I have noticed even units dancing the lines. I do believe that the monster known as social media has a horrible power over nearly everything of importance in this world. I get what you mean by use by service members, but what are your thoughts by those of us that no longer wear the uniform?
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1SG (Join to see)
You along with the rest who served will always be my brothers and sister in Arms, just so you know you are still part of the 1% of Americans who have worn or still wear the uniform. I hope that answered you question.
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