Are we really a band of brothers....

LCpl Mark Lefler — Fri, 11 Apr 2014 19:27:57 -0400

I ask this question because I notice that in many of the discussions I have been in or part of on FB if someone doesn't agree with the group admin or the majority of the group then they are a troll and other unworthy things... I presented a counter view on in a marine group about women in combat((I think they should be allowed)) and suddenly I'm being called a troll, told I probably didn't serve and all this other crap. What happened to being a band of brothers? doesn't that include people with opinions that aren't your own? Isn't part of why we serve to preserve peoples right to have an opinion? No i wasn't a combat vet, I get that, combat vets are the only people allowed an opinion I guess but really? do we have to be so rude to each other? what happened to acting like adults? what happened to having honor and dignity?

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Apr 11 at 2014 7:50 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Fri, 11 Apr 2014 19:50:24 -0400

Great Question, I would say so but with Qualifications. With the Media being so Polarizing of late it sure changes the Dynamics. I would say since the Military draws their folks from society in general we have always been equally split between Liberals and Conservatives but now there is little to no middle ground.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 11 at 2014 8:00 PM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 11 Apr 2014 20:00:20 -0400

In my honest opinion, you feed the flame with topics like this. If you simply ignore said comments that are obviously based on bigotry, ignorance, and/or lack of respect, their opinions are just that, opinions.

Just don't think too much into someone else's views if you don't share them.

Response by Sgt John Anderson made Apr 11 at 2014 10:04 PM

Sgt John Anderson — Fri, 11 Apr 2014 22:04:17 -0400

so let me get this right? You joined the USMC because you wanted to be a "bad ass" and then somehow got out after 2yrs and 9 months. now you are all "moto" and try to join every military group out there so you can re-live your glory days. You interjecting your opinion in conversations you know nothing about like "should women be in combat?" then cry when you get called out on it. Then you get on here and insult the people who have actually "been there and done that" when they tell you that you are wrong. I'm not writing this to say "women shouldn't be in combat" (I think they shouldn't), I writing this to say "don't cry about how we can't talk like adults while whining like a child"

Do you want to know the truth? as far as the infantry goes, the majority of us are a band of brothers. The ones who weren't in the group either did like you and found a way out or got voluntold to some BS assignment like the chow hall or pointless security post where they could do the least amount of harm.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but you asked for it.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 11 at 2014 10:36 PM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 11 Apr 2014 22:36:59 -0400

I think some units are, it all depends how the company is linked, in my last Unit we were a band of brothers and sisters, all the time I was sure that any of us would give his life for any one.

I think that was because I was in a place where we had deploy every other year.

Response by LCpl Steve Wininger made Jul 9 at 2014 7:45 PM

LCpl Steve Wininger — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 19:45:40 -0400

This is why I rarely use FB anymore. It is a haven for such discussions. One would think that others, especially those who have served, would be more open. The sad reality is they aren't always open or kind about how they speak to others.

I belong to several Marine groups on Facebook and one of them had to change their privacy settings to secret because wannabes were becoming a real issue. Whether these rude people had served or not is questionable, but one thing is certain; they did not display the behavior of a Marine. One doesn't talk to others the way they were talking, even to the page's admin.

Most likely they were the trolls, but who knows. It only takes a little spark to ignite a lot of fire. I have found that just ignoring them is the best medicine. You are under no obligation to stay.

I know it sucks to not be able to offer a differing opinion without crap like this happening. My motto, just leave them to their own hate and bitterness, I am better than that.

Although some discussions here on RP can get heated at times, when someone is in the right, you got the rest of us backing them up. It is the same when someone is in the wrong. Difference, it is done more tactfully and respectfully here than on FB.

Response by MSG Floyd Williams made Jul 9 at 2014 9:27 PM

MSG Floyd Williams — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 21:27:06 -0400

LCPL Lefler....Don't give the yard bird the satisfaction of responding to his/her comments, some people just plain unhappy and we know misery loves company. PC bullies are everywhere in cyberspace, just brush it off and keep pressing forward you don't have to validate yourself to anyone.