Your country needs YOU!

[Narj]

The boomer generation have certainly "got theirs" and are the largest cohort in the country right now so will be able to protect it at all costs. There's a very interesting lecture at the RI (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuXzvjBYW8A) about this phenomenon. It's an hour long but worth the watch.

A generation born in the years following the war are much, much more patriotic, and much more likely to look down their noses at younger people who don't have the same patriotism. A generation who will happily miss the irony of saying we should defend the country while hoarding everything we should be fighting for. A generation happy to push the younger generations to conscription knowing they can stay in their large, cosy homes likely worth 10x what they easily bought it for a few decades ago.

I'll watch that at lunch, thanks.

Having mostly grown up with my grandparents and around their friends and older relatives, I got some interesting perspectives as a youngster from people who had been through (and in some cases fought in) WWII. I think it taught me to not be selfish and to never take anything for granted. I can definitely say I'm proud of many of them and I've been to some pretty moving funerals where there was an armed forces presence.

I can't say my parents were the type of boomers that are so often vilified though, they were hard working but skint so tarring all "boomers" with the same brush does irk me a little. However I do see and understand the frustration where those who were lucky enough to be born at the right time and get their investments right have essentially pulled the ladder up behind them. Buying my house when I did 12 years ago was painful enough, I wouldn't want to be starting again now.

The levels of wealth inequality in this country really are becoming ridiculous now but with all the vested interests pulling the strings, I don't know how it gets turned around. On the subject of housing, politicians in all parties have big property portfolios so good luck with that one.

 

[rumple9]

Probably a daft question but what do we need a big army for when we could build thousands of drones?

 

[Armageus]

Probably a daft question but what do we need a big army for when we could build thousands of drones?

Who flies the drones, when invading soldiers take over your control centres?

 

[NZXT30]

But what about being "woke" has done it or have you been watching too much GB news? You know what being "woke" is right?

Also what "none woke" parts of the world?

You know exactly what it means and don't bring up some outdated definition. The meaning of a word is made up by society and it can change at any time.

Travel a bit and you'll find out and no Benidorm does not count.

 

[GGizmo]

I think some folks have a fixed out of date version of national service, maybe they are right in the sense that is what the establishment think too.

But I have known 2 Nordic women who both did conscription in their countries.

One was a Swedish woman who became an army medic and participated as a medic during the Bosnian war. After her service she became a paramedic.

The other was from Finland. It isn't compulsory for women but she did it anyway. She became an aircraft engineer, working on Finnish military planes. After her service she became a commercial aircraft engineer and works for the airplane company Finnair.

I don't see why we can't have a similar thing here. It would also give people who are less academicly inclined to have a pathway in to highly rated jobs based on experience.

I don't think in the Nordic countries it is seen as being political. It is just seen as protecting your country and doing your part for the community.

 

[Ayahuasca]

Well the use of "everyone" is hyperbole of course. However, if you think that mental health issues/demoralisation and increasing hatred towards our capitalist system/wealth inequality/the rich isn't rife and ever increasing, then you are simply sticking your head in the sand.

It is also nothing to do with consuming "doomer" content. It is first hand experience of generally everything in life. It is all going to **** from my experience.

There are many reasons for the rise in mental health problems and demoralisation. Blaming it all or even most of it on capitalism and the rich is just an excuse.

It's got a lot to do with the content people are consuming. Many are terminally online, posting almost daily about people like Trump and how evil X politician is, or how capitalism is ruining their lives. They watch TikTok after TikTok from someone with little to no experience or education on the subject, telling them how screwed they are.

If you really feel that everything in life is generally **** then fine. For me and those around me, that's not the case at all.

 

[Narj]

I don't see why we can't have a similar thing here. It would also give people who are less academicly inclined to have a pathway in to highly rated jobs based on experience.

The number of very good ex-forces people I've worked with in comms and IT has been interesting. The forces seem to have excellent training budgets and it seems that you are fully encouraged to fulfil your potential.

I suppose it's all great until you actually have a chance of deployment and being shot at!

 

[plasmahal]

So if the unthinkable ever happens and these islands are invaded, let's say by Russia, you'd just sit back and say "Nah, I'm not fighting to protect my home and loved ones" as the Russians force you to watch them rape and murder your wife and children before putting a bullet in your head?

Found profile picture of the patriot objector.

 

[hyperseven]

Who flies the drones, when invading soldiers take over your control centres?

SKYNET

 

[NZXT30]

The number of very good ex-forces people I've worked with in comms and IT has been interesting. The forces seem to have excellent training budgets and it seems that you are fully encouraged to fulfil your potential.

I suppose it's all great until you actually have a chance of deployment and being shot at!

Nah all that stuff needs to be cut. No training and education on taxpayer money only to go get lucrative jobs in the private sector.

The country has far bigger problems and warmongering is just a distraction.

 

[Jono8]

It's got a lot to do with the content people are consuming. Many are terminally online, posting almost daily about people like Trump and how evil X politician is, or how capitalism is ruining their lives. They watch TikTok after TikTok from someone with little to no experience or education on the subject, telling them how screwed they are.

...and who benefits/makes money from that?

 

[Junglist]

You have both put it better than I ever could.

I agree that western Europe is still probably one of the best places to live in the world.

However, it is being rapidly eroded by the rich and wealth inequality. Greed destroys everything and it is destroying us as well.

Since the housing crisis in 2008, wage growth (in relation to the cost of living) has been abysmal. Then during the pandemic and beyond we've witnessed the biggest corporate theft of everyone's money and standard of living for quite a while.

You can feel everything struggling under the weight of this now in the west, and it is primarily caused by greed and ever increasing wealth inequality.

I'm super lucky that practically all of my adult working life has been within some form of crash or recession. We had to skimp and save to buy a small 2 bedroom house. We are both working professionals in the top 5% of household income yet we it feels like being able to buy a family home and have another child (for a whopping total of 2!) seems like financially impossible at the moment.

Yet boomers were able to buy big 3/4 bed houses whilst the husband worked and the wife stayed at home to look after the children. To say I'm envious doesn't even begin to cut how I feel. Though I take a bit of solace in knowing it's not just us and millions of other people in my age group are feeling the same squeeze.

A generation born in the years following the war are much, much more patriotic, and much more likely to look down their noses at younger people who don't have the same patriotism. A generation who will happily miss the irony of saying we should defend the country while hoarding everything we should be fighting for. A generation happy to push the younger generations to conscription knowing they can stay in their large, cosy homes likely worth 10x what they easily bought it for a few decades ago.

*Chefs kiss*

 

[200sols]

Thread tangent. Now people will let the Russians invade because boomers houses have increased in value.

 

[Ayahuasca]

...and who benefits/makes money from that?

Well, that much is obvious, but then the blame shouldn't lie solely with those who own the company in question. If people are lapping it up and it's affecting their mental health and giving them a distorted negative view of the world, then it's on them... People don't like to hear it, but your own mental health is your own responsibility, you have to make a change and do something about it. It's not up to someone else to come along and fix you.

The point is, if you wake up every day and post about people like Trump etc or read article after article about how **** everything is, of course you're going to be depressed and think everything is ****.

 

[Jono8]

Well, that much is obvious, but then the blame shouldn't lie solely with those who own the company in question.

It absolutely should. Maybe not solely, but certainly a large part. The other part is our governments for not doing enough about it.

 

[omnomnom]

You know exactly what it means and don't bring up some outdated definition. The meaning of a word is made up by society and it can change at any time.

Travel a bit and you'll find out and no Benidorm does not count.

So thats a no you dont know then? Just because some far right nobodies have decided it means something, it isnt doesnt make it fact.

Again, name the countries.

 

[Ayahuasca]

It absolutely should. Maybe not solely, but certainly a large part. The other part is our governments for not doing enough about it.

It absolutely shouldn't, unless you don't believe in free will and individuals taking responsibility for themselves.

Nobody is forcing them to post about Trump every day, or to read article after article of doom and gloom.

 

[Narj]

I'm super lucky that practically all of my adult working life has been within some form of crash or recession. We had to skimp and save to buy a small 2 bedroom house. We are both working professionals in the top 5% of household income yet we it feels like being able to buy a family home and have another child (for a whopping total of 2!) seems like financially impossible at the moment.

Being in the top 5% of earners but still feeling like you are squeezed until the pips squeak - definitely checks out. I don't know how people with kids manage!

Anyways enough derailment, sorry

Nah all that stuff needs to be cut. No training and education on taxpayer money only to go get lucrative jobs in the private sector.

The country has far bigger problems and warmongering is just a distraction.

I'm of the view that I'd quite like competent people in the armed forces really. Having to deploy and defend may be something forced upon us and pacifism isn't likely to work IMO. YMMV

 

[NZXT30]

You have both put it better than I ever could.



I'm super lucky that practically all of my adult working life has been within some form of crash or recession. We had to skimp and save to buy a small 2 bedroom house. We are both working professionals in the top 5% of household income yet we it feels like being able to buy a family home and have another child (for a whopping total of 2!) seems like financially impossible at the moment.

Yet boomers were able to buy big 3/4 bed houses whilst the husband worked and the wife stayed at home to look after the children. To say I'm envious doesn't even begin to cut how I feel. Though I take a bit of solace in knowing it's not just us and millions of other people in my age group are feeling the same squeeze.



*Chefs kiss*

The problem also stems from the disgusting British mentality that once the child turns 18 it's not their problem anymore.

It has bred a lot of resentment with a generation waiting and sometimes hoping for their parents to die off so they can properly start their lives.

In most cultures parents pass their wealth early on before a kid is even an adult.

You got boomers enjoying multiple cruises a year without a care in the world telling you to go sign up for the army and how they would be the first to do so if they weren't soooo old.

The audacity boggles the mind.

 

[Martynt74]

Imagine if this attitude applied to everything in life, just walk away from any problem without owning it and trying to deal with it...... Granted I now spend the majority of my time outside of the UK due to work, but my home and residence is still the UK, even with the state the country is currently in and the totally rudderless and inept government of the past decade or so, I wouldn't just up-sticks and permanently move away from it if I didn't hold a belief that hopefully further down the line things could be somewhat fixed and lessons could be learned..... But heyho, whatever works for you buttercup.

It does apply though. Don't like where you live, you move to another city/neighbourhood. Don't like your job you move to a job you like. Don't like your wife, get a divorce and find someone that makes you happy.

There's nothing tying you to any of these things (except Kids where you have a responsibility for them). If you stayed out of a sense of loyalty and end up miserable then more fool you.