How should those "in the know" handle others?

[carpandean]

Basically, how should someone in the military with first-hand knowledge handle those who are not/do not when they post information that they've heard, but which is, in fact, incorrect? Should they be hard asses :backhand: like the drill sergeants of the world or should they be kindler-gentler soldiers :hug: ?

(Perhaps by removing this discussion from
http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5974&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
that thread can get back on topic.)

[Uncle Sam]

I was in the Military. Not everyone in the Military knows everything about it. They might know about certain things. If there is a discussion, and someone is talking about something that I personally know about, and they are wrong...I would inform them as such.

[Salty Dog]

i would say gentle soldiers hahaha, this is militaryphotos.net, not parris island. but they can act however they want. i think it downplays their reputation a little when they act like mad dogs. but it doesn't bother me all that much. i'm over it.

[Tane Angle]

I suppose most militaries of the world have not updated their codes of conduct to deal with the internet. The question is, on this message board, are we in the privacy of our own homes, or are we in public? It would seem that that may be at the core of the issue, the fact that we don't know necessarily. Have a good one, and just some thoughts...

[Beowulf]

one should always behave as a professional soldier. Take that as you will. Also, I believe that the internet is a public forum.
-b

[hank]

I am probable the reason that Carpandean decided to start this thread. Point taken on the right place to speak up about this. I should have started a new thread instead of trying to make the point to TriggerPuller in that other thread you mention. Next time I won't get off topic.

I don't know whether this is public or private, but either way threats are just uncalled for. Fifteen year olds getting something wrong is to be expected. For a fifteen year old to resist being told he is wrong is to be expected. NO way should anybody, military or otherwise, ask somebody to "come out and play" when the fact is very few of us know anything about much of this.

First, like Ratamacue could go to Cali even if he wanted? Second, how the heck would either one even know who the other was? Ridiculous and out of place.

I like the way TaneAngle and Deuterium handle it. It is obvious when I read their posts that they have a lot of first hand knowledge about a lot of this stuff. More importantly, they both understand that as RIP_ Cord put it, nobody could ever know everything about these matters. Both Tane and Deut let people know when they are wrong without anybody getting their feathers ruffled and the thread moves on. That's the point.

Again, sorry for getting a little off topic in that other thread but I enjoy coming here and reading the posts and viewing the pictures. No sense in letting things get out of hand b/c somebody needs to flex over the internet.

Just my $.02.

[perdurabo]

I know better Rat than TP for me you all can be super-duper hard as a rock SF guys i can't find it, it's internet i can say whatever i wan't.
for me TP is an typical military-asshole i'm going into mili. this summer prabably(i'm signed in but i need to send few paper work and they will ask me if i want to sreve in august or september or if i....) i know that it will be hard and i will met brainless asholes like him but afther this training TPlike ppl can suck my **** because i will have higher rank hehe(because i'm student and mili prefers my knowledge than your raging fury) jeah you can be super-duper marine but meet with cruise missle shoot by kid in AEGIS crusier hahaha and who will be on top? rofl rofl rofl me sitting behind the desk, drinking wine with gorgeus girls or you wet, smelly and dirty in some angola? and i've got better one i know a guy that have 3 brand new mercedes, and few others that can afford porshe or other stuff, and one guy that in one hour lost more that you can get in whole life (he missed market... poor guy few bilions of bucks flew away[actually about 150-200 000 $ but that dosent metter he can afford that -stock market and futures are great stuff one day you have almoust 0 and other you have few bilions and next you have none....] :P ) and who is big guy? black siut or black ops? rofl rofl rofl

[carpandean]

I am probably the reason that Carpandean decided to start this thread.
There were at least two pages worth of reasons to start this thread before you posted. :hug:

[James]

If I have something worthwhile to contribute, I will. If I don't know something about the topic, I stay mum. I also try to remember and include something along the lines of "In my experience... but there are probably other answers as well." When someone starts a flame war, I usually stay out of it unless I have some logic to contribute. I'm mellow most of the time because that's just who I am.

[Ballistic]

If a person has first hand knowledge about ANY subject, military or not, and someone commenting on that "ANY" subject is saying incorrect information, it should be the duty of the person in the know to politely tell it how it is. Not scold the person with incorrect information. This should apply to anything really, it's common sense, and politeness. In the military sense those are attributes that a soldier should have anyway. Ofcourse you could always just keep your thoughts to yourself and let them ramble on about whatever it is they are talking about. :)

[wholagun]

Well you can't go hard core on ppl like me. We're not in the military, and don't know everything we hear things and try and confirm them or we ask questions. After all isn't this the purpose of this site, to allow people to ask questions and discuss military? Call me ignorant, but not all of us can be in the military. Just because Im ignorant about life in the field I may not be in other aspects. Correct the person by all means but don't flame or give em **** for not knowing something or saying something they heard. Point out where they went wrong but don't givem hell for it. Thats why Im here to learn and ask questions, and I must say Iv learned alot, actually too much my reading for univeristy is taking a beating...**** Ill have to catch up.

[AFACadet]

I think Patton had it right when he said:

"You are Always on Parade" ;)

[Haiw]

Just all act like you're in your mother-in-law's house; be nice, correct each others like your mother thought you manners and don't go breaking a guy apart because he had something wrong..It's not boot camp around here, and even though a lot of us will end up there some day, at least there's a reason for all the breaking apart over there, while here it's just pointless bull****...

[Skaman]

I am in the army, and personally,I would rather discuss political and military history themes then discuss current milirary equipment and units etc.

[Roger Rabbit]

Discuss isn't really the word for what you do. Antagonise would be better. Still its your choice what you do and how you do it.

[jizzmonkey]

I am in the army, and personally,I would rather discuss political and military history themes then discuss current milirary equipment and units etc.

Nobodies talki'n to you ****-licker!, speak when spoken too!!
Oh, and the Canadian reserves dont count! and I happen to be very fond of pointless bull****.

[Haiw]

*sigh*

[Tane Angle]

I just wanted to say that I think Beowulf's right, that this is a public place and therefore normal public conduct would be a appropriate. Granted, we don't call all the civilians here sir or ma'am, and some threads do resemble barracks talk more than dress whites ball discussions, and that's okay usually. But by barracks talk, I suppose that I mean threads like the recent one about the Miss World contest. I am not, however, real thrilled about threatening posts. Some disagreement can be expected, unfortunately, when so many different people are put together, but there's a difference between being outright antagonizing or verbally abusive.

Honestly though, this is Hood's yard, not mine, so the rules of conduct here are up to him. Certainly the no ****ography in the off-topic section is liberally ignored sometimes :roll: , and some avatars are a bit...interesting...but maybe that's a little bit of that barracks talk again. So long as our dear women guests (we up to four now?) don't get too offended, and Hood doesn't mind, fair enough.

Also, James pretty much summed it up; mentally, I'm a bit like the man in James' avatar- too worn out to get too into a lot of things. And sometimes my being like that is a bad thing.

Thanks for the kind words, hank.
Have a good one, and just some thoughts...

[jizzmonkey]

I am in the army, and personally,I would rather discuss political and military history themes then discuss current milirary equipment and units etc.

Nobodies talki'n to you ****-licker!, speak when spoken too!!
Oh, and the Canadian reserves dont count! and I happen to be very fond of pointless bull****. :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D
hehhehehehehhehehehe!

[Haiw]

:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D
hehhehehehehhehehehe!
What...you gonna applaud your own foolishness now as no one else is doing it for you?

Anyway, I think Tane Angle is right on most points (damn old wizards, they're always right! ;)), though I think you should consider this public space neither a barrack nor a wedding; I'd say something like the school cafeteria should be nice :). As for the steady fleshification in the off-topic forum; yea...it sometimes makes me lift my eyebrows too. I have nothing against a joke that involves some fleshy aspects, but if you're gonna start about babes and nudity 'n stuff; well common, there's enough places around the internet dedicated to that already... :|

[Ngati Tumatauenga]

To answer the original question. I believe it depends on the individual and the question he\she has asked or the statement they have made.

Generally though I would use the 'kindler/gently' approach first and then become more forthright if they didn't listen. But you have to remember that those with first-hand knowledge/experience with soldiering tend to be serious about they're profession. When someone tells them they are wrong when they are not or makes a definitive statement that is incorrect, they tend to get .....emotional.
It's especially worse when its someone who admits they have no experience or knowledge themselves other than watching movies or reading books. Both of those are fine to a point, but neither one beats 'being there'.
Ask an intelligent question and you'll almost always get an intelligent answer in return.
At the end of the day every one has the choice whether or not to involve themselves in a given topic or thread.

[jizzmonkey]

:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D
hehhehehehehhehehehe!
What...you gonna applaud your own foolishness now as no one else is doing it for you?

Anyway, I think Tane Angle is right on most points (damn old wizards, they're always right! ;)), though I think you should consider this public space neither a barrack nor a wedding; I'd say something like the school cafeteria should be nice :). As for the steady fleshification in the off-topic forum; yea...it sometimes makes me lift my eyebrows too. I have nothing against a joke that involves some fleshy aspects, but if you're gonna start about babes and nudity 'n stuff; well common, there's enough places around the internet dedicated to that already... :|

hey, hey take it easy man your gonna give yourself a stroke, I think you might need to give yourself a hostility assesment. :lol:

[TriggerPuller]

Check my last post in the 'pictures of MarDet-1" discussion.

TP

[Argyll]

Well said TP!!!

[XASA]

It's no surprise that alpha males and females are attracted to military life. Also, as Tane alluded to, a barracks room mentality is inherent to military life. Most NCOs and officers treat enlisted men, for the most part, with respect and concern. Still, there are some NCOs and officers whose behavior towards underlings suck. Any one who has served can tell stories of martinet sergeants and nit picking officers who thrive on "mickey mouse" bs. Having been a NCO and platoon leader, among other things, I never felt belittling or demeaning underlings got results. Treat the troops well and they will respond in kind. With all due respect, I'm sure there are veteran and current NCOs and officers who disagree with that approach and feel an "in your face" attitude gets results, but I think that style went out with John Wayne's Sergeant Stryker in "Sands of Iwo Jima".

[California Joe]

I actually am a Civil War sniper. 1st US Sharpshooters. Am so.

If I want to know anything about the Marines now I know who to ask.

[TriggerPuller]

I actually am a Civil War sniper. 1st US Sharpshooters. Am so.

LMAO!!!

TP

[TriggerPuller]

Liked it so much I had to post it twice! Iam a trigger puller not a computer genius! LOL
TP

[Argyll]

Damn and I thought you were Clint eastwood!!! :lol:

[Trigger]

Quit pullin' me!

[Haiw]

Just admit it...you like it...

Or is that just a candy bar?

[Trigger]

It's actually a 'never-ending gobstopper'. :P