do you wish you'd ever been to war

[egb_hibs]

on one hand this is probably the crassest post i've ever made, particularly in the eyes of the soldiers on here who've actually seen combat.

but but but...

horrific as the reality would be, and rationally we'd all rightly shy away from it - but still.

but still, i think that deep down most blokes would love to have signed up for a good old proper war against the krauts for example, rather than some nasty mess on the other side of the world with chaps you can't play football with at christmas.

be honest lads - much as sensible brain says no; there's wee fecker brain that say; yup, i wish i had, it's the ultimate test of manhood.

tell me i'm wrong.

[Forzahibs]

Originally Posted by egb_hibs

on one hand this is probably the crassest post i've ever made, particularly in the eyes of the soldiers on here who've actually seen combat.

but but but...

horrific as the reality would be, and rationally we'd all rightly shy away from it - but still.

but still, i think that deep down most blokes would love to have signed up for a good old proper war against the krauts for example, rather than some nasty mess on the other side of the world with chaps you can't play football with at christmas.

be honest lads - much as sensible brain says no; there's wee fecker brain that say; yup, i wish i had, it's the ultimate test of manhood.

tell me i'm wrong.

Bugger that , far too dangerous

[broonieboy]

Can I choose the War? If so, WW2 - Spitfire pilot.

[egb_hibs]

Originally Posted by Forzahibs

Bugger that , far too dangerous

you're right of course but .... - in fact, let's stop right here and to save time, just assume i caveat everything i say with the points i made in my first post rather than me qualifying every dumb thing i say - ...there's still a truth to the point about being tested.

when i listened to my old grandad, i couldn't help feeling that much though he - and everyone however actually had to do it, i imagine - would rather not have, it still gave them, i dunno, a 'gravitas'.

i'd run a mile from it now, but to be honest, and i think this is true - stupid yes, but still true - wee dafties like me who went into a tear up at the football as youngsters, were doing that for want of a more 'legitimising' reason to do it. back then, i'd have fucking loved it, and i really mean that, which is not meant as some kind of boast, more a pointer to how fucking stupid i used to be.

[Haruki]

Nope. I'm a coward. I'm a wimp. I hate fighting. Even if I win I hurt my hands. I'm neither fighter or lover. I'm just a lazy bastard. I'm happy with this.

I would seriously do almost anything to avoid being called up. F#ck that for a game of soldiers (all puns totally intended).

If anybody fucked with my son I'd kill them with my bare hands though. But that's different.

[Forzahibs]

Originally Posted by egb_hibs

you're right of course but .... - in fact, let's stop right here and to save time, just assume i caveat everything i say with the points i made in my first post rather than me qualifying every dumb thing i say - ...there's still a truth to the point about being tested.

when i listened to my old grandad, i couldn't help feeling that much though he - and everyone however actually had to do it, i imagine - would rather not have, it still gave them, i dunno, a 'gravitas'.

i'd run a mile from it now, but to be honest, and i think this is true - stupid yes, but still true - wee dafties like me who went into a tear up at the football as youngsters, were doing that for want of a more 'legitimising' reason to do it. back then, i'd have fucking loved it, and i really mean that, which is not meant as some kind of boast, more a pointer to how fucking stupid i used to be.

Admittedly war can seem a bit glamorous (mainly in films i suppose) But when i watch those films i normally come to the conclusion that i'd have buggered off when the going got tough

[©stretch]

Originally Posted by egb_hibs

on one hand this is probably the crassest post i've ever made, particularly in the eyes of the soldiers on here who've actually seen combat.

but but but...

horrific as the reality would be, and rationally we'd all rightly shy away from it - but still.

but still, i think that deep down most blokes would love to have signed up for a good old proper war against the krauts for example, rather than some nasty mess on the other side of the world with chaps you can't play football with at christmas.

be honest lads - much as sensible brain says no; there's wee fecker brain that say; yup, i wish i had, it's the ultimate test of manhood.

tell me i'm wrong.

I was in the Navy, all be it for only ten minutes. When the Falklands was on, there was talk in the papers about calling up reserves and ex sailors. I was shitting masell. to the fact that I maybe get called up again.

So it's no for me. But then again a couple o pints, and the sound of the bagpipes then I'm yer man.

[BurbankHibee]

I've watched a fair bit of documentary footage of WW2 soldiers being interviewed and talking about their experiences and their remarkable bravery and yet they do so with astonishing humilty and humbleness. These guys amaze me, they really do and I often wonder myself if I could face that kind of situation. I suspect I would be the type lying in the fox hole in the foetus position, a blubbering wreck and a complete liability to those around him.

[GalegoHibs]

Haven't felt that way since I turned 15 and stopped reading the Commando books, egb.

[blue toon hibby]

Originally Posted by egb_hibs

on one hand this is probably the crassest post i've ever made, particularly in the eyes of the soldiers on here who've actually seen combat.

but but but...

horrific as the reality would be, and rationally we'd all rightly shy away from it - but still.

but still, i think that deep down most blokes would love to have signed up for a good old proper war against the krauts for example, rather than some nasty mess on the other side of the world with chaps you can't play football with at christmas.

be honest lads - much as sensible brain says no; there's wee fecker brain that say; yup, i wish i had, it's the ultimate test of manhood.

tell me i'm wrong.

Perhaps that's the root of what's wrong with the world today? . . .
An 11 year old kid gunned down in Liverpool the other day by some wee chav who wanted to take the ultimate test of manhood.
The Dunblane massacre? Yeah, big man.
Sadly there are far too many similar instances to recount here but I have never felt the need - nor will I ever feel the need - to pick up a gun to test my manhood.

[Stu]

No way on earth.

Grandad served with the Gordon Highlanders in WW1 - wouldn't talk about it.

Faither, merchant seaman being shot at pretty well defenceless in the North Atlantic - wouldn't talk about it.

There's a reason for that. It was fecking miserable and scarey. It was real life and death - not sitting on a computer glamourising it.

[Colr]

Originally Posted by egb_hibs

on one hand this is probably the crassest post i've ever made, particularly in the eyes of the soldiers on here who've actually seen combat.

but but but...

horrific as the reality would be, and rationally we'd all rightly shy away from it - but still.

but still, i think that deep down most blokes would love to have signed up for a good old proper war against the krauts for example, rather than some nasty mess on the other side of the world with chaps you can't play football with at christmas.

be honest lads - much as sensible brain says no; there's wee fecker brain that say; yup, i wish i had, it's the ultimate test of manhood.

tell me i'm wrong.

You're wrong.

Ever thought of joining those WW2 re-enactment twats from the TV last night?

[Colr]

Originally Posted by blue toon hibby

Perhaps that's the root of what's wrong with the world today? . . .
An 11 year old kid gunned down in Liverpool the other day by some wee chav who wanted to take the ultimate test of manhood.
The Dunblane massacre? Yeah, big man.
Sadly there are far too many similar instances to recount here but I have never felt the need - nor will I ever feel the need - to pick up a gun to test my manhood.

Folk like that probably wouldn't be much use to the army.

[HailHail]

Bugger that. Probably used to think I wouldn't have minded a crack at old stylee proper war with rifle and bayonet, where you actually had to fight rather than today's invisible battlefield but bugger that. Killing is killing. Who would seriously want to have the chance of a bullet in the bawz?

Omdurman in the sudan or any of the battles in the Zulu war other than Isandhlwana look about the best fun you could have had in the army. Shooting with relative impunity.

[Briant]

Originally Posted by GalegoHibs

Haven't felt that way since I turned 15 and stopped reading the Commando books, egb.

Me too.

Except it was my last Biggles book.

[tortohibee]

maybe about 10 years ago i was thinking of joining the medical core. i was in the TAs but couldnt commit for long due to a change of job. didnt really have the build to be a frontline soldier but had the balls. one thing guaranteed when you join up now though is that you are sure to go to a war zone unless your name is prince harry. saying thay ww2 was only the only war worth risking your life for as the rest ie iraq,afghanistan,uk colonial breakups were/are pointless and i for one wouldnt risk loosing my life over uk foriegn policy

[Brian]

You're wrong.

[persevered]

The ordinary man gets blown to bits so someone futher up the food chain can make a ton of money. I would fight for a cause, independence or defence of my country but never to make someone else rich.

The Spannish Cival war would have been a good one to fight in though.

[SG7nil]

Originally Posted by HailHail

Bugger that. Probably used to think I wouldn't have minded a crack at old stylee proper war with rifle and bayonet, where you actually had to fight rather than today's invisible battlefield but bugger that. Killing is killing. Who would seriously want to have the chance of a bullet in the bawz?

Omdurman in the sudan or any of the battles in the Zulu war other than Isandhlwana look about the best fun you could have had in the army. Shooting with relative impunity.

Yer right Ian.. and anyway you're rapidly running out of body parts to be shot in.. keep as much as you've got left intact!

Having said that, you could be "Hailed" as a latter day Douglas Bader...

[Greenscratch]

Originally Posted by egb_hibs

on one hand this is probably the crassest post i've ever made, particularly in the eyes of the soldiers on here who've actually seen combat.

but but but...

horrific as the reality would be, and rationally we'd all rightly shy away from it - but still.

but still, i think that deep down most blokes would love to have signed up for a good old proper war against the krauts for example, rather than some nasty mess on the other side of the world with chaps you can't play football with at christmas.

be honest lads - much as sensible brain says no; there's wee fecker brain that say; yup, i wish i had, it's the ultimate test of manhood.

tell me i'm wrong.

Its is said that there is no higher hit than being armed in a group of armed chaps, hunting other armed chaps (re the ultimate test of manhood- {rather that actually poppin someones clogs})

But,

I waould say that those raised on Union Jack Jackson, or Kampfgruppen Falcon etc will defo have a more romantic notion of war than say, the youth of today who have grown up reading mens health etc

I would take it one step further and surmise that the youth of today, wi their manbags etc have just as much romantic notions of homosexuality as the older generation do of war.

Doner und blitzen!!!!!!!!

[supastar]

You're so wrong, I don't know you so I can't say whether you're bought the way hollywood and films in majority romanticise war.

I haven't seen combat, my father has and was wounded, but I lived in a besiged city under sniper fire and constant shelling for two years and I can tell you its nothing like the myths you get fed about courage glory and adrenaline - thats bullshit - people do things just to survive in extreme circumstances.

Its easy to romanticise about the war from a sheltered existence when you're life is on the line its very different story.