We should start calling #2 borrowed valor and include children and other family members of veterans that brag about service despite not serving themselves too.
Edit: added a clarifying line that I am referring to ones that are doing the same thing as the army spouses. “I deserve a discount because my dad served in Vietnam!” people.
Yeah there’s a really interesting difference up here in Canada, where when someone says they served we* tend to say we’re sorry they went through that, ask how are they doing now, etc. It’s not the worship I see done down in the US (that seems to end the moment the VA is mentioned).
(*Does not apply in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba.)
As a disabled us veteran, I would trade the weird obligatory lip service and being used as a prop for politicians who then cut va funding year over year for fully funded veteran services 1000%.
It makes me uncomfortable when someone says “thank you for your service” I get it, they respect it, and don’t know what to say, I just don’t really know how to respond to it. You’re welcome? That seems fucked up on a lot of levels. No problem? Ehhh there’s problems. Like, wtf do you say to that? I haven’t found a response that I’m comfortable with.
We should start calling #2 borrowed valor and include children and other family members of veterans that brag about service despite not serving themselves too.
Edit: added a clarifying line that I am referring to ones that are doing the same thing as the army spouses. “I deserve a discount because my dad served in Vietnam!” people.
Or…
How about just not putting your military personal up on some kind of weird worship pedestal?
You can be thankful to people for being Paramedics, Firefighters, hell even social workers.
There’s tons of people that get paid to put their life on the line.
Yeah there’s a really interesting difference up here in Canada, where when someone says they served we* tend to say we’re sorry they went through that, ask how are they doing now, etc. It’s not the worship I see done down in the US (that seems to end the moment the VA is mentioned).
(*Does not apply in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba.)
As a disabled us veteran, I would trade the weird obligatory lip service and being used as a prop for politicians who then cut va funding year over year for fully funded veteran services 1000%.
It makes me uncomfortable when someone says “thank you for your service” I get it, they respect it, and don’t know what to say, I just don’t really know how to respond to it. You’re welcome? That seems fucked up on a lot of levels. No problem? Ehhh there’s problems. Like, wtf do you say to that? I haven’t found a response that I’m comfortable with.
I just go with “thanks for paying your taxes”
Remind me: what’s the term for the GF/spouse back stateside, collecting checks and side pieces while the soldier’s deployed?
Brass diggers?
Tricareatops, Dependapotamous, I’m sure there are a few more
Apparently the current slang is dependa and is focused mostly on the benefits. This one is new to me.
There was a different one I heard as a kid that was focused more on the cheating than the benefits, but I can’t remember what that one was.
That one is jodie
Jody is the guy who steals your girl while you’re deployed
That’s what I was thinking but I felt more strongly that I was wrong.
Poor decisions were made. lol
That one is not ringing a bell either, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there have been dozens over the years and in different languages.