Would you join your nation's armed forces if it faced a serious threat?

[SG-17]

Lets say that you are an able-bodied, 18-45 year old, male or female and your nation for some reason had to fight a war against a serious enemy that could really do damage to your nation and your way of life. Would you join your nation's armed forces to help protect it? Would you stay a civilian and help the war effort from home? Would you run to a neutral country? Or would you do something else?


I was considering joining the USAF to pay for my college, but I decided that I'd rather not help fight a war that, in my opinion, isn't important. However I remain resolute that if the United States were ever attacked by a legitimate foreign power or if we were brought into a war against a powerful alliance (basically a non-nuclear World War III scenario) I would join as soon as I made arrangements for my family (if I had one at that point).

 

[Dumanios]

I would get more dakka than a redneck militia.

 

[JohnRM]

Are you kidding me? I wouldn't even help my neighbor and we're related.

 

[Abaddon]

I think i'd run away. I don't want to be involved in a war, and I don't value anything about my nation.

Perhaps if it were some comic book evil that must be defeated... but if we are just changing the name of our leader.. who cares?

 

[ArneHD]

I like to imagine that I would, but I really cannot predict if I would unless faced with such a situation.

 

[Mr. Dictator]

Not my problem.

And why limit it to just those above the age of 18? I'm sure there will be some great parents out there handing little billy a gun to "protect our way o life"

 

[Rashiminos]

It would depend on the causes of the threat in question. There may be some point at which I would believe my nation to deserve the response it's getting, and would be reluctant to aid it.

 

[Shadowbound]

Defeating the Nazis was in the same category as changing a flat tire: an untidy business that men were expected to know how to do. And not just the men of yore, the supermen of her generation; Randy was expected to know about these things too. If the Axis reconstituted itself tomorrow, Grandma would expect Randy to be suited up behind the controls of a supersonic fighter plane the day after that. And Randy would sooner spiral into the ground at Mach 2 than bear her tidings that he wasn’t up to the job.

Plus, they'd throw in one of those LASIC vision things so that I could fly.

 

[Loppan Torkel]

I'm already in a neutral country

 

[Whiskey_Lord]

Probably not. My talents have no real application in war, and I do not like being in an occupation in which I cannot employ my talents. Also, I have little respect for authority in general, especially when it has half my intelligence and screams in my face. The military is not for everyone.

 

[MobBoss]

I joined up when there wasnt a serious threat, so I guess in my case, would I come out of retirement and join back up? Heck yeah.

A coward dies a thousand deaths...a hero dies but one.

The real answer to the question though is if the threat were indeed serious enough, wouldnt a draft be implemented and people forced to join if physically able?

In that case, how many would rather go to prison than go to war?

 

[Mr. Dictator]

A coward dies a thousand deaths...a hero dies but one.

How many times does the guy that isn't easily stirred by sentimentalism die?

 

[Shadowbound]

How many times does the guy that isn't easily stirred by sentimentalism die?

You can't die if you never lived.

 

[MobBoss]

How many times does the guy that isn't easily stirred by sentimentalism die?

About a thousand.

 

[SuperBeaverInc.]

I would probably make a pretty bad soldier, so I would probably just try to help as a civilian.

 

[SG-17]

Not my problem.

And why limit it to just those above the age of 18? I'm sure there will be some great parents out there handing little billy a gun to "protect our way o life"

Most nations don't let anyone join who is under 18, even during war times.


@MobBoss, I doubt that a draft would be instituted right away. Chances are it would take a few months to a year. I really doubt that we would have a peace-time draft again.

 

[Perfection]

No, I'd just slow things down.

Maybe I could help design stuffs? I like circuits!

 

[Communisto]

I like to think that I would. Who knows though.

 

[Mr. Dictator]

You can't die if you never lived.

I'd say you can live without feeling a need to fight for land you were plopped down on, for others' reasons.

About a thousand.

And those who turn the other cheek?

In that case, how many would rather go to prison than go to war?

Considering I'm completely anti-draft, I'll take prison.

 

[Communisto]

I'd say you can live without feeling a need to fight for land you were plopped down on, for others' reasons.

If your country is being invaded theres a good chance many of the people you care about could get hurt. It has nothing to do with land.