Never Mind the Giant Flat-Screen TV... - Page 11

Amber Lamps · 12-23-2010, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amorok

You know, maybe it's because I'm still in but I tend to feel that there's no reason the military shouldn't be the best someone can aspire to. It certainly has been for me. As for economics, I come from a very impoverished part of the country. Growing up most of my family could be kindly described as poor white trash, a label that most of them still live up to to this day. However, that was a motivator, not an excuse for me. I believe the real problem is a victim mentality, one of entitlement where people think the world owes them something. Is this more of a problem in the black community? Maybe, maybe not, I don't know. I've met a lot of black and white people and have this attitude. Either way, that's the real issue, and until people in this country learn to start working for themselves instead of demanding things because they think they deserve them for nothing, things won't get better.

I agree with this except that I think that it's sad that the military was your best opportunity in life...

Homeslice · 12-23-2010, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amber Lamps

I agree with this except that I think that it's sad that the military was your best opportunity in life...

If you are someone who doesn't know WTF they want to do, why not join the military so you can find out more about yourself? Instead of wasting years in college, studying the wrong major? Like people studying business who aren't even cut out for succeeding in it.

Or, what if someone wants to do a job that can only be done in the military?

Besides it isn't like someone is going to be richer just because they graduated college at 21 instead of 25.

Amber Lamps · 12-24-2010, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Homeslice

If you are someone who doesn't know WTF they want to do, why not join the military so you can find out more about yourself? Instead of wasting years in college, studying the wrong major? Like people studying business who aren't even cut out for succeeding in it.

Or, what if someone wants to do a job that can only be done in the military?

Besides it isn't like someone is going to be richer just because they graduated college at 21 instead of 25.

So you think that being "cannon fodder" for the government is a great option? BTW a college graduate could make enough money to buy a house with the difference in pay between himself and a private in the military over four years...

Dave · 12-24-2010, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amber Lamps

So you think that being "cannon fodder" for the government is a great option? BTW a college graduate could make enough money to buy a house with the difference in pay between himself and a private in the military over four years...

Nobody who's trying is gonna stay a private for four years. I made e5 in that span of time, and that's with me fucking up two waiver opportunities

pauldun170 · 12-24-2010, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amber Lamps

So you think that being "cannon fodder" for the government is a great option? BTW a college graduate could make enough money to buy a house with the difference in pay between himself and a private in the military over four years...

Veterans benefits (health care and other benefit) for only a few years commitment far makes up the difference.

Lifetime healthcare cost can run up to 7 figure value + cost of tuition + benefits of an education and all the other stuff.....totally trumps the opportunity cost of holding off college for a couple of years.

Amorok · 12-24-2010, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amber Lamps

I agree with this except that I think that it's sad that the military was your best opportunity in life...

Maybe so, but I'm working on my degree and not paying a dime, I have health insurance for me and my family (which we didn't have growing up) and my four bedroom house with the corner lot and two car garage is being paid for by Uncle Sam. I could have gone to work for Boeing making 86k a year in 2005 if I'd wanted to get out. Of course, I'd be laid off right now and I only had that opportunity because of my military experience. It might be sad that there weren't better opportunities for me as a kid but that just underscores my point, I didn't have a lot of chances to succeed but I made a pretty good life for myself in spite of it. And yeah, the military was my best option. I didn't even have sports or rap music available.

Dave · 12-24-2010, 09:41 AM

so on my morning train ride i got to listen to a bunch of kids (loudly) talking about the party last night, how the one kid got burned by some girl, how he is stealing cigarettes from his job and trying to get fired, and how his dream is to live on unemployment for the next year or so. and all his friend says is "shit man, its your money!"

Tmall · 12-24-2010, 11:34 AM

I don't know if it's that big of a difference up here. But, the majority of the people I know in the forces have homes and savings. They even pay the closing costs and legal fees for the first two years of any posting to encourage home ownership.

Avatard · 12-24-2010, 04:43 PM

You need to ratchet it down a tad.

Not everyone's gonna be a fucking rocket scientist.

Someone's gonna need to flip the burgers.

Damn good thing we're not all created equally, you'd be cooking for yourself.

Homeslice · 12-24-2010, 05:59 PM

Dude, tuition has gone up way more than salaries have, over the last couple decades. Plus baby boomers' retirement funds have taken some big hits in the last 10 years. So yeah, you dont see them paying their kids' tuition as much as they did in the 80s and 90s.

Yeah I went to college, but I just didn't understand how you feel the military is some sort of last resort for a ghetto resident. Like as if they have so many better options. Like what exactly? 0.001% might be good enough at sports to get their ticket paid, or 0.00000001% might be a good enough rapper to make bank............What are the other options? OK let's take studying hard......0.00001% might get a full scholarship somewhere........So where does that leave the other 99%? Should they become a manager at the TJ Maxx in their hood?

Oh yeah, that's a lot to aspire to

And for those that get loans for college, why is that "better" than serving first? Especially when half of college students never graduate, mostly because they didn't know themselves well enough to pick a realistic major/career field (almost happened to me)..............and even those that do graduate don't always end up getting a job earning what the media claims college graduates make.

I just want to know what these "superior choices" are.

I'm pretty sure I would have been more disciplined and had more self-confidence/direction had I done something with a little more structure (like the military) before going to college.

12-24-2010, 09:41 AM	#7
Dave Chaotic Neutral Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Cherry Hill NJ Moto: GV1200 Madura, Hawk gt Posts: 13,992	so on my morning train ride i got to listen to a bunch of kids (loudly) talking about the party last night, how the one kid got burned by some girl, how he is stealing cigarettes from his job and trying to get fired, and how his dream is to live on unemployment for the next year or so. and all his friend says is "shit man, its your money!" __________________ TWF Post whore #6

12-24-2010, 04:43 PM	#9
Avatard Crotch Rocket Curmudgeon Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Here to integrity Moto: Li'l red baby Ninja Posts: 7,482	You need to ratchet it down a tad. Not everyone's gonna be a fucking rocket scientist. Someone's gonna need to flip the burgers. Damn good thing we're not all created equally, you'd be cooking for yourself. __________________ Insert free thought here.

12-24-2010, 05:59 PM	#10
Homeslice Elitist Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: SF Bay Area Moto: Gix 750 Posts: 11,351	Dude, tuition has gone up way more than salaries have, over the last couple decades. Plus baby boomers' retirement funds have taken some big hits in the last 10 years. So yeah, you dont see them paying their kids' tuition as much as they did in the 80s and 90s. Yeah I went to college, but I just didn't understand how you feel the military is some sort of last resort for a ghetto resident. Like as if they have so many better options. Like what exactly? 0.001% might be good enough at sports to get their ticket paid, or 0.00000001% might be a good enough rapper to make bank............What are the other options? OK let's take studying hard......0.00001% might get a full scholarship somewhere........So where does that leave the other 99%? Should they become a manager at the TJ Maxx in their hood? Oh yeah, that's a lot to aspire to And for those that get loans for college, why is that "better" than serving first? Especially when half of college students never graduate, mostly because they didn't know themselves well enough to pick a realistic major/career field (almost happened to me)..............and even those that do graduate don't always end up getting a job earning what the media claims college graduates make. I just want to know what these "superior choices" are. I'm pretty sure I would have been more disciplined and had more self-confidence/direction had I done something with a little more structure (like the military) before going to college. Last edited by Homeslice; 12-24-2010 at 06:06 PM..

12-24-2010, 11:34 AM	#8
Tmall Aspiring Rapper Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Halifax, NS Moto: '12 CB1000R Posts: 3,569	I don't know if it's that big of a difference up here. But, the majority of the people I know in the forces have homes and savings. They even pay the closing costs and legal fees for the first two years of any posting to encourage home ownership.