4 ms·
I downvoted you because you lumped "Joining the military" in the category of jobs that "are only technically voluntary and are driven by economic duress more th
by dctoedt 12y ago
I downvoted you because you lumped "Joining the military" in the category of jobs that "are only technically voluntary and are driven by economic duress more than anything else." That's surely true in a few edge cases, but not in the vast majority (unless things have changed dramatically). And I'll accept the downvotes that I'm sure are coming.
- Mz 12y agoMy ex was career military. It was his dream career, the only thing he wanted since childhood. But, like anything, for some people it isn't so voluntary. The American military is more "color blind" and thus a better opportunity for black Americans than many civilian jobs. So when the Gulf War broke out, blacks were "overrepresented" in the military and this became a political hot potato: What had been a good opportunity in peace time was now a serious risk to life and limb for an inordinately high number of blacks and this was seen as another form of racism in America, basically. Plus, in many countries there is a compulsory term of service.
- ameister14 12y agoYeah, I meant that it can be. Also remember that we're not simply talking about the U.S. here; in many countries people join the military because they see no other choice, not because they want to.