Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 36

Thread: Soldiers and Scientists and Engineers

  1. #1

    Default Soldiers and Scientists and Engineers

    Maybe it's just me, but personally, I always felt soldiers get too much attention. Maybe that's not what I meant, but I just mean that the scientists that are responsible for weapons, devices, and vehicles the soldiers need. I mean granted, they are putting their lives at risk, but the american public often overlooks the scientists and engineers that really run the country.

    Granted, the scientists don't risk their lives...but they're too valuable to be fighting. Without them, the soldiers might as well fight with bamboo sticks. If the soldiers are the immune system of the US, then the scientists are the brains and backbone of the country(as well as many other countries).

    I'm not trying to put a value on who's more valuable, because we're all on the same side...but often the scientists and engineers who deisng vehicles and equipment are often overlooked and it pains me to see them neglected.

    So yeah, thoughts?

  2. #2
    ORANGE Dr Unne's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 1999
    Posts
    7,394
    Articles
    1
    Contributions
    • Former Administrator
    • Former Developer
    • Former Tech Admin

    Default

    The technology the army uses nowadays gets some attention on TV, but most people probably don't understand, not enough to do more than give a "wow, neat". I'd hope that most people realize that our army gets a rather large part of its strength from the technology we use though. Scientists are probably more valuable in the long run, just like generals are valuable, but foot soldiers are the ones who die out in the field, and that at least deserves some credit.

  3. #3
    Unpostmodernizeable Shadow Nexus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2000
    Location
    Barcino, Hispania
    Posts
    987

    Default

    Science used for killing deserves no respect.

  4. #4

    Default

    Ever see that movie "Falling Down" good movie.

    edit:I agree though, Scients/Engineers do deserve more recognition for their work, thanks to them are soldiers out in the battle field have one of the best equipment in the world. Compared to other countries. And with the technology, are troops are best trained/equiped also.
    Last edited by Casey; 10-16-2004 at 01:24 AM.

  5. #5
    Doc Skogs's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2002
    Location
    A Land Down Under
    Posts
    1,452

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Shadow Nexus
    Science used for killing deserves no respect.
    Completely agree with you there. In a few years I will have the dilemma of deciding to follow a more lucrative, commercial or military based scientific career or a less well-paying, more ethical career. It's not a decision I'm looking forward to making.

  6. #6
    Unpostmodernizeable Shadow Nexus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2000
    Location
    Barcino, Hispania
    Posts
    987

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Skogs
    Completely agree with you there. In a few years I will have the dilemma of deciding to follow a more lucrative, commercial or military based scientific career or a less well-paying, more ethical career. It's not a decision I'm looking forward to making.
    Uh...well, I study philosophy, so guess what my decision was. Although I never even contemplated the idea of doing something I don't like, such as having to do something with the army.

  7. #7
    Banned nik0tine's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Dalmasca!
    Posts
    12,133

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Shadow Nexus
    Science used for killing deserves no respect.
    The power of this statements bluntness is brilliant. I couldn't agree more with what you have said.

  8. #8
    ORANGE Dr Unne's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 1999
    Posts
    7,394
    Articles
    1
    Contributions
    • Former Administrator
    • Former Developer
    • Former Tech Admin

    Default

    Which is better, creating something which is used for killing, or refusing to create something which is used for killing, and as a result being killed by someone else who doesn't hold to your standards?

  9. #9
    Unpostmodernizeable Shadow Nexus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2000
    Location
    Barcino, Hispania
    Posts
    987

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Dr Unne
    Which is better, creating something which is used for killing, or refusing to create something which is used for killing, and as a result being killed by someone else who doesn't hold to your standards?
    The best way of winning a fight is not starting it. In the modern western world there is little risk of being invaded by a foregin country.

    If science moves towards the developing of tools for killing, it is because the interest of a few, as is war.

  10. #10
    Blademaster of Northland DeBlayde's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Location
    well, it ain't coldest Hel no more. :D
    Posts
    857

    Default

    invaded, unlikely. Attacked, all kinds of likely. I would remind you of certain events which happened a few years ago in the beginning of September.

    Makoto, Honesty.

  11. #11
    Unpostmodernizeable Shadow Nexus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2000
    Location
    Barcino, Hispania
    Posts
    987

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by DeBlayde
    invaded, unlikely. Attacked, all kinds of likely. I would remind you of certain events which happened a few years ago in the beginning of September.
    Yes, and even with the largest army in the world, and a waste in military budget being eight times all the external debt of all the third world countries in the world, no one could stop it: weapons are not there for saving lifes, weapons are there to take them.

    Well, not to mention all the unethical acts with animals used for testing weapons.

  12. #12

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Shadow Nexus
    Science used for killing deserves no respect.

    The M1 garand was used for killing, but how many Jewish lives did it save in WWII??? The A bomb was used for killing, but how many American lives did it save from invading Japans' coast in a d-day type fashion.

    I think we should all agree sometimes killing saves lives.
    Quote Originally Posted by Mirage View Post
    And this is where I say "You've got a will, but it isn't free." :]
    Quote Originally Posted by Chakan the forever man
    If you never hear from me again, it is because I came to close to the truth.

  13. #13

    Default

    I think we should all agree sometimes killing saves lives.
    Yup.

  14. #14

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Dr Unne
    Which is better, creating something which is used for killing, or refusing to create something which is used for killing, and as a result being killed by someone else who doesn't hold to your standards?
    I consider it a moral victory. Science was meant to discover how our universe works. To bring reason and facts to people, not to kill them. And I don't care if it saves people. I remember a quote I heard once, "Without warriors, there can be no war." I rather like that quote.
    lol signature

  15. #15
    Gamecrafter Recognized Member Azure Chrysanthemum's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    In the Chrysanthemum garden
    Posts
    11,798

    FFXIV Character

    Kazane Shiba (Adamantoise)
    Contributions
    • Former Cid's Knight

    Default

    I think we should all agree sometimes killing saves lives.
    Why do we always look towards the here and now? Violence begets more violence, killing provokes more killing. Terrorists attacked us, we bomb the crap out of them, they attack us again, we bomb the crap out of them, it's an endless cycle of death. What is war but a long string of atrocities and counter-atrocities?

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •