Doesn't build as much character as you might think. But I might be biased.
It's not so much building character as it is taking someone and teaching them how to work with others instead of simply looking out for numero uno which is the problem we have here in America. It also chips away at that huge sense of entitlement that Americans have been growing up with since the 70's. There's also the vocational and technical skills that you learn while in the military that translate well into the working world; talking about everything from diesel engine repair to foreign languages to art (me!) to air traffic controlling to even being a cook. It's the BOOTSTRAPS that this entitled generation keeps pretending is imaginary but the skills they teach in the military translate so well to a good-paying civilian job that folks don't even bother using the GI Bill money they earned while in and the VA is still sitting on money that's been accumulating since the Korean War.
Now I know I'm comparing apples and oranges here America and Singapore's service but I think you'll eventually see the value of your service later in life, especially when you have to work around westerners.
It's not so much building character as it is taking someone and teaching them how to work with others instead of simply looking out for numero uno which is the problem we have here in America. It also chips away at that huge sense of entitlement that Americans have been growing up with since the 70's. There's also the vocational and technical skills that you learn while in the military that translate well into the working world; talking about everything from diesel engine repair to foreign languages to art (me!) to air traffic controlling to even being a cook. It's the BOOTSTRAPS that this entitled generation keeps pretending is imaginary but the skills they teach in the military translate so well to a good-paying civilian job that folks don't even bother using the GI Bill money they earned while in and the VA is still sitting on money that's been accumulating since the Korean War.
That honestly doesn't sound like anything you couldn't learn from a decent first job.
Of course, the keyword there is decent.
On a personal note, my father maintains that entering the military (Navy) was the worst decision he ever made.
I don't think forced conscription will destroy the bootstraps idea so much as informing people that some, if not all of their wealth and success was due to the hard work of others.
It's not so much building character as it is taking someone and teaching them how to work with others instead of simply looking out for numero uno which is the problem we have here in America.
Oh, and I only have 4 classes, one of which I have already sorta taken (*Calc*) and the other in which I know roughly as much of the subject than the teacher (*Audio recording*).
You are the end result of a “would you push the button” prompt where the prompt was “you have unlimited godlike powers but you appear to all and sundry to be an impetuous child” – Zero, 2022
You are the end result of a “would you push the button” prompt where the prompt was “you have unlimited godlike powers but you appear to all and sundry to be an impetuous child” – Zero, 2022
There was a power outage at Linode's data center, but they have it sorted out now.
You are the end result of a “would you push the button” prompt where the prompt was “you have unlimited godlike powers but you appear to all and sundry to be an impetuous child” – Zero, 2022
You are the end result of a “would you push the button” prompt where the prompt was “you have unlimited godlike powers but you appear to all and sundry to be an impetuous child” – Zero, 2022
Out of all the states in the Union, truck drivers hate Ohio the most. Wide open flat spaces and a ridiculous 55mph for trucks, and surrounded by hilly/mountainous states that allow 70mph. Never bothered me much while I was driving, 55-57mph was fast enough for me (fuel saving bonus.)
They've actually started removing the dual speed limit since 2010 or so, so now trucks can go 65mph...but only on certain roads. Apparently ODOT is still reluctant to take away the 55mph truck limit on any road that has at-grade intersections, and this being Ohio we have plenty of roads that are almost entirely freeways but with one or two random at-grade intersections thrown in.
I do find it bizarre that our top speed limit (Turnpike aside) is 65, while pretty much every surrounding state goes up to 70. Every once in a while there's a proposal to increase ours to 70, but it never goes anywhere because...politicians don't like driving fast? I dunno.
You are the end result of a “would you push the button” prompt where the prompt was “you have unlimited godlike powers but you appear to all and sundry to be an impetuous child” – Zero, 2022
...I guess it's because they think keeping the speed limit 65 will mean more opportunities to write tickets. Not sure that's the case, though--I'd think people who do 75 in a 65 would just take a 70 speed limit as an invitation to do 80.
Also I finally figured out how to use Omnivius in Stuck. (Well, one part of the corporation, anyway. I'm thinking the rest of it might or might not be as malevolent or whatever, depending on how/if anyone else uses it.)
Anyway, remember how Anonus made that one ad for the company mention a "flagrant disregard for human lives"? Well, in Stuck at the Threshold, the research and development arm of the company happens to hire a dude named Dr. Sylvester (insert name I forgot here), who just so happens to have a plan to dominate the world by using a synthesized chemical agent that allows one's nervous system to be controlled remotely (whee, fictional science!). Omnivius is ready to go through with it at first, but after Sly experiments on his girlfriend (which backfires MASSIVELY once she lashes out and goes into zombie-mode), the plan goes awry and it seems like they're done with it up until they realize that they can still try to control it through different methods-- namely, releasing a new agent over the air to Greyson City, which would theoretically put the whole place into their control, granted a lack of resistance.
Obviously this is Stuck we're talking here so it should be very, very clear that there's a resistance.
Also, if you don't care about spoilers I also planned out one more thing:
The R&D part of Omnivius makes the company's stock tank after the Crew destroys any chance of them creating a zombie breakout and outs the company as being behind the whole book's events, so they sell it off. Rumor has it a company that used to make shower curtains bought it.
I've learned to tolerate drama...except on the boat
You know, I never really thought about what Omnivius's businesses were before...
The Costco nearest me repainted its exterior from grey to brown and off-white. The whole inviting-earth-tones thing doesn't really mesh with the gray and white and red interior, nor does the presence of their heavy, red-and-blue, very corporate-looking logo fit the earth tones.
You are the end result of a “would you push the button” prompt where the prompt was “you have unlimited godlike powers but you appear to all and sundry to be an impetuous child” – Zero, 2022
I always imagined Omnivius as a sort of generic massive conglomerate. The kind that has pretty much nothing but questionable business practices, but everyone buys their products anyway because they were cheap. Samsung and Hasbro come to mind.
I thought it might be funny if I ever make some kind of visual creative thing to include Omnivius logos on various products the characters use...
I've learned to tolerate drama...except on the boat
Maybe Omnivius would need a more memorable logo, then. The one I made for them is kind of generically corporate, what would have looked trendy about 10-15 years ago (with the swoosh; the Gotham is a modern thing).
I don't think forced conscription will destroy the bootstraps idea so much as informing people that some, if not all of their wealth and success was due to the hard work of others.
I don't see how. At all. Conscription is still a job, and you still have to work, even if it is government employment. The outcry against "bootstraps" as I understand it is the belief that it's impossible to start with little to nothing and become a success purely by individual effort, which is one of the most ridiculous notions I've ever heard. A period in the military or civil service can provide you with the tools for this endeavor (teach a man to fish) but the thing is they won't carry an unwilling type through. So no, not all of their wealth is due to the hard work of others. A hand up here and there, but it's no where near a free ride.
I don't see how. At all. Conscription is still a job, and you still have to work, even if it is government employment. The outcry against "bootstraps" as I understand it is the belief that it's impossible to start with little to nothing and become a success purely by individual effort, which is one of the most ridiculous notions I've ever heard. A period in the military or civil service can provide you with the tools for this endeavor (teach a man to fish) but the thing is they won't carry an unwilling type through. So no, not all of their wealth is due to the hard work of others. A hand up here and there, but it's no where near a free ride.
The other main argument against the "bootstraps" is that if it works at all, it mostly only works for white people. Due to institutionalized discrimination and such. We were discussing this yesterday in my Asian Pacific American Literature course.
Also, apparently, you will die in the class/income bracket you were born into.
I always imagined Omnivius as a sort of generic massive conglomerate. The kind that has pretty much nothing but questionable business practices, but everyone buys their products anyway because they were cheap. Samsung and Hasbro come to mind.
I thought it might be funny if I ever make some kind of visual creative thing to include Omnivius logos on various products the characters use...
Ooh, maybe it'll be a hybrid of both. Their worst stuff's in the R&D department but otherwise it's a benign, if a little shady, company.
It'd make the sale of R&D to Aperture Science make sense. The way they see it, the less said about that part of the company the better.
They've actually started removing the dual speed limit since 2010 or so, so now trucks can go 65mph...but only on certain roads. Apparently ODOT is still reluctant to take away the 55mph truck limit on any road that has at-grade intersections, and this being Ohio we have plenty of roads that are almost entirely freeways but with one or two random at-grade intersections thrown in.
I do find it bizarre that our top speed limit (Turnpike aside) is 65, while pretty much every surrounding state goes up to 70. Every once in a while there's a proposal to increase ours to 70, but it never goes anywhere because...politicians don't like driving fast? I dunno.
That's a good thing. It was really ridiculous a few years back. One of the most common jokes told by truck drivers is "Did you hear about the massive layoffs at the Ohio State Highway Patrol? They posted three state troopers at every single highway intersection in the state of Ohio, and then they fired the rest."
The other main argument against the "bootstraps" is that if it works at all, it mostly only works for white people. Due to institutionalized discrimination and such. We were discussing this yesterday in my Asian Pacific American Literature course.
Also, apparently, you will die in the class/income bracket you were born into.
I find this argument to have little to no merit, especially these days and especially where the military is concerned. Two of my sergeants in my section were poor immigrants from Central America which means they literally had nothing when they joined up and walked away from the Marine Corps with a citizenship AND a college education secured (I should note that the USMC is the only branch of the service, IIRC, this open about recruiting foreign nationals.) One of my fellows in combat training was from a war-torn country in Africa where he was one of those kids who grew up with an AK-47 in his hands. He's now out doing what I'm doing, which is getting a university education. So no, I find the argument about race holding them back to be baseless.
Comments
That honestly doesn't sound like anything you couldn't learn from a decent first job.
Of course, the keyword there is decent.
On a personal note, my father maintains that entering the military (Navy) was the worst decision he ever made.
Also I think the word "entitled" is overused.
Went to school, met with my political philosophy and IB world lit. teachers, got schedules and book lists and stuff.
This year is gonna rock.
I wish I could still look at college as a fun experience rather than a chore.
I do find it bizarre that our top speed limit (Turnpike aside) is 65, while pretty much every surrounding state goes up to 70. Every once in a while there's a proposal to increase ours to 70, but it never goes anywhere because...politicians don't like driving fast? I dunno.
Looking at bridges desgined by Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
not back to your regularly scheduled depression >.>
Also, apparently, you will die in the class/income bracket you were born into.
Also, nice socks JZ.
Tune in next week for more shocking reveals