“Mandel was a marine. Good for him, but that doesn’t impart knowledge in all areas. People that use their service as some kind of magic shield irritate me.”
So what branch did you serve, a-hole?
Just kidding. I agree with you, I call people here ‘Special Interests’ when they have a background and then try to use it as a club against others. Once they out themselves, I simply tell them that I don’t debate ‘special interests’. Similar to my doctor telling me to go on statins. I said no, and he tried to debate me, as if he had any interest in hearing my side. I said no debate. I then asked if he still wanted me around, and he was ok with that.
“Just kidding. I agree with you, I call people here ‘Special Interests’ when they have a background and then try to use it as a club against others. “
I spent 4 years in the Navy. No war during my time, never was shot at, but spent 3.5 years of that at sea on combat vessels. I generally don’t make a fuss about it, I did what I did. I don’t think less of those that didn’t serve. But it just hits a nerve when someone leans on their service as a crutch. You know, like John F’ing Kerry and his “service” in VietNam. My son-in-law is retired Army, 20 years. Was in Iraq twice, Afghanistan once, and he never uses that as a crutch, or a way to imply he’s somehow better than others.