I'm tired of the Uber military worship

[Bluesaph]

I’m gonna be politically incorrect here. Don’t get me wrong. I do appreciate our military and our vets. I just don’t understand how some vets are so entitled. I’ll give you an example:

My daughter has put herself through college to be a speech language pathologist and teacher. She has worked hard her entire life and her first job was when she was 12.

She says that 9 out of 10 military vets who come into the restaurant where she serves to pay for her education are not satisfied with the free entre they get. They want a bar drink free too and rarely tip.

This weekend I had to run into a Home Depot. I had dropped my husband off and was going to run to the bank when I realized he forgot his wallet in the car. I saw the vet parking spot right up front and was only going to run in for a minute if even that. Albeit this is just a courtesy parking spot. Not illegal to park there. So I pulled in and was running out when an old white guy jumps out of his old white van covered in pro trump and pro America and Christian stickers.

Mind you, I’m in a hurry because I had no intention of staying in that spot. But he charges at me and gets in my face and yells, “What branch of the military did you serve in?” This caught me off guard as well as made me a little nervous. But I don’t tend to back down when confronted. I’m the type that would go down fighting. So I said, “That’s none of your god damned business.” And kept briskly walking into the entrance. The guy FOLLOWS ME. And yells, “I’m a vet and you’re NOT!” All I said was, “Good for you!” I saw my husband. Gave him his wallet and started to leave as the guy stands there mad dogging me the whole way!

Now this does nothing more than make me want to park in that spot any damned time I feel like it!

Rant over.

[Skittles]

1. 9 out of 10

uh huh

and you should not park in a spot not designated for you

[sarge43]

6. uh huh

And of course, no life long civilians have ever, ever behaved badly. *cough*trump*cough* for starters.

[pintobean]

35. +1

It was chuckle worthy.

Gonna go find my waders now.

[Skittles]

43. I can guarantee you won't have waders high enough

no INDEED

[Adsos Letter]

53. +1

Gonna join the other poster in donning my waders. And I'm a vet, as I know you are as well.

[Trenzalore]

2. My mom's a veteran

So was my dad but he passed.

She was Lt. in the army in the nursing corp in Vietnam. She has ran into the "old guy" who demands to know about her service who makes an assumption that a 70 year old woman couldn't have served her country. They get beaten back pretty quick when for the most part they find out they just disrespected an officer.

I think she has heard, that spot is for your husband a few times. She laughs and says I outranked both my husbands in the army.

[sarge43]

13. Army Nurse Corps, RVN. Hard duty. Hand salute.

I have a veteran's plate on my beater. "Old guy" comes by and says "What branch was your husband in?"

"Air Force...just like me."

"Oh."

"Yeah and I outrank him."

"oh"

(Someday I'm going to get snippy. "It's our country, too, a-hole.&quot

[11 Bravo]

33. I love it!

[sarge43]

36. So did I.

[walkingman]

3. I think it is ridiculous. I personally think it is a result of these meaningless wars that this

nation chooses to start without cause. I think the US is becoming a rogue nation.

[DemocracyMouse]

85. It's roguish to idolize violence and war. It's roguish to idolize machismo.

And all this idolization of guns thrown in and what do we get? The USA is more dangerous than it should be. More likely to get killed by a bullet than many war zones.

Our priorities only serve war profiteering.

That's not to say that those who risk their lives within such a dubious framework don't deserve our sympathy.

But I know countless teachers, firemen and nurses who could use a break too.

[roody]

135. We have been a rogue nation for a long time. Eom

[qazplm135]

4. I'm going to be equally PI and call bullshite

first of all, I don't know many groups where 9/10 of them do anything good or bad.

second of all, you parked in a spot reserved for someone else, what are you getting pissy about?

I tip all of the time, very well...I tip standard for poor service and better than that for better service...and I'm military.

I think you need to learn the fact that the tiny sphere of people you interact with or family members interact with are not all that important in describing the greater whole.

There are millions of current and former military members out there, but the handful your daughter serves describes them all?

[AncientGeezer]

7. Well stated..

[sarge43]

9. Well yeah, qazplm135. We all wear a uniform, so we're all alike. QED

Plus, and this is top secret, we're all cloned in bowels of the Pentagon.

[qazplm135]

15. well I'm also an attorney

so I assume people just think I was created in the bowels alright...of hell.

[sarge43]

16. So much fun being a stereotype "All you are ..." n/t

[qazplm135]

22. well

I'm also half Black...so listen, stereotypes and me are bosom buddies.

[sarge43]

25. You have a trifecta going on there. Impressive

[FM123]

109. these are wise words to remember most days of our lives

the tiny sphere of people you interact with or family members interact with are not all that important in describing the greater whole

[egduj]

5. Bounce.

[lpbk2713]

8. If HD gets enough complaints they will probably discontinue this courtesy.

Rather than deal with something so controversial. Then the parking lot police will have to find something else to complain about. And I would have told him to FO too.

USN 65 - 69

[Corgigal]

10. Opinions..

However this veteran doesn’t ask you for shit, but I gave years of my life to this country.

We may have military in active hot zone any minute, this was poorly timed.

[AncientGeezer]

11. Bad move.....if as you say.."I do appreciate our military and our vets."

And then park in a Vets spot....bad deal parking in a Vet's spot to start with and then berate a Vet.
Bad choice.

As most others have said....don't.

[ripcord]

118. There is definetly entitlement in this story

It just isn't where the OP thinks it is.

[dameatball]

12. Sorry, but this is like the people that park in the fire lane because "they are just going to run

right in". Sometimes running into jerks is hard to avoid, but just walking another twenty feet would have helped alleviate the entire situation.

[Blue_true]

21. Good point. Parking 20 feet away may have taken only 10 more seconds.

I too get upset when people do things they should not. I saw a young guy finish drinking from a bottle, tighten the lid and drop it on the parking lot, a trashcans was just five feet away. I picked up the bottle after he drove away and deposited it in the receptacle that was set up for it.

People either didn't learn manners and etiquette or they choose to ignore it in some situations, either way leads to conduct and situations that can be avoided. I am not trying to justify a jackass who likely sits around waiting to challenge people, it is just I don't believe in giving them a platform.

[Ahpook]

14. Stolen valor

Is what gets on my nerves! If you want to do something... how about doing it instead of lying about it?

My dad was retired military and somehow uncovered one of these dicks. My dad was certain he was stolen valor and found out. He talked incessantly about his "career" and most of it made no sense which threw red flags.

I don't know if you can order records even if not a family member?

Not sure how he did that

[WyattKansas]

17. Should the Vietnam Veterans been treated the way many were... NO!!!!!

But why in the hell did the United States think it was a good idea to start putting the military on a pedestal like they were a super citizen above all others since the latest Middle East Wars?

Even worse when alleged Christians co-opted the recent wars to exploit another crusade in the Middle East with their Christian Warrior dogma.

Some have been maimed and screwed up for life mentally because of their service and those should be helped greatly by this country. As should all veterans returning to civilian life with adequate employment in a country (the entire work force included) where one could support themselves.

But there has also been an unhealthy hero worship of service members that leads to negative effects on society as well. Thanked yes, but given a god status no. I'm just saying that the U.S. has gone way too overboard with hero worship in it's over-correction of how Vietnam Veterans were treated.

[llmart]

41. +1

[Johnny2X2X]

18. We still don't do enough for our vets

They should be taken care of better.

At the same time, the hero worship of the military is dangerous for a society. And I know a lot of vets who don’t like it all that much either. They’d rather have good school, pay, benefits, and easy to use health care than a bunch of strangers sinking them out in public for platitudes.

[maxsolomon]

24. Better how? By the Government?

Or by private companies trying to insulate themselves against accusations of not caring about vets enough?

We can't see the forest for the trees; we spend all our time focusing on the feelings of "The Troops", honoring and thanking and throwing perqs their way, sending flyovers and flag ceremonies to ballgames, and none debating the MIC and the obscene DoD budget that's bankrupting our nation.

[Sherman A1]

19. Agreed

I respect the service of those who have and are serving, but the worship that has developed over these last decades or so I find repulsive.

[Owl]

44. +1

[treestar]

20. Yeah I don't see why there should be a special spot for military

and it could be that some of them will become entitled and think they deserve a higher form of citizenship. That was never intended. If they expect that, they are not truly "serving" anyone but themselves.

[Baconator]

139. Private business thinks it will enhance their reputation and bring in more customers and money...

... and they're probably right.

[Baitball Blogger]

23. Where I live they have a Baron-boss complex.

[pnwmom]

26. I've never seen a parking spot for veterans. What about for firefighters? For the police?

They risk their lives, too.

Or how about we limit the special parking spots to people who really need them -- the disabled people who the laws are written for.

[Bettie]

47. Around here they have "veterans"

and "expectant mother". Old dudes park in the expectant mother spots all the time. Pretty much every time I go to a store with those spots an old dude is getting into or out of his truck, alone.

Oh, but those are for the womenfolk so it doesn't matter.

Then there are the reserved for pickups (of internet orders) and a half dozen other designations.

I agree, let's just do the disabled parking, because those are the people who truly need it.

[MFM008]

27. Walmart has them

plain as day, reserved for Vets or wounded warriors, one of the two.
Both my parents were vets.
We were a military family.
I can use handicapped spots, if its a vets spot don't use it, even for a moment.

[irisblue]

28. A suggestion Bluesaph

For this " This weekend I had to run into a Home Depot. I had dropped my husband off and was going to run to the bank when I realized he forgot his wallet in the car. I saw the vet parking spot right up front and was only going to run in for a minute if even that." Pullover in the lot, call you husband " Babe you left your wallet, I'm over in aisle 22.


What kind of restaurant does your girl work at? Youthful women in a military filled restaurant gets more sexual hitons

[AkFemDem]

29. I legit thought...

This was going to be about some weird Uber policy for military.... I was bummed I’d missed my free Uber ride

Your daughter is exaggerating to you. I say this as someone with many years server experience... who happens to also be a veteran.

And you shouldn’t have parked there.

[AkFemDem]

31. Also where is this restaurant that gives free entrees to vets??

The only time I’ve ever seen that has been on Veterans Day and sometimes Memorial Day. If there’s a place offering it 365 a year name them so I can pass the positive word to the vet community!

[Bluesaph]

51. Yard House on certain days

Not sure if it’s holidays or day of the week.

[MineralMan]

138. I looked it up. Yard House offers a free appetizer on Veterans Day.

That's it. So, your story doesn't actually ring very true, does it.

[Kurt V.]

30. i don't get the reserved for vets thing. Corporate pandering i guess.

[maxrandb]

32. I'm a 30 year Navy man. Retired in 2012, and I agree with you

It used to make me cringe when people would see me in my uniform and say; "thanks for your service".

I'm extremely proud of my work in the Navy. I enjoyed almost every minute of it. Yes, we were away from family alot. We did sacrifice a bit of pay. I could have made more doing a similar job in the civilian world. Yes, sometimes the hours sucked, and each time we got underway, or went to some hot spot, it was a risk. Anytime you can stand on the deck of a ship and see nothing but water in every direction is a bit scary, but also awe inspiring.

To tell you the truth, I and my Shipmates were more worried about a major fire, accident, or getting blown off the deck by a jet blast than we were about the Sears and Roebuck boats of Iran, Iraq, or Libya.

For that, I have a lifetime pension and medical benefits most Americans can only dream of.

To me, the school teacher, grocery clerk, lawyer and day laborer did just as much, if not more than I, to advance and defend American values. The single mom raising her kids to work hard and be respectful and compassionate do more than I.

Yes, I'm proud of my service, but with few exceptions, it's nothing more than a job. A very small percentage of us have even seen a shot fired in anger. With the exception of my deployments, I got up in the morning, drove to work, drove home at the end of the day and slept in my own home.

We don't deserve the level of praise we get, and our opinions surely don't have any more weight because we served.

The Navy got me the hell out of Ohio and enabled me to walk on every continent in the world. That's thanks enough.

[llmart]

42. Thank you for a very truthful post.

My sister served in Viet Nam but was "only" in the Red Cross, so even though her life was in danger and even though she suffered PTSD when she came back, no one EVER gave her anything other than the paycheck she received for volunteering to go there. She has never once expected anything in return and as a senior citizen, she has lived in HUD housing for many, many years. That's how little she got paid. She wasn't the only woman who volunteered to go help the troops in any way they could. There was and still isn't any glorification or free dinners, or "thank you for your service" etc. for her service.

There were guys who sat behind desks in DaNang and not once set foot in the "boonies", but they're hailed as heroes because they served.

The glorification of war and the military can lead to nationalistic fervor and that's what we saw happen after 9/11.

[Owl]

46. Thank you for your post.

[Bluesaph]

50. People like you I respect!

Thanks for keeping it real!

[Blaukraut]

64. That's exactly what my husband says, too.

20 years in the AF, got to see the world, and never saw combat. Retirement pay and Tricare (although it's not what it used to be like when it was CHAMPUS back in the day). He has never liked being thanked for his service because most of the time it comes across as disingenuous.

[Kaleva]

68. I haven't worn a uniform in 30 years and I'm thanked for my service everytime I go to the VA clinic

[Jake Stern]

34. Went out with my parents one night

There was this guy, mid-30's, Eagle, Globe and Anchor tattoo, berating the poor cashier because the restaurant didn't offer a veteran's discount. To make it worse his wife was joining in telling the clerk that he was being disrespectful to a Marine and an Iraq war veteran, etc.

My retired Seabee dad couldn't take it anymore he got up in the guy's face and asked him "Why did you join the military? Was it to serve your country or get free shit? If I can bring myself to pay full cost then SO CAN YOU!".

They grumbled, paid and left.

So yes there are veterans who seem to have a deep sense of entitlement and the idea that just because they put on a uniform they should get special treatment.

[Wounded Bear]

38. Frankly, I'm a little uncomfortable with people coming up to me...

and saying "Thank you for your service." I'm convinced it's become another one of those things that people do to make themselves feel better. I served, and yeah more often than not I'm wearing a ball cap with my service proudly displayed, so I could avoid it if I really wanted to, but whatever.

I've kind of evolved on it. I've always been polite and respectful of people who do it, but I've kind of evolved to where I usually say something lame like, "Thank you for noticing."

I served during Vietnam, but not IN Vietnam. I was spared the trauma of combat.

I guess I'm a little conflicte, but kind of agree with the OP. I think most vets are glad to have survived and just to have come home.

[pintobean]

39. The second best spot at the nearby supermarket is for vets.

I'm a vet, but I rarely use that spot. Below is what I saw in that spot today.

It's private property, which you disrespected, when you decided you were more deserving than people like this.



You parking in that spot is the only part of your bouncy that I buy. Like someone above posted, stolen valor.

[Skittles]

61. you get it, pintobean

yes indeed

[Horse with no Name]

87. I was actually fond of bouncy...

🤪

[JonLP24]

40. Trust me as a veteran I don't get any special respect

Maybe an occasional "thanks for your service" if someone sees it on my ID but people talk a good game but when it comes to actually personally knowing a veteran they couldn't care less. People talk a lot about homeless veterans but very few actually care if they know a homeless veteran.

[Alea]

45. wow

I don't believe the 9 out of 10 part though.

This vet doesn't ask anything of you. Thank you for letting me serve.

[Bluesaph]

48. Not sorry I parked there

We don’t have a draft. People who serve in the military are paid. They get a lot of other perks like medical for life, cheap insurance and help buying their homes, help to go to college, if they are injured their kids to to college free.

Private businesses should not have to provide free shit for vets when we are all already paying toward all their benefits.

To those who don’t believe my daughter’s experience, F off. She’s been serving for seven years at numerous restaurants, currently Yard House. If that’s the experience she’s had then who is anyone to say it’s not? For some reason when a vet walks in and starts asking what freebies they are going to get she automatically knows her tip and time is going to be shit. She’s someone who gets $100 bills left for her service because she’s a great server.

I can park wherever I damned well please and this post just made me want to park in that spot every damned time. It’s not illegal. So anyone who doesn’t like it can also F off.

How about we have a reserved spot for teachers who babysit and educate the future vets who will be sacrificed to republican wars? That I would honor!

[qazplm135]

60. So you think

Every single veteran walks in and asks for free stuff?
I've never asked for free stuff in my life.

You can say fuck off all you want and I can say fuck off for making ridiculous generalizations.

[ChubbyStar]

62. Thank you!

This thread is bizarre and full of broad brush accusations.

[Bluesaph]

78. I said F off to specific people for specific thinfs

Sorry you took it personally.

[ChubbyStar]

82. Specific people? This quote sounds kind of general...

"So anyone who doesn’t like it can also F off." Now I ask you, was that specific? It appears that you have lost the plot.

[qazplm135]

89. Yeah

You sound like someone whose opinion on these things is rock solid.

[pintobean]

144. Oopsie

[RhodeIslandOne]

69. "I can park wherever I damn well please"

Oooh, oohh....do a fire lane next!

[Skittles]

91. ooh yes, and they SOOOO concerned about PERKS for others

riiiiiiiiiiiiiiight

[Skittles]

90. LOLOL

[Kaleva]

102. How does your daughter tell which customers are vets and which ones aren't?

Last edited Tue Oct 15, 2019, 08:20 AM - Edit history (2)

Your comment:

"I can park wherever I damned well please and this post just made me want to park in that spot every damned time. "

No you can't. Those parking areas are private property and you cannot park wherever you please. Some stores may have signs that say "Parking for customers only". This isn't a law. But the owner of the lot has the right to set rules about who, when and where people can park on their private property. Why don't you park in the store loading area next time since you say that you can park anywhere you please? There isn't any law that I'm aware of that prohibits it. Just be advised that the store has the right to have your vehicle towed away if you do so.

But keep posting. You are providing merriment for many here it appears.

[Captain Stern]

104. How about 'we' let businesses decide whether or not they reserve spaces for vets?

'We' can reserve spots for teachers. You can start.

First, go open a business that has parking spaces. Then, reserve as many of them as you want for teachers. Sounds like a plan.

Of course, somebody that's not a teacher might just tell you to F off, and park in those spaces anyway.

Let us know how it goes.

[Baconator]

140. Little bit sensitive I see?

Also, where's this free college for your kids if you've been injured thing?

Airborne has fucked my knees up like no one's business and I'd love to cash that chip in.

This is some behavior I'd expect from a Trump voter. Rabble rabble... I can do what I want and make up bullshit stereotypes based on little to no evidence because damn it... thats how I FEEEL about it.

That must make it true right?

[Generic Other]

49. When Dad came home from Germany after WW2

he walked from the post to town in uniform while not one person offered him a ride. He couldn't even cash his last check from the government to pay for food at the grocery store.

He wouldn't have parked in the vet's space because he would have said someone more deserving might need it.

He always tipped.

And he never asked anyone to thank him.

[Bluesaph]

52. My vet son in law

Gave me a kudos. He said he’s insulted that some vets demand free shit.

My daughter (same one) says when her buddy who joined the military comes home to visit he insists people pay for him wherever they go...

[Skittles]

56. ...

uh huh

[ChubbyStar]

59. This thread really has me honked off

[pintobean]

63. We're being played

[ChubbyStar]

65. Yep!

It is beyond gross.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

99. Smelling borscht? nt

[Demonaut]

54. as a Vet, I rarely say "thank you for your service" and I feel awkward when someone thanks me.

BUT I love the 10% discount I get on almost everything I buy at Lowes and my license plate says "Honorably Discharged Veteran", not for the acknowledgement but in hope that the cop pulling me over is a vet too...I know..evil, right?

Yeah, I see that trend in friends I served with, on FB.

[Bluesaph]

57. Kudos to you!

[Garrett78]

58. As much as it might upset some, "War is a Racket" by Smedley Butler should be mandatory reading.

[Kaleva]

66. How does your daughter tell which customers are vets and which ones are not?

Some Home Depot stores have parking spots reserved for vets who have been wounded.

"Home Depot district manager John Tuten told Fox News the store wanted to reach out to the community with the charity. "We at The Home Depot are thankful for all of those who have served our great country," Tuten says.

Wounded Warriors Family Support provides the signs to companies free of charge. And because the stores also control their parking lots, they get to choose how to divvy up the spaces. Each participating store has three spots available for veterans wounded in combat."

https://www.wideopencountry.com/the-home-depot-adds-purple-heart-parking-spaces-in-43-states/

[Bluesaph]

142. When they tell her

They are a vet and what do they do for vets? She tells them the free entre on such and such day and they ask for a bar drink for free. That’s when she can tell.

[Kaleva]

145. Okay, that makes sense

But I'd revise your OP to say:

"She says that 9 out of 10 military vets, who identify themselves as such, that come into the restaurant where she serves to pay for her education are not satisfied with the free entre they get. They want a bar drink free too and rarely tip."

I think you'd agree that it's quite possible that a number of vets who do come into the restaurant where your daughter works do not tell your daughter they are vets and do not ask for the free entre.

[RobinA]

67. I Think

that whenever perqs start being given out you create a certain percentage of members of the class to whom they are being given to start expecting them. To me, asking for freebies and then grumbling when they aren’t being offered is never a good look. It isn’t just vets.

I agree with your point about idolizing the military. Not because of how anyone acts, but because I do think it’s a bit dangerous to society. I particularly don’t like how the military suddenly owns the flag. Not standing for the flag is disrespecting the military. No.

[JonLP24]

70. I think the people that make a big deal out of the flag & the military don't really care about the

troops.

I am a veteran that supports Kaepernick's message and whenever I mention that to someone bringing up "disrespectful" I receive crickets. I don't think the RW understands how diverse the military is.

[ooky]

71. I know this not the point of the thread; but, I find it amusing that someone

would designate himself as the "veteran parking place police" and lay in wait to chase after people parking in those spots to ask them if they really belong there. That's a fucking mental defect if I ever heard one.

[Bluesaph]

77. He literally WAS!

And that was sort of the point if the thread.

[Stinky The Clown]

72. I am a vet. Your whole post sounds "off". I don't believe you.

But you sure can paint with a broad brush.

UNREC

[ChubbyStar]

73. Thank you.

This is one painting that belongs in the shitter.

[Baked Potato]

74. Divide and Conquer Hogwash

Your daughter wants to see Vets appreciate their free stuff more. And, your husband forgot his wallet, so you were in a hurry.

Didn’t convince me of anything.

[Bluesaph]

80. _(ツ)_/

I’ll survive.

[Iggo]

75. You can tell what kind of a person someone is...

...by how much they tip after they get something for free.

[Coventina]

76. I'm against reserved parking for special groups aside from those for the disabled.

[sarisataka]

120. So if the space is open

Do you park in the spots reserved for expectant mothers?

[Coventina]

124. No. The business can do as they wish, and I'll choose to patronize them or not.

I just think it's stupid, and I'm inclined to not patronize places that do stuff like that.

[tirebiter]

79. On the tip thing

Do you want them pay 15% of nothing or 20% of nothing. Hey they want free stuff, they must be for Bernie.

[JonLP24]

86. The rich get free stuff far more than the public

Corporate welfare, tax breaks, sports stadiums, all taxpayer money being transferred into the hands of private interests. The reason why we pay more in tuition than other countries is precisely because we are so conservative compared to other Western democracies. The treasury is being looted by private corporations and have been for some time.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

100. I enjoy my free lunch on Veterans Day.

I have an idea of what the meal would cost normally, and leave a tip based on that. It's so easy, even a former Marine can figure it out.

Bozo, former Army.

[Bluesaph]

81. This was a funny experience.

I saw people who “get it”. And I saw people who took it personally. And I saw people who argued just because.

This is an interesting place.

[GaYellowDawg]

83. I taught at a university close to an Army base.

We had a LOT of military students. I found them to be...

... exactly like other groups of students. Some were smart. Some were dumb. Some tried to kiss up. Some didn’t. Some were motivated. Some were not. Some seemed to be genuinely good people. Some did not. Some did well. Some did poorly. I didn’t have any more or less expectations of a student in uniform, either as a student or a person.

I don’t mind parking spots reserved for veterans. I think the people who live to police those spots tend to be assholes. I wouldn’t park in one of those spots, but I wouldn’t yell at anyone for doing so. And I probably would have told the guy to STFU and mind his own business if I saw him yelling at a woman.

What makes me a whole lot madder is abuse of handicapped spots. And what gets me really, really pissed off is asshole smokers who just pitch their butts out the window while driving. You smoked the damn thing, put it in your fucking ashtray. Especially during fire season, shitwit. I know that has nothing to do with parking spots, but it still can set me off.

[TidalWave46]

84. Lol

[Sapient Donkey]

92. Some people are assholes regardless if they served in the military or not

If some of the asshole military folks you dealt with were not in the military, then they'd probably still be assholes but they would use something else to boost their assholeness. Although, 9 out of 10 does seems pretty high. I've come across some military folks like you described, but it's a minority. Is it possible only the asshole ones are what get the attention, and the ones who behave like assholes are simply forgotten easier?

As for the parking spot. The designated the parking spot for vets and you parked in it without being a vet. While not the same as parking in a handicapped or pregnant parking spot, it is kinda like parking in a employee of the month parking spot. It's not really harmful, but it's not really cool either.

[Poiuyt]

93. I think a lot of the military glorification comes from Bush/Cheney

They did a masterful PR job of deifying the military in order to sell the Iraq War. No one would dare criticize the wars because all the personnel were demi-gods. For a while, it was like worshipping Roman soldiers.

I sound cynical because I feel these wars were started by Bush in order to build his political capital. He saw how popular his father was after the first Gulf War, and he wanted that same popularity. He knew that getting into a war would be an easy way for the American public to rally around him. Promoting the hero-worship of our military was part of his plan.

I apologize to any active or veteran service members as I don't mean to show disrespect. I feel that lately our wars have not been for the security of the United States, but rather for political or monetary purposes.

[Bluesaph]

94. Agree

[NCLefty]

95. People go into the service for many reasons, and many aren't heroic.

But if you do something heroic, I'll be the first to cheer.

Republican base loves military because they seem Strong & Tough (the same brain problem Trump has). Republican politicains love the military for the defense contractor graft. The military brass loves the money Republicans shovel at them for war.

But why the average military member loves someone who got 5 draft deferments and then said that "if you're captured, you're not a war hero," I will never fucking understand. That's just some willful ignorance, right there.

[Kaleva]

121. In every major war we fought since 1860, we had to force men to serve via the draft.

There weren't anywhere near enough men who volunteered. We probably would have lost WWII had the US relied on a all-volunteer force.

[obamanut2012]

96. It's fine for anyone to park in these bogus special spaces, but the rest of your story?

Three out of ten. Beta test these things first and then tweak.

[pwb]

97. That you Vlad?

This is crap.

[Mc Mike]

98. The repugs' 'uber military worship' is completely hollow.

Vets are > 10% of the homeless population, twice as likely as any other demographic to be chronically homeless.

https://themilitarywallet.com/homeless-veterans-in-america/

The combat vets who got sick from Halliburton/KBR burn pits in Iraq aren't seeing justice.

That asshole Mnuchin was foreclosing illegally on active duty military personnel, before shitler made him Treasury Sec.

That being said, there are couple of vets groups I've interacted with, I tried to pitch some of what your op is addressing. (About Face (IVAW), and Mission Continues (Threw the first parade for war vets, in St Louis). )

Most vets don't fight for their country so they can return home and see it breaking down and falling apart. They regard the service of people on the homefront as important.

The people serving on the homefront who are keeping the homefires burning are their family members, relatives, friends, neighbors, and they didn't serve overseas to come home and watch all those other Americans suffer, the suffering of those fellow Americans is a slap in the face of the vets' service to the nation.

You may see a large percentage of self entitled well to do assholes fronting on being vets in your area, but it isn't going to be representative, from a national statistics perspective. There may be a right wing employer in your daughter's area, employing a large number of similarly right wing vets who are living well and lording their status over civilians.

So an anomalously large % of assholes you are experiencing may be causing you to view reality through a skewed statistical perspective.

Many Viet era vets got screwed, but the rightwing recognized some 'talent' in the field over there, and brought back some fizzing rabid rightwingers and put them in good positions over here, where they lived the good life and fucked over the American public, who they had been 'serving' overseas.

We shouldn't lump the good ones in with the bad ones, any more than the vets should lump us in with the 'support the troops' crowd of repuglican liars. All the repugs' politicians are draft dodgers, war mongering chicken hawks, who don't care how many of our troops get killed or maimed for life.

[JonLP24]

103. Huge plus one for your post

Your first paragraph and subject line was more typical of my experience as a vet.

[Mc Mike]

107. The right's fake attempt to 'deify' is actually an attempt to 'reify'.

Vets care about the little old lady up the street, even if she can't man a SAW in a supportive combat capacity. The little old lady up the street is some vet's mom.

The rightie draft dodging war mongers want the vet defined as some aryan looking guy in uniform on a fascist iconic poster. That's where their vet 'lives', in a frozen still shot, no needs, no family, no loyalties, no values. Frozen, reified.

Shitty Heinlein nazi psychobabble, while they let the vets down at every turn. Service doesn't guarantee citizenship. Just let a decorated combat vet say something the right doesn't like, watch how much the right protects their citizenship.

They're pulling the same shit with the coal miners, there's only 75,000 of them in the US, and they're the iconic 'worker' the repugs care about so much. Except when it comes to pensions or health care for black lung. A ton of those workers are vets.

[JonLP24]

111. I agree completely

[Mc Mike]

113. I've met and talked with a lot of homeless vets over the decades.

I've been seeing more, in the last 10 years. Not Obama and Shinseki's fault.

I know there are homeless people who aren't vets but are claiming it as a dodge, but if you talk to people even a little bit, you can see so many are telling the truth, without demanding their discharge papers or units or theaters of operation.

We had a hardcore hawkish power broker combat vet congressperson in my area, John Murtha. Very conservative for a Dem. As soon as he started condemning li'l chickenhawk bush's debacles that hurt active duty and vets, the right started calling him a traitor. Coulter calling him a traitor, where'd she serve? Connecticut 4th Reich Ladies' Auxiliary?

I was talking to one combat vet who was in Saigon for the Tet offensive, and he told me about seeing some looting during the offensive, a couple of old women stealing radios. The MPs came up and shot them dead. I asked him 'what happened to the radios?' He said 'Oh, they broke.'

He didn't do anything wrong, he just saw it. He wasn't haunted by what he did, he was haunted by what he had to see, what the right told him his service required him to be around.

[JonLP24]

114. When I was homeless there were other vets that were or are still homeless

I certainly ran into more than a few. It was common. They may get paid better holding a sign than an average person but I was always too scared to panhandle or do a telemarketing type job. A local telemarketing firm is anti-abortion pro Republican now they are pro Trump I hear so I definitely couldn't do that one.

I'm fine now that I have disability diagnosed so I'm no longer homeless.

[Mc Mike]

117. I talked to one young army guy who told about chasing off a stolen honor fake marine.

He was just so earnest in relaying the experience, said 'a real marine isn't going to let an army guy like me chase him off'. He was shed from the military by poppy bush's 'peace dividend' shrinkage of the military, and the discharge happened to him under Clinton. He thought Clinton did it, that was his experience.

Even Johnson and Truman's post war programs didn't help out all the people who served and need and deserve aid. My pitch to the former IVAW and Mission Continues was help vets, who want to keep serving and help the Americans they served for. Link up with other groups in cooperative efforts, like Helmets to Hardhats and Habitat for Humanity. Combat vets need to make a living, how about if they go fix up the house of one of their fallen colleague's mom, she doesn't have anyone around to help her, now.

We're fighting against the requisite scarcity of resources and support that need to be maintained if huge corporations are to maintain and increase their profit margins.

What pisses me off is that a successful strategy for panhandling dictates that the sign be really pitiful, second rate, a torn piece of cardboard. They have to show 'tip your cap' squalor, if they're to be successful. Take the subservient position. That sure as hell isn't how things were pitched to them, when they were recruited.

A vet shouldn't have to take a job where they have to sell their soul for peanuts, backing that bonebespurred draftdodging warmonger half a tough guy candy ass.

[LexVegas]

101. Cool story, bro.

[HAB911]

105. Markeis McGlockton was "just running in" to the convenience store too

https://www.tampabay.com/news/pinellas/2019/08/24/michael-drejka-convicted-of-manslaughter-in-markeis-mcglocktons-death/

We all need to be aware of the nutcases out there, the wannabe cops, the vigilantes that take parking space assignment to the extreme.

I'm a vet and fucking cringe when someone thanks me for my service. 9 out of 10 sat at home and never put on a uniform so as far as I'm concerned, they are crocodile thanks.

[Mariana]

147. They act like they've done you a favor

when they say "Thank you for your service". I'm sure you've noticed that. They get angry if you don't act grateful enough to suit them.

[HAB911]

148. +++++++++++

[Captain Stern]

106. I'm not a vet, but a good friend of mine served in Italy. I asked him what he thought about this.

/revision/latest?cb=20111114161836

[wasupaloopa]

108. Well I risked my life for a year in Vietnam that's why I am entitled.

[DeminPennswoods]

110. Awhile ago chatted with a person

who worked at a local VA who described the groups of vets encountered there for serives. This person said the WWII vets were the best, never wanted anything for themselves, usually said someone else needed whatever it was more; The VN vets were generally angry about everything; the Iraq/Afghanistan vets felt entitled to every service and then some.

Having worked for and around the military as a civilian in DoD, they are just like any other big group of people. There are all kinds who run the gamut from smart to dumb, nice to nasty, courteous to disrespectful, thoughtful to blinkered and every other trait you can imagine.

IMHO, the military should be treated like any other professional group. For those relatively few who have been physically or emotionally damaged by their service, yes they should get what they need. But, vets already get hiring preference for federal civil service jobs and many private sector jobs, college tuition financial assistance, free burial at national cemetaries and other benefits non-vets do not get.

Again, jmho, but the hero worship that's heaped on the military and service members currently is not healthy for society. The best example is law enforcement where creeping militarization is changing the face of law enforcement from keepers of civil society to a combat mentality.

[JonLP24]

122. I'm trying to think of a scenario where you go to the VA demanding free stuff

Usually they have a travel pay desk. Sometimes they have problem with travel pay fraud that comes from all ages of all vets. I go to a clinic that doesn't give travel pay so the point is moot. I get free prescriptions. The VA does offer a lot of services. When I first got out I didn't know I could go to the VA so for the first 4-5 years after I got out I didn't even go to the VA. I'm a Iraq/Afghanistan vet and now I feel I don't deserve the services I do get rather than entitled to them.

Older vets seem to use the VA much more than younger ones. They play Bewitched & similar shows at my local VA.

[DeminPennswoods]

133. That was a general observation posted by

someone who works for the VA and sees the vets who come in for treatment. It didn't mean Iraq/Afghanistan vets came in demanding free stuff, just that the mindset was to make sure they got every benefit to which they were entitled.

[JonLP24]

137. I was trying to think of situations in the VA

that would require me to say no thanks someone else needs that more than me. Prescriptions? I can't give my slot to my appointments to someone that needs a doctor more than me. Older vets have the same benefits I do. The only thing I can think of is travel pay and most of the time I didn't collect travel pay and when I did I went by the mile to my real address so no travel pay fraud from me. I'm just not sure what a VA is for based on the person that works there. Is it supposed to be a building that sits there empty and if they offer a benefit soldiers are not supposed to take it?

[LuckyCharms]

112. I look at it this way.

The store made a decision to reserve a few parking spaces for veterans. The store signaled their intent to the public by putting up a few signs at those parking spots "Parking for veterans only".

If I saw that sign, I simply would have found another parking spot. I would not have chosen that particular battle to fight.

Simple. no biggie. No excuses. Park somewhere else. Sure, it's not illegal to park there, but why would you? To save a few steps? To prevent another human being (Veteran) from feeling special for 5 seconds?

No one was having a medical emergency. He had simply forgotten his wallet. I would have parked in the nearest regular parking spot and brought him the wallet.

The man was most likely wrong in confronting you over the spot, but you were wrong (even though you were not breaking the law) in parking there.

My grocery store reserves spots for all sorts of people: expectant mothers, short stay pharmacy pick-ups, employees of the month, etc. I stay out of those spaces too.

Why stir the shit when you don't have to?

[KatyMan]

116. Great point

Like with your kids, pick your battles. Not worth getting upset or causing a ruckus over stupid shit.
Although I agree this military worship thing is out of hand, but I wouldn't park in a vet spot, or a parents with children spot, pregnant mother spot, etc. We're empty nesters of a certain age and probably could stand the extra walk from the parking lot!

[KatyMan]

115. You know who *really* deserves special treatment?

Nurses and teachers. But they tend to be women, so I guess it'll never happen.

[sarisataka]

119. Maybe I am vet #10

But if I go to a place that offers a free meal and I get good service, I usually give the price of the meal as my portion of the trip. If service was adequate I will still do 20%, cutting the server some slack that maybe they are having an off day. Poor service is recognized by the lack of recognition.

Most vets I know tip fairly well and I do not know of any who demand anything for free.

As for your parking stalker, I think you need to speak with your husband. I would never stand by if someone was mad dogging my wife.

[Ms. Toad]

126. You should be leaving at least 20% for service. Period.

Positions that are traditionally tipped can be paid as low as $2.13/hour by their employer. If you don't leave a tip, you are saying - by your actions - that it is perfectly fine for an employed person to be paid less than $7.25/hour.

It stinks that companies are permitted to pay less than minimum wage, based on the expectation that customers will make it up - but that is the reality. If you don't like it, eat someplace that is required to pay service workers at least minimum wage. Pretty sure that includes all fast-food establishments.

[sarisataka]

129. If the service is exceptionally poor

The tip will be reduced or non existent. Usually however I tip very generously and am forgiving of small mistakes.

An example of poor service- we ate a few years ago at a national chain popular for its breakfast menu. When my order arrived I salted and peppered the hashbrowns and was about to eat a piece when I noticed egg yolks under the hashbrowns. My meal did not include eggs. Moving items on the plate revealed old food that had not been cleaned off.

The server took the plate back, promising to bring a new meal. Moments later she delivered a plate that had "just been prepared". Strangely the hashbrowns were already salted and peppered. They even cut a small piece off the end. IOW they just transferred the same food from a dirty plate to a clean one an thought I would not notice.

I left after speaking with the manager and the was no tip that day. It is not my duty to make up a pay shortage if the person does not meet the minimum requirements of their job.

Conversely excellent service may see a 50% tip.

[Ms. Toad]

130. Leaving a 50% tip for someone else does not give the person you stiffed

out of the pay to which she would be entitled at any other job.

You are aware, though, that the server is not the person who plates your meal or cleans the plates, or prepares a new plate. So basically you stiffed this poor waitress for the sins of the kitchen staff (who, since they are not generally tipped) are already receiving at least minimum wage.

20% should be the absolute minimum - and you should go up from there. If you are dissatisfied with the service, by all means alert the manager. Poor workers do not necessarily deserve to retain their job - but while they are working they deserve at least minimum wage. Not to mention that the manage will know which party made the mistake and will not take it out on an innocent person, just because that person is handy.

[Kaleva]

132. Employers by law are required to make up the difference if tips don't cover.

[Ms. Toad]

143. In reality, that does not happen.

Employers report tips on W-2 forms - either actual tips reported to them by their employees, or a presumptive amount.

As a former enrolled agent, I can count on less than one finger the number of employers whose W-2 forms reported anything other than the presumptive amount.

Partly that is becuase those earning more than minimum wage don't want to pay taxes on the excess - so they don't report thier tip income to their employers. That reporting mechanism is the same one that is used to top off the wages of employees who make less than minimum wage.

The system is broken - it encourages employees to not report their income (since most are living paycheck-to-paycheck anyway), and it gives employers cheap labor with little risk that they will be required to pay more than minimum wage. It creates a de facto obligation for any progressive/social justice minded person to tip. It leaves many even more impoverished than they would otherwise be at retirment - becasue your social security income is based on your wage income (which is artificially low if all of your tip income was not reported).

We need to scrap it and go to a living wage for all system, with slightly higher prices on the menu.

My hope is that tips would altogether disappear - but even if they don't, there is not impoverishing impact for not tipping for poor service that exists now.

[Kaleva]

149. I know several bartenders and waitresses and as far as I know, none report their tips.

And i imagine that even if they were paid a living wage, they'd still not report their tips. I'd have to look but i do think some restaurants eliminated tips and raised their prices and wages of their employees but abandoned it after a while because the employees wanted lower reported wages which they paid less tax on and the tax free tips.

"In recent years, there's been a no-tipping movement within the restaurant industry.

The idea has been to rectify a basic pay unfairness to even out the pay between tipped and untipped employees. Dishwashers and cooks at the back of the house don't earn as much money as waiters because they don't get tips.

So, do away with tipping, raise menu prices a little bit, and pay everyone a higher wage.

But that experiment has failed at some restaurants. Joe's Crab Shack, the first large U.S. chain to implement a no-tip model, announced this month that it is moving away from the experiment, which only lasted three months....

On what made him decide to switch back to tipping

Attrition. We were losing staff, servers mostly. Kitchen was of course happy and turnover was nonexistent. And senior staff in the front of the house were happy. We were continuing to hire young, new people, train them, and then they'd get the set of skills necessary, and they would generally give notice and move to other restaurants in our community who were still on a traditional tip economy."

https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/05/15/478096516/why-restaurants-are-ditching-the-switch-to-no-tipping

[Kaleva]

123. You help enable this military worship by shopping at stores like Home Depot

The profits Home Depot makes off of your purchases subsidizes the 10% discounts it gives to vets.

Being a vet and a Home Depot shopper, I thank you for your support. You've helped save me me lots of money doing projects around the house.

[LanternWaste]

127. I used to pretend military and ex-military are the exact same thing too.

But then again, I also used to pretend no good reason reason ever to open the door in my own house if a weapon were present.

I s'pose our biases require these wee rationalizations to thrive and survive.

[Kaleva]

128. Good for you!

[MineralMan]

125. Uh-huh...OK, then...

Where is that restaurant where veterans get free entrees? I'll head right out this evening to it.

You'd never know I was a military veteran. I don't make anything of that. I don't park in spaces that are designated for veterans, either. There are veterans who have invisible disabilities, and they need spots like that, so I don't take those spaces. Veterans like my 95-year-old father, who flew B-17s in WWII. He does park in spaces like that, because walking is very difficult for him. If such a space isn't available, he'll use a handicapped space, since he has a placard for that, too, but he prefers to leave those spaces for others, since he can still walk.

I'm sorry your daughter has met veterans who she doesn't like. I doubt if 9 out of 10, though, behave that way. I doubt she knows who is and who is not a veteran in the first place.

I'm sorry, but parking in designated spaces is the height of using a privilege you haven't earned. The space is for people who did earn that privilege and is being thanked by whatever business designated that space. You can walk, I have no doubt. Park elsewhere from now on. That's my suggestion to you.

[Croney]

134. And airlines that board military people first!

No, it doesn't bother me, because nobody is going to take my assigned seat. When they make that announcement, I like to think it makes some young guys feel loved when they are far from home. But it also reminds me that we are always at war.

My mother (96) was in the Navy. My stepdad wears his Retired Army cap all day, and loves his discounts at Home Depot and everywhere else. But he'll take the tire off his pick-up and hand it to you if you need it.

OP, it sounds like you hate the military. Better to just hate the way the world is so fucked up right now.

[MineralMan]

136. The airline I fly most often boards active military and veterans early.

I do take advantage of that. I get on the plane sit down and stay put, with my carry-on stuffed under the seat. Normally, I book an exit row seat, and they board those folks early, too. At least I'm not blocking the aisle trying to stuff an oversized carry-on in the overhead. I'm already sitting down with my seat belt fastened and looking out the window.

I can't think of any other time I use my veteran status for anything at all. Oh, wait...I go to the Minnesota state fair on "Veteran Appreciation Day" to get my reduced price ticket. But, I don't have any ball caps that say I'm a veteran or any other such stuff, and don't react to calls for veterans to stand up and be recognized. I served one enlistment in the USAF, where I did some final adulting training. I was never in harm's way.

[SlogginThroughIt]

131. A someone who served in the Navy I too am sick if it

I get it. And it is nice to be thanked. But sometimes I want to be like “look if you knew how many just awful people are in the military I doubt you would be so ready to fawn over them”.

In my time in i had never met so many dirtbag douche nozzles in my life. Granted I met some life ling friends too but man there were a ton of dirtbags.

[DashOneBravo]

146. I'll use Pinboy3niner last post on DU

Trash thread

[mercuryblues]

150. My daughter

could easily park in 1 of those spaces, She's active duty. She doesn't. Reason one being she is well aware that Vets are older than her and don't qualify for a disabled parking spot. She's young and healthy, so she walks the 10 extra steps to the front door.

Yes some people in the military do not tip well. I lived near a training base where I bartended & waited tables while also going through school. You know who those customers were? Those going through basic training, at the bottom on the pay scale. Never once did someone ever ask me for anything free. They always said please and thank-you. I figured they were going through some intense training, for meager pay let them enjoy the few free hours of off-time they were granted. They were willing to give me the best they could offer, the least I could do was treat them the same as I would any other customer. I have also had some tip me extremely well. I've had "regulars" tip me low the 1st time they came in, but as their paychecks started coming in over tipped to make up for the times they couldn't afford to tip well.

Maybe your daughter just sucks at waiting tables. I have had bad waiters before, therefore all waiters are bad.

[cynatnite]

151. So, a few are assholes and you want to tear down the military and vets entirely?

First off, the vet was an asshole. Second off, you were too by taking that spot.

Thirdly, stop denigrating the military and vets with your anecdotal evidence.

[TheRealNorth]

152. I don't agree with everything you said, but I agree it's gotten a little rediculous

9-11 was the beginning of all this shit. It's bad because everyone is afraid to hold the military accountable because they don't want to be labelled as anti-Military.