The Sword and Laser discussion
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Old Man's War
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OWM: Would you join up? (only spoilers for the very beginning, please))
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Pamela
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Jan 04, 2013 10:41PM
If I could join up right now in my early 30s, I would say no, because going to war in space sounds scary. However, if I could sign up when I am 75, I would do it in a heartbeat. :) As I have gotten older, things that used to scare me, don't scare me anymore. I figure by the time I am 75, I will be ready for war, zooming around in outer space, and fighting aliens.
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I haven't even been out of the Mountain West...so I'm not sure I'd join. When I'm (or, if I make it to) 65, and I've seen all I've wanted to see in this world, I might join up and have that decade to decide if I really wanted to go. However, I have some personality traits that would be undesirable for military service...so I'm not sure they'd take me. Maybe I'd try to be a colonist, but in this book's universe, I'm a US citizen and cannot be a colonist.
It sounds like one hell of an adventure to have after having a full life here on Earth. Sign me up! I still have about 30 years to think about it, but I'm fairly certain I'd go. Yet another book world I'd love to live in...
At 75 I would sign up right away.
Regardless of the moral side for myself (I'm a pacifist). I would say that the price of getting to see the galaxy even if it's down the barrel of a gun is worth it. not to mention I get a second chance at life.
As I get older, I'm 45 now, I mourn the loss of opportunities available to me. Too old for the military, too many responsibilities, I have a kid, to take off and hitchhike across Europe, etc...I think I would sign up in a minute for the chance to experience an adventure I passed on in my youth.
in a heartbeat - not even a second thought.
What is the old meme "as a recruit reading this forum on my brain pal at the moment I am enjoying this thread"? Oh gosh yes I would sign up. The USAF wouldn't take me at 18 because of a bad eye and lungs, and I'm 6'6 (6'4 now that I'm a lot older) but I grew up a military brat. I'd join in a heartbeat, especially to have the physical upgrades John receives.
I'd want to, the chance to see the galaxy not to mention getting a body that doesn't hav esoteric of the issues mine does would be tempting. However, with the little information given as to what kind of government and military system I would be signing up for I probably wouldn't do it. Paticularly, with the limited behavior seen seems very secretive not something that I'd trust.
Finished the book yesterday. Would I join up? Yes, probably. I'm about 12.5 years away from my 75th birthday. At the rate my body is deteriorating (in spite of regular workouts at the gym and taking a 2 mile walk every day) I think a new body will be very tempting when the time comes, despite the risks of military service.
But then there is the moral dilemma of a life-long pacifist joining the military. Then again, I avoided military service during Vietnam largely because I thought that war was pointless and immoral, not from any strong ethos of nonviolence.
So I'm conflicted. Guess it's a good thing this is fiction and I will never have to actually make this decision...
What would the Doctor think of me, if I signed up to see the wonders of the universe by paying the price of murdering everything I come across?
Troy wrote: "What would the Doctor think of me"OMG Someone get John Scalzi on the phone to the BBC at once! A Doctor Who/Old Man's War crossover would be epic!!!
Where do I sign up?
Absolutely yes i'd sign up, it can't be THAT much worse out there than life on earth, right?
