RLMAO. Of course they DO have a choice, they joined the army, what did they think they were going to do, play tiddlywinks!!!!

It is silly to suggest that people in the army don't enjoy what they do. I have friends in the forces and they love their job. You really have no idea. You would be shocked if you really heard what solders discuss among themselves. LOL.

You all think of serving solders as something you have seen in a movie or TV, the *nice* comfortable acceptable face of the forces. You would not be calling them 'our boys' if you really knew what they get up to and actually enjoy doing in their line of work.

Grow up.

but the difference with that scenario is , unforunately,the producers would never have put him in the house as we all know

Soldiers sign up to put their life on the line in order to protect and preserve the freedoms we enjoy. It doesnt matter what reason they had for joining, once they are signed up they are expected to go where ever the army sends them. They do not question their sacrifice they just do it ... for that reason alone they are heros in my opinion.

Steve is a hero because he willingly put himself in the line of fire. That said, I cant say that i like him and found his behaviour with Keely rather uncomfortable to watch and I am sure his wife and children will have been disgusted. I dont think him being a war hero means that he automatically wins Big Brother. To be honest as it is nothing but a big popularity test he will probably come out the first time he is up for eviction.

OP... you didn't stop to think that the reason he's chubby is cos' he's 41 and he has had no legs since he was 19! Being a double amputee makes it very hard to stay in good shape. I'm sure if his legs weren't blown off he would have remained in good shape into his 30's at least and so there would have been no reason to kick him out of the army before he would have decided to retire.

Just because you say someone is fat, doesn't make it a fact. I didn't think Rachel was fat, she wasn't even close to being so.

He is still strong though isnt he.

Do you know if he was fat before his horrific injuries? He probably gained weight while recovering when he was unable to exercise.:nono:

troll you have NO IDEA of what i do or do not know.

My brother in law served 2 terms in NI and I have a good many friends both ex-serving soldiers and current ones.
Just cos you claim to know a few people who enjoy their job in forces does not change the FACT that they are expected to go to war whenever they are told to wherever they are told to. If they are lucky they will never be put in that position tho.
As for your "hints" about what soldier's may or may not get up to, yep some nasty things happen in war from ALL sides.
If it saves 1 life from our boys i am happy with that thanks

People often drift into the armed forces because they can't get a job anywhere else!

Not saying this is necessarily the case for Steve. But I certainly agree that being blown up by a bomb doesn't make you a hero. During the troubles in N. Ireland plenty of people were blown up by bombs..... including many in England (London, Birminhgam etc). Mostly civilians.

They aren't held out as heroes.

He was injured whilst doing his job, a dangerous job! If brave men like him didn't join the army - blokes like you would be made to do it through National Service - so he is a hero in my book and the that of many others! Thank God for men like him rather than those like you - that's all I can say!

Well said.

And it's a good point about the poor being sent off like fodder in wars. The reason why the media/government push the 'hero' image is to keep young dumb lads queuing up to die etc. It has always been the same, and if you think that kind of propaganda is recent you should check out the vast amount of information there is about WW1 propaganda specifically designed to get young poor men to join up with the reality being most would die.

To perpetrate the myth/lie of the image of 'hero solder' is actually a disservice to those who serve in the forces, as well as to the young poor males and females who end up joining up as a last resort.

I don't see ministers offspring out there! But, if you have a private education and great choice of options in life you wouldn't need to put your life and limb on the line for a measly few thousand pounds a year.

but did those civilians walk about in uniform as targets for those cowards :conf:

You're the fella' who has no idea. You think nobody who gets blown up like that is a hero? I guess you and me each have a very different perception of the word hero.

Harsh generalisation. I don't conform to the stereo-typical soldier. I take soldiers as they are presented to me I'll say. For example, the men of Easy company portrayed in Band of Brothers, I accept that they were very heroic men, but that they did have flaws. Like when they were brutally beating a man from Item company, a man of their very same regiment.

I'm aware that soldiers aren't out and out heroes. Some of the soldiers serving in the middle east in this generation... apparently... do some horrific things, to enemy prisoners and such. But let's be honest, they're just a few bad apples. Most of the people serving out there are very brave and honourable.

I would imagine playing tiddlywinks is about your limit! :joker:

I think you need to grow up!

Oh my god, you are still overlooking the simple point that just because the conflict is unneccesary and a sign of the corruption of our government, it doesn't mean the servicemen and women are not heroes. They are heroes, even though the conflict is wrong. The government is responsible for that. The armed forces don't choose where they go and fight, they just do their job, and their job is a heroic one - same as for firefighters... and policemen... I guess (police forces in the UK are basically neutered the way I see it but that's a different issue).

This!

The word "hero" is overused so much these days. Why are soldiers heros? Sure they're brave and they risk their lives, but then so do the Taleban, so do the IRA, are they heroes as well?

Of course it is - but, unfortunately, some lack the basic understanding to comprehend that fact!

The Taliban are dictators who kill their own if they don't fall into line - if that is your idea of heros - god help us!

long long time ago when i was 18 and had just dropped out on uni I aplied to join the Army (royal Signals)

Thought it would be a good way to learn a trade like the father of the girl I was going out with had (who had served 15 years with no time at war) . The idea of going to war simply never occurred to me as we were at peace, mostly.

It was after the second round of interviews I had passed at catterick that i thought of the war side of things and changed my mind about signing up cos , tbh, I am far more suited to tittleywinks than war

No, thats not my idea of heroes, but I dont consider the Army heroes either.

The Taleban risk their lives, like the Army, they are technically brave, like the Army. So why is it that people say "soldiers are such heroes, risking their lives for their country", when surely, by that definition, the Taleban are heroes also

Because the Taliban are fighting to keep control - so they can continue to force their views and way of life on others! Soldiers are there to do their job - even if they don't agree with why they are there - they have a job to do and they do it - despite the risks! Brave men in my eyes!

How many times have people gone over this subject now? Seems to be a new thread about it everyday. Its pretty boring really.

"hero (male) and heroine (female) came to refer to characters who, in the face of danger and adversity or from a position of weakness, display courage and the will for self sacrifice" - wikipedia gotta love it!!

The word hero means different things to different people, if people think Steve is a hero then he is in their eyes and vice versa there is no right or wrong answer on this one!

I think he is inspirational for what he has dealt with and overcome, to many, especially those who can relate to him on that level I can imagine he is a hero...

All that said I don't actually like him as a person and defo don't want him to win!!

And are British soldiers not trying to force Western life on the Afghans? I dont think that doing your job makes you a hero. I agree that they're brave, but that doesnt make them heroes.