[Kyle]

Originally Posted by Livia

Completely agree with that.

As a matter of interest, has anyone on this thread so far ever served in any of the armed forces?

If the point of that comment is that only military personnel can comment on this then are you a former or current member of her majesty's armed forces yourself?

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Kyle

If the point of that comment is that only military personnel can comment on this then are you a former or current member of her majesty's armed forces yourself?

Get off your box, Kyle. I was asking because I would be interested to know how people's opinions differ when they've served. And no, I am not a former or current member of the armed forces, but I am the daughter of a soldier, a military widow, and part of my work is with the MOD. Not that I think that makes my opinion more valid.

[Kyle]

Originally Posted by Livia

Get off your box, Kyle. I was asking because I would be interested to know how people's opinions differ when they've served. And no, I am not a former or current member of the armed forces, but I am the daughter of a soldier, a military widow, and part of my work is with the MOD. Not that I think that makes my opinion more valid.

And my father is ex Royal Signals if you want to go down that road.

And i think I get the gist of what your saying when your very first post on here is essentially 'it's a military matter, civilians can't say' and now you are asking if anyone currently on this thread is military despite knowing full well they aren't or haven't been.

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Kyle

And my father is ex Royal Signals if you want to go down that road.

And i think I get the gist of what your saying when your very first post on here is essentially 'it's a military matter, civilians can't say' and now you are asking if anyone currently on this thread is military despite knowing full well they aren't or haven't been.

Go down what road? Stop trying to turn a discussion into an argument.

I asked whether anyone had served because I would be genuinely interested in a "service" opinion... I had no idea whether you had served or not, how would I? I don't know anything about you. I'd be interested in your father's opinion to be honest. And yes, I do think its a military matter and that civilians really shouldn't have a say in military matters, and I include myself in that.

[Kyle]

Originally Posted by Livia

Go down what road? Stop trying to turn a discussion into an argument.

I asked whether anyone had served because I would be genuinely interested in a "service" opinion... I had no idea whether you had served or not, how would I? I don't know anything about you. I'd be interested in your father's opinion to be honest. And yes, I do think its a military matter and that civilians really shouldn't have a say in military matters, and I include myself in that.

Course I've never served and it's plainly obvious I haven't. Just as I can tell you that I'm damn sure a pacifist in JoeySteele hasn't served, a super liberal Kizzy hasn't served, a student or former student MTVN hasn't served and an anti-war activist in Josh hasn't served. And yes, I know you haven't served either although I knew about your military ties. Now if a ****** like me with less posts per day can work that out from what people's say on here then I'm damn sure someone with the brains you have can.

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Kyle

Course I've never served and it's plainly obvious I haven't. Just as I can tell you that I'm damn sure a pacifist in JoeySteele hasn't served, a super liberal Kizzy hasn't served, a student or former student MTVN hasn't served and an anti-war activist in Josh hasn't served. And yes, I know you haven't served either although I knew about your military ties. Now if a ****** like me with less posts per day can work that out from what people's say on here then I'm damn sure someone with the brains you have can.

I'm sorry Kyle, you really have overestimated your impact. I know nothing about you. I don't know how old you are, what you do for a living or what you've done previously. Although it's fair to say I've learned quite a bit about you today.

[Kyle]

Originally Posted by Livia

I'm sorry Kyle, you really have overestimated your impact. I know nothing about you. I don't know how old you are, what you do for a living or what you've done previously. Although it's fair to say I've learned a fair bit about you today.

I haven't overestimated anything chief. I have never claimed any form of popularity on here (though my most loved scores have been quite impressive for a nobody) but what I do you see is take in the general ethos of people by what they say and contribute to the forum and that's how we get to know people. If you want to try and offend me by saying you don't take notice of anything I say then good luck cos it's water off a ducks back.

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by Kyle

Course I've never served and it's plainly obvious I haven't. Just as I can tell you that I'm damn sure a pacifist in JoeySteele hasn't served, a super liberal Kizzy hasn't served, a student or former student MTVN hasn't served and an anti-war activist in Josh hasn't served. And yes, I know you haven't served either although I knew about your military ties. Now if a ****** like me with less posts per day can work that out from what people's say on here then I'm damn sure someone with the brains you have can.

Hey, I'm not superliberal, just super.
Many members of my family have served too not me personally but this online soapbox is a great platform to discuss whether we are better together from a civilian perspective.

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Kyle

Course I've never served and it's plainly obvious I haven't. Just as I can tell you that I'm damn sure a pacifist in JoeySteele hasn't served, a super liberal Kizzy hasn't served, a student or former student MTVN hasn't served and an anti-war activist in Josh hasn't served. And yes, I know you haven't served either although I knew about your military ties. Now if a ****** like me with less posts per day can work that out from what people's say on here then I'm damn sure someone with the brains you have can.

Nice to see you take on board people views and understand what makes people tick on the forum rather than just posting your own opinions.

[Kyle]

Originally Posted by Cherie

Nice to see you take on board people views and understand what makes people tick on the forum rather than just posting your own opinions.

And not too proud to admit defeat on a topic either.

I have not changed my views on this....however....I will concede defeat on this in that I appear to be very much in the minority on this issue as the poll and discussion has shown.

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by Kyle

And my father is ex Royal Signals if you want to go down that road.

And i think I get the gist of what your saying when your very first post on here is essentially 'it's a military matter, civilians can't say' and now you are asking if anyone currently on this thread is military despite knowing full well they aren't or haven't been.

My Father is an ex serviceman as are my 3 older Brothers, 3 for the RAF and one for the Army.
I haven't served in the forces obviously but I asked all 4 of them today how they felt as to this and all were in favour of it if it was organised right.

[Livia]

Originally Posted by joeysteele

My Father is an ex serviceman as are my 3 older Brothers, 3 for the RAF and one for the Army.
I haven't served in the forces obviously but I asked all 4 of them today how they felt as to this and all were in favour of it if it was organised right.

That's interesting Joey... I didn't know your brothers were in the military. I spoke to my father earlier - he's ex-Parachute Regiment - and the colour drained out of his face before he said he would be totally against it.

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by Livia

That's interesting Joey... I didn't know your brothers were in the military. I spoke to my father earlier - he's ex-Parachute Regiment - and the colour drained out of his face before he said he would be totally against it.

Well, 3 of them jokingly,(I think), said that if this Govt. cuts defence much more we will need someone elses army for ourselves in any event.

They just feel the World has changed and the stronger the ties the less likely a break or major threat could come as to the defence of Europe and the West particularly.

On the other side of things too,which is a factor as to my stance on this Livia,(I equally respect your view and position on it too from your perspective), I and my Family are extremely pro Europe and the EU, believing in a strong union with same.
So as to defence,for us it seems a likely more logical step to look at and at least explore.

In most matters of conflict or action now we already try to harness European support for that and encourage their involvement in it too, so for me anyway, for one, this would just seem a more progressive cooperative step to take.
It does however seem I and and my Family hold a minority view as to this according to the small poll result at present.

I have to say to Kyle good question again, however it is always interesting learning others take on things like this.

[Livia]

Originally Posted by joeysteele

Well, 3 of them jokingly,(I think), said that if this Govt. cuts defence much more we will need someone elses army for ourselves in any event.

They just feel the World has changed and the stronger the ties the less likely a break or major threat could come as to the defence of Europe and the West particularly.

On the other side of things too,which is a factor as to my stance on this Livia,(I equally respect your view and position on it too from your perspective), I and my Family are extremely pro Europe and the EU, believing in a strong union with same.
So as to defence,for us it seems a likely more logical step to look at and at least explore.

In most matters of conflict or action now we already try to harness European support for that and encourage their involvement in it too, so for me anyway, for one, this would just seem a more progressive cooperative step to take.
It does however seem I and and my Family hold a minority view as to this according to the small poll result at present.

I have to say to Kyle good question again, however it is always interesting learning others take on things like this.

We differ on many things you and I, but it's always a pleasure. Always.

[Kyle]

Originally Posted by joeysteele

My Father is an ex serviceman as are my 3 older Brothers, 3 for the RAF and one for the Army.
I haven't served in the forces obviously but I asked all 4 of them today how they felt as to this and all were in favour of it if it was organised right.

That was good of you to ask for their opinion. What sort of things were they saying?

For what it's worth I haven't spoke to my Dad since this topic's inception but if I know him like I think I do I think he would be dead against it. He's pretty euro-sceptic and doesn't think highly of foreign regiments he worked with. His opinion of the Americans especially is hilarious

[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by Kyle

That was good of you to ask for their opinion. What sort of things were they saying?

For what it's worth I haven't spoke to my Dad since this topic's inception but if I know him like I think I do I think he would be dead against it. He's pretty euro-sceptic and doesn't think highly of foreign regiments he worked with. His opinion of the Americans especially is hilarious

That is interesting Kyle.

I refused to go down the pits or in the Army like my father, grandfather, 4 uncles and 4 brothers did. Some are passed and I haven't consulted those still here, but I know that all their thoughts would pretty much tie in with your dad's.

I think your suggestion would be a brilliant reality if it could be made to work but I don't really know how that could be achieved. I do also have the same concerns as Livia about potentially placing our security in the hands of foreign powers.

[Anaesthesia]

Originally Posted by Kyle

And my father is ex Royal Signals if you want to go down that road.

I'm an ex-sig too. Worked in rebro. I wouldn't support it in a million years.