Author Topic: Stolen Valor (Read 13125 times)

Nether Animal · « **Reply #25 on:** January 20, 2016, 11:29:14 AM »

Quote from: BayGBM on January 20, 2016, 10:01:49 AM

Apparently there are lots of people who want to pretend that they served in the military. They want to pretend so badly that they actually acquire military uniforms/fatigues with medals etc. and parade around in public trying to enjoy the macho credibility of having been in the service. This pretense is called “stolen valor” and it became such a problem that Congress passed the Stolen Valor Act of 2012 making it a crime to fraudulently claim to have received any military decorations and awards with the intention of receiving any tangible benefit. The act was revised in 2013 after the Supreme Court ruled that casually lying by wearing uniform is a protected form of free speech. There are dudes who walk around in these uniforms who are not breaking the law because they are not getting any tangible benefit—just social caché.

There is whole genre of videos about “stolen valor” on youtube where these imposters are called out and exposed.

I am all for exposing liars and frauds, but what is the point of pretending to have served in the military? Can someone explain this to me? What kind of loser do you have to be in order to do this?

http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?topic=586642.0

BayGBM · « **Reply #26 on:** January 20, 2016, 11:36:42 AM »

Are these the sort of people who are survivalists? They have stockpiles of weapons and munitions in their basements with lots of canned food waiting for the zombie apocalypse or for the government to collapse.. or come take their guns?

If you are going to pretend, why not pretend to be something more substantial than a grunt Dick Cheney would dispose of in an unnecessary war? Back in 2002 a movie called Catch Me if You Can featured a serial phoney who donned many identities--including an airline pilot--to advance himself. At least he aimed high... so to speak.

bic_staedtler · « **Reply #27 on:** January 20, 2016, 11:45:15 AM »

I would never approach someone who was obviously not in the military, but wearing a uniform. These people are almost always mentally ill to some degree. Some of these videos have ex-military who were in for what, four years? That in itself is a bit strange. In your vast experience of four military years, you're going to go call out some nutcase in uniform? Why?

The gov't is only concerned about wearing a uniform if you're doing it claim financial benefit. That shows you what the gov't is concerned with and has always been concerned with: money. They don't care that some asshole is out there impersonating a soldier, and how that insults a serving (and ex) military members. They only care if that asshole scams a free cheeseburger on Veteran's Day.

It's all fucked.

Tedim · « **Reply #28 on:** January 20, 2016, 12:04:00 PM »

I lol'ed at the fat fk video....not a lot of 11 series that look like private Pile

11BangBang....thats the MOS he chose to impersonate, he is retarded

Nether Animal · « **Reply #29 on:** January 20, 2016, 12:14:16 PM »

Quote from: Tedim on January 20, 2016, 12:04:00 PM

I lol'ed at the fat fk video....not a lot of 11 series that look like private Pile

11BangBang....thats the MOS he chose to impersonate, he is retarded

OneMoreRep · « **Reply #30 on:** January 20, 2016, 12:24:24 PM »

Quote from: BayGBM on January 20, 2016, 10:25:16 AM

I have no problem with anyone wearing a shirt. I am guessing we all wear lots of t shirts from organizations we are not affiliated with, but by the time you are wearing full body fatigues or a formal marine uniform with hat and medals that's on another level. For what possible purpose? Somehow I think the people who do this are too cowardly to ever think of really enlisting.

Exactly. The only other reason a man should ever wear a military uniform, without actually ever having served, is when they are hired to take sensual pictures in one.

"1"

Nether Animal · « **Reply #31 on:** January 20, 2016, 12:39:44 PM »

Quote from: OneMoreRep on January 20, 2016, 12:24:24 PM

Exactly. The only other reason a man should ever wear a military uniform, without actually ever having served, is when they are hired to take sensual pictures in one.

HTexan · « **Reply #32 on:** January 20, 2016, 12:43:01 PM »

1.) Americans love war heroes.
2.) pretend to be a War veteran
3.)

4.) profit!!!

Kwon_2 · « **Reply #33 on:** January 20, 2016, 12:43:34 PM »

Quote from: HTexan on January 20, 2016, 12:43:01 PM

1.) Americans love war heroes.
2.) pretend to be a War veteran
3.)
4.) profit!!!

They just want love, right?

headhuntersix · « **Reply #34 on:** January 20, 2016, 12:45:25 PM »

Nobody's ever a bulk fuel specialist or turret mechanic...their all airborne rangers or seals. I don't think these idiots realize how easy it is figure out if you're a SEAL. A buddy of mine did a friend of the court brief before the Supreme Court when this came up. I think it demeans service and a lot of these guys actually get things for it. Houses, gun, discounts and you would be shocked how many fake Vietnam vets have gotten VA benefits and jobs because of it. Todays its SEALS, in Vietnam it was being a POW. Everybody was a POW

SquidVicious · « **Reply #35 on:** January 20, 2016, 12:45:59 PM »

Quote from: Kwon_2 on January 20, 2016, 10:13:50 AM

Stolen Valor is like pretending you have 18+ inch arms on Getbig.

Or pretending you have a happy marriage on Facebook.

BayGBM · « **Reply #36 on:** January 20, 2016, 12:51:46 PM »

Quote from: OneMoreRep on January 20, 2016, 12:24:24 PM

Exactly. The only other reason a man should ever wear a military uniform, without actually ever having served, is when they are hired to take sensual pictures in one.

I just knew there was a bodybuilding connection in all this... somewhere. Thanks for articulating it.

Tedim · « **Reply #37 on:** January 20, 2016, 12:53:15 PM »

Quote from: headhuntersix on January 20, 2016, 12:45:25 PM

Nobody's ever a bulk fuel specialist or turret mechanic...their all airborne rangers or seals. I don't think these idiots realize how easy it is figure out if you're a SEAL. A buddy of mine did a friend of the court brief before the Supreme Court when this came up. I think it demeans service and a lot of these guys actually get things for it. Houses, gun, discounts and you would be shocked how many fake Vietnam vets have gotten VA benefits and jobs because of it. Todays its SEALS, in Vietnam it was being a POW. Everybody was a POW

yup, no 88Mikes...truck drivers or cooks, or admin.....all combat MOS's and if they knew what combat MOS's were really like, they would have re-classified like I did as soon as I could.

Dave D · « **Reply #38 on:** January 20, 2016, 12:56:01 PM »

Quote from: HTexan on January 20, 2016, 12:43:01 PM

1.) Americans love war heroes.
2.) pretend to be a War veteran
3.)
4.) profit!!!

Today we do. In the 70s people who wore uniforms coming back from Vietnam were spit on and protested against (or so I've been told, could have been lies).

I'm sure there weren't many walking around in uniforms that weren't their own during that time. Today we honor those who serve. It's not odd to thank someone in uniform for their service.

It's interesting thinking that these people are of sound mind and would have rational a thought process when wearing the uniform. Watch 30 seconds of a posted video and it's clear why these people are wearing the uniform, sf1900 addressed this.

Lol at thinking one of these ppeople have the mental abilities and fortitude to pull off "a catch me if you can type of stunt".

BayGBM · « **Reply #39 on:** January 20, 2016, 01:23:36 PM »

Quote from: Dave D on January 20, 2016, 12:56:01 PM

Today we do. In the 70s people who wore uniforms coming back from Vietnam were spit on and protested against (or so I've been told, could have been lies).

I'm sure there weren't many walking around in uniforms that weren't their own during that time. Today we honor those who serve. It's not odd to thank someone in uniform for their service.

It's interesting thinking that these people are of sound mind and would have rational a thought process when wearing the uniform. Watch 30 seconds of a posted video and it's clear why these people are wearing the uniform, sf1900 addressed this.

Lol at thinking one of these ppeople have the mental abilities and fortitude to pull off "a catch me if you can type of stunt".

Touché!

BayGBM · « **Reply #40 on:** January 20, 2016, 03:04:38 PM »

Quote from: drkaje on January 20, 2016, 11:25:57 AM

Women? Really, Bay?

Benefits may not be tangible but their effects can be seen. Last year, while waiting for a flight, Southwest they announced that some WWII Veterans were passing through to a connecting flight. Many of us applauded or went out to thank them. The effects on them (sitting up a little straighter, walking a little taller, smiles) were mirrored in onlookers. It felt like the gratitude lightened us all.

Someone shouldn't be able to steal an experience others fought hard to earn.

Playing doctor, 20" arms, 500LB bench press, and other silly shit isn't in the same category.

It IS in the same category and the Court has ruled so. Again, the Court’s ruling is the correct one. Your decision to applaud the military passengers (and assign value to their military service) is a personal choice. There is nothing wrong with that choice but it IS a choice. Conversely there are plenty of people who look down on the military because they are “killers” “losers” etc. That view is also a choice. Point is, the military passengers are not entitled to your adulation. It is something you and others freely gave. The fact that you gave adulation without knowing if the person even served in the military is totally on you. It is like being a kid and admiring the guy with big muscles believing he is a natural fit athlete. Later, you learn he was on steroids or it was all synthol, or it was all a muscle suit. The muscle guy was never entitled to your admiration. You gave it out of ignorance because you assigned value to what looked like a good physique and you made assumptions about what it took to develop that physique. In both cases, what you are really made about is that you made a fool of yourself (for admiring fake military folk or a fake muscle guy).

When tangible benefits (discounts for vets, hiring preferences for vets, etc.) are at stake the law appropriately makes it a crime to fraudulently seek those benefits if you are not legitimately entitled to them. Attempting to do so is, in fact, stealing.

An emotional benefit and a tangible benefit are not the same thing. They can't be if for no other reason than emotions are capricious.

Pray_4_War · « **Reply #41 on:** January 20, 2016, 03:35:13 PM »

This is weird and sad.

drkaje · « **Reply #42 on:** January 20, 2016, 03:38:40 PM »

The court has made mistakes before, Bay. Separate but equal was confirmed and later decreed unconstitutional.

Failure to attach a value to intangibles doesn't mean they don't exist. Alienation of affection, for example was once used in divorce proceedings.

It's a free country, as they say. It's okay if you or the court doesn't see what's at stake.

Voice of Doom · « **Reply #43 on:** January 20, 2016, 03:55:45 PM »

One time I got dressed in all black, Rambo-style, and took a massive pair of bolt-cutters and nicked a military bike. - Zlatan Ibrahimovic

FitnessFrenzy · « **Reply #44 on:** January 20, 2016, 04:17:05 PM »

Quote from: BayGBM on January 20, 2016, 11:04:39 AM

If I decide to wear a stethoscope and pick up women in bars because they want to sleep with a doctor...

they might be a little disappointed when they learn that you are a cock connoisseur

Andy Griffin · « **Reply #45 on:** January 20, 2016, 07:06:06 PM »

Stolen Valor pukes piss me off.

They almost always give themselves away by claiming to be some sort of Green Beret-style "secret squirrel" ... so secret that their service records are "classified" or were "destroyed."

No one ever pretends to be an army cook or truck driver.

drkaje · « **Reply #46 on:** January 20, 2016, 07:09:34 PM »

Quote from: Andy Griffin on January 20, 2016, 07:06:06 PM

Stolen Valor pukes piss me off.

They almost always give themselves away by claiming to be some sort of Green Beret-style "secret squirrel" ... so secret that their service records are "classified" or were "destroyed."

No one ever pretends to be an army cook or truck driver.

They remind me of people who claim to remember past lives. It's always something interesting, LOL!

Andy Griffin · « **Reply #47 on:** January 20, 2016, 07:16:45 PM »

Quote from: drkaje on January 20, 2016, 07:09:34 PM

They remind me of people who claim to remember past lives. It's always something interesting, LOL!

exactly...everyone was the king of this or the queen of that

no one ever worked in accounts payable

hardgainerj · « **Reply #48 on:** January 20, 2016, 07:21:25 PM »

Quote from: Tedim on January 20, 2016, 10:51:47 AM

I use to laugh at PX Rangers.....18 yr old private with a Korea ribbon lol

pic me in Haiti

what was the percentage of good soldiers to shitbags in your day?

SF1900 · « **Reply #49 on:** January 20, 2016, 07:30:59 PM »

Quote from: Dave D on January 20, 2016, 12:56:01 PM

Today we do. In the 70s people who wore uniforms coming back from Vietnam were spit on and protested against (or so I've been told, could have been lies).

I'm sure there weren't many walking around in uniforms that weren't their own during that time. Today we honor those who serve. It's not odd to thank someone in uniform for their service.

It's interesting thinking that these people are of sound mind and would have rational a thought process when wearing the uniform. Watch 30 seconds of a posted video and it's clear why these people are wearing the uniform, sf1900 addressed this.

Lol at thinking one of these ppeople have the mental abilities and fortitude to pull off "a catch me if you can type of stunt".

In this day and age, veterans are appreciated and often thanked for their service in public. You can see the glow in these peoples eyes when they discuss their (pretend) service. They light up. They feel important. We all want to feel special and important. These men are just going about it the wrong way. Its disheartening to see!