Think twice...

[odysseus]

He is the standard ex-military person who after being discharged has gotten into the Private Security Industry and become a gun for hire.

Agreed.

including:

I notice he's derisive towards anyone that's not helping him achieve his aims, and seems to have a different impression from others in a a few circumstances. I suggest that's a significant part of the issue.

There's also a significant lack of awareness and understanding here:

"All they have really done is be a paper tiger and crying crocodile tears and calling me to offer moral support. But I'm not a 10-year-old who's apparently lost their shoes, I want something done."

 

[straitman]

My experience with the army is that it is exactly normal to swear in normal conversation and especially when somethign unexpected happens.

That is a pretty broad brush generalisation. My military experience is quite different.

 

[medhead]

What is normal in one environment may not be acceptable in another. For example, no matter how common it may be in the army, such language is not be acceptable in my home.

Of course, different standards apply in polite society.

But that doesn't negate my point. What Dave wrote was:

since when is it a natural instinct to swear when something unexpected happens

I was simply point out when I have seen this happen. Perhaps it is coincidence that the person in the story also has been in a similar environment.

That is a pretty broad brush generalisation. My military experience is quite different.

I really should leave this alone - at least to potentially spare myself embrassment. But why start doing that now.

I will say that you statement is much broader generalisation than mine, which was about my experience with the Australian Army, not the military in total.

I certainly wasn't making a statement about the conversation with the air commodore when you bring your kite back a bit banged up, whato. Or when you get invited to join the Captain in the ward room for dinner.

edit: please insert some of at various places in this post

 

[russianrob]

I have a work colleague who also made the mistake of swearing at an officer in Dubai airport. He was lucky to only be "detained' for 3 hours, but missed his plane and HAD to buy a new ticket out at his own expense. Very expensive mistake!
Swearing is not acceptable in the UAE, and I also consider it poor form when directed at another.

 

[Dave Noble]

But that doesn't negate my point. What Dave wrote was:

I was simply point out when I have seen this happen. Perhaps it is coincidence that the person in the story also has been in a similar environment.

I think that you have suggested a learned response to swear at inappropriate times rather than it being a natural instinct

Dave

 

[medhead]

I think that you have suggested a learned response to swear at inappropriate times rather than it being a natural instinct

Dave

Well, that would mean that the situations in a military context where profanity is used are also inappropriate times. Sorry I can't agree with that conclusion. I have certainly used adult words at times where it was completely appropriate. I don't consider that I am a pavlovean swearing dog that has been trained to swear whenever a lady cutesy's or removes her gloves.

In fact, I don't know how you can get to this conclusion. It is a naturally response that occurs regardless of whether societal or cultural normals say it is appropriate or not. i.e. if shocked or surprised some people swear.

 

[samh004]

Also not really touched on, and this will probably never be known, was what kind of a grab at his wrist it was. A unexpected but gentle grabbing of his wrist may have elicited a less vulgar response than an aggressive grabbing of his wrist. But I don't know what happened and I doubt anyone ever will, but it's worth considering it may have been more aggressive than a light touch.

Whatever, he's there, if he is an aggressive guy I'm sure he'll continue to stay there, if he's genuinely apologetic they might cut him some slack. Though if the info in the SMH is accurate, he might not be back for a while.

Slightly OT, on clicking the link provided by Mal, the advert at the top of the article is:

MasterCard Moments createsA trip that you will never forget!

How fitting!

 

[NM]

How fitting!

Indeed ... Priceless!

 

[straitman]

I really should leave this alone - at least to potentially spare myself embrassment. But why start doing that now.

Good point. Why start now :?:

I was talking to a Wing Commander this morning and managed not to swear. If I had sworn she may have hit me :!:

 

[medhead]

Good point. Why start now :?:

I was talking to a Wing Commander this morning and managed not to swear. If I had sworn she may have hit me :!:

Yep I'm sure she would have and that time that I almost sliced my thumb off doing some heavy maintainence around a couple of diggers and a senior NCO, I used a few expletives without raising an eyebrow :shock: