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Picture of Zoasterboy
Registered: July 12, 2006
Posts: 364
Posted   Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post  
I was recently at the United States army website for an english project here.

I noticed that the main page looked more like a bunch of sweepstakes advertisments rather than an informative web page about the army.

(ex: Need a Loan?
Lending money exclusively to military personnel for more than 55 years. Loans up to $10,000. Click today, cash tomorrow! )
etc...

But then I noticed an advertisement for a free download of the game "America's Army."

This is a full blown 3D game with on line multilayer capabilities. Its boasted as having cost the army 6.3 million dollars, and being one of the most popular PC action games played on line.

Aside from all of the super deals on the main page, this seems to be taking it too far.

Now I'm all fine with games and all fine with the army, but it made me feel kind of sick that the army would create a game glorifying violence to lure kids into the army. And the fact that they boast spending 6.3 million dollars on it, money that could be greatly useful elsewhere, seems wrong.
Check out the page yourself: here

Whats your opinion?


-yah
Picture of Boxx
Registered: May 25, 2007
Posts: 41
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quote:
Let's think, what does the military do? Basicly they shoot things with guns. So if you make posters recruiting people for the military you show men with guns. If you were recruiting welders you'd have posters of people welding.

That I understand. However I have seen plenty of recruitment posters that do not have guns. My point was that with our zero tolerance policy it is not appropriate.
quote:
Why? students are there for educational purposes. The militarys whole reason for existance revolves around firearms and there use on people who dislike americans.

I don't think there should be any kind of recruitment on school campus. If you want to come and inform people about it thats fine. Like I said before the recruiting posters are in our library. Although I don't agree with some of them I would have less of a problem if they were in the Career Center. I also don't agree with 'Military Day" at our school but that's a whole different topic.
quote:
That's why our all volunteer army numbers in the millions

Because of the propaganda, the monetary aide, pressure from family, ect.


But it's the truth even if it didn't happen.
Picture of clpo13
Registered: November 05, 2004
Posts: 6044
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America's Army isn't glorifying violence. If anything, it shows you how freakin' easy it is to get shot by terrorists. It's not an easy game to play. Let your guard down for just a second...BLAM. You're dead. Just like real life. The difference is that you can wait five or ten minutes and play (and die) again on AA.

If there's one thing AA does do, it is show people how scary war really is. I stopped playing that game because I seriously couldn't do anything. I'd get into a game and then be scared to death that someone was going to shoot me the instant I walked out of my cover. 9 times out of 10, I did get shot, which is why it scared me so much. Now, I realize that AA is a game, which makes me even more unlikely to ever join the Army. If a game makes me unwilling to move out of fear, there's no way I'd be able to do the real thing.

Anyways, that's just a bit off-topic, so I'll stop now.


The more you know, the less you don't know.
Picture of ampmaster
Registered: February 22, 2004
Posts: 13974
Posted   Hide PostReply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post  
quote:
there are military posters that actively show men with guns.


Let's think, what does the military do? Basicly they shoot things with guns. So if you make posters recruiting people for the military you show men with guns. If you were recruiting welders you'd have posters of people welding.

quote:
The same rules that apply to the students should also apply to the military.


Why? students are there for educational purposes. The militarys whole reason for existance revolves around firearms and there use on people who dislike americans. So while students have no use for guns and things related to guns the military does, and if your recruiting people for that career path you need to show the tools of the trade. Like a poster with a toilet plunger on it recruting folks for to work for roto-rooter

quote:
they are going to need massive amounts of propaganda to recruit people.


Easier than you think slim. That's why our all volunteer army numbers in the millions


"The very existence of flamethrowers proves that sometime, somewhere, someone said to themselves, "You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I'm just not close enough to get the job done"."
Picture of Boxx
Registered: May 25, 2007
Posts: 41
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quote:
This just means the army is finally catching up

Ha!

Unless you are born with "star spangled eyes" they are going to need massive amounts of propaganda to recruit people.

This isn't nessesarily a bad thing. As much as I hate to admit it we do need a military and this seems to be a very effective way of getting it.

What I don't like is how in out library there are military posters that actively show men with guns. We do have a zero tolerance policy at our school. If I were to have a gun on a shirt I would definately get in trouble. The same rules that apply to the students should also apply to the military.

I might be biased. I have a great dislike for recruiters of any kind.


But it's the truth even if it didn't happen.
Picture of ampmaster
Registered: February 22, 2004
Posts: 13974
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The Marines have several video games and are in more Movies than I can actively think of. This just means the army is finally catching up


"The very existence of flamethrowers proves that sometime, somewhere, someone said to themselves, "You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I'm just not close enough to get the job done"."
Picture of Sphinx
Registered: January 15, 2006
Posts: 484
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I'm not surprised. The army has very unusual ways of recruiting. My family has an Arab last name so we get hassled in the airport, but the army? The army loves us! ..Well, at the very least they want us. They send us letters that open up to be the shape of the Kaaba in Mecca, and all the writing is in very fancy Arabic print trying to convince us to join the Army to be interpeters. It's disgusting. What does the Kaaba have to do with the American army? I hope there aren't too many people who fall into these traps. I know most people must sign on for the army having some idea of what they're getting into, but it's wrong to try and lure people into it under false expectations.


~*The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all possible worlds; and the pessimist fears this is true.
Picture of Tubbymura
Registered: May 04, 2007
Posts: 7
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to me. i think that all the army cares about nowadays is new recruits and money. of course i could be wrong, but hey who am i to be "all knowing" here? either way i would agree that it is wrong and it should be discontinued.


Freedom is the freedom to say that 2+2=4 - George Orwell
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