From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.4.4 (2020-01-24) on polar.synack.me X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=0.0 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_40,FREEMAIL_FROM autolearn=ham autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: 103376,60e2922351e0e780 X-Google-Attributes: gid103376,public X-Google-ArrivalTime: 2003-11-17 13:12:19 PST Path: archiver1.google.com!postnews1.google.com!not-for-mail From: 18k11tm001@sneakemail.com (Russ) Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada Subject: Re: Way off topic was: Re: Clause "with and use" Date: 17 Nov 2003 13:12:19 -0800 Organization: http://groups.google.com Message-ID: References: NNTP-Posting-Host: 128.102.146.44 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit X-Trace: posting.google.com 1069103539 25549 127.0.0.1 (17 Nov 2003 21:12:19 GMT) X-Complaints-To: groups-abuse@google.com NNTP-Posting-Date: Mon, 17 Nov 2003 21:12:19 +0000 (UTC) Xref: archiver1.google.com comp.lang.ada:2589 Date: 2003-11-17T13:12:19-08:00 List-Id: "Robert I. Eachus" wrote in message news:... > Chad R. Meiners wrote: > > >>In bootcamp they force you to keep your > >>shoes shiny and your uniform folded perfectly. Why? Because it > >>establishes discipline. Do shiny shoes make you a more effective > >>fighter? Of course not. > > > > > > Well .... I have noticed that people that have shiny shoes and perfectly > > folded uniforms can take pride in this. This pride helps self-esteem, which > > improves the troops moral. Troops with high moral are way more effective > > than troops with low moral. > > > > Note that my argument is rather holistic in that considers the effect in > > whole environment. Naturally, it does not always apply, and this is where > > purists shall get unreasonable. > > Totally off topic, but hey, I just got an e-mail from my son in Tikrit, > Iraq, so let me take a detour. > > That barracks drill and spit and polish is a step on the path to > becoming a soldier. But there is a huge difference between that and a > combat unit. I think an email from a US military son in Tikrit justifies an OT post. 8^) I wish him well, and I hope you get to see him soon. By the way, I support him *and* his mission. I understand the rationale behind military training, and I did not mean to disparage it. I just think that, when imposed by a programming language, it could put off many programmers. I read a bestselling book several years ago called "The Myth of Male Power" by Warren Farrell. I urge everyone to read it. It will "boggle" your mind (whatever that means). One of the many topics discussed is the rationale behind basic military training. The purpose of boot camp is to strip the recruit of his individuality and impress on him that he is now part of a group, to which he will pledge his very life. Only after he is fully integrated into the group is his individuality allowed to re-emerge. That's why they all get the same haircut and uniform upon arrival and why they are told precisely how to fold their underwear.