Conscription, in this day and age.

[Vebrithien]

Somewhat morbid thinking, but I was wondering what would happen with conscription now days, if it was ever used again.

As far as I can recall, in WWII, it started with young, single men (after volunteers). Then moved up in age, and into the married men.

Given that so many people now have children without marrying, how would the powers that be get around it? Would you be conscripted if you didn't have children? Would absent father's suddenly be claiming their children? Or would it be linked to marital status still. Would there be a rush of weddings? And again, would it still only ever be men? What would happen to non-binary people, or trans people? If women with children were conscripted, would there be fail safes to ensure that their other parent wasn't conscripted?

What do you think?

regardless I'm not sure what point you are trying to make?

Wars aren't fought with hundreds of thousands of soldiers in trenches anymore. There's literally no need for conscription.

@CallMeNutribullet

Wars aren't fought with hundreds of thousands of soldiers in trenches anymore. There's literally no need for conscription.

And what happens when your banks and government etc have been cyber hacked and the enemy is now actually in your country? There comes a point when it does come down to physical bodies on the ground.

I do not agree with sacrificing healthy young people for anything, I certainly wouldn’t be encouraging my own children to join if they become old enough.

@stairway

I do not agree with sacrificing healthy young people for anything, I certainly wouldn’t be encouraging my own children to join if they become old enough.

If it’s conscription, they won’t have any choice. That’s what conscription means.

@leopooh

regardless I'm not sure what point you are trying to make?

Stability and peace weren’t quite what I remember as constants in my ‘Boomer’ life. Cuba was before my time. But we had Able Archer. Reagan’s Star Wars. Have people forgotten just how terrifying the eighties were? A lot of those weapons have gone now.

I’m sick of MN claiming that Boomers are put to get younger generations. My son is 25. Why would I want him involved in a war? I’m worried sick about his work and housing prospects as it is.

@steppemum

this terrifies me. My ds is 19, fit and well and I cannot imagine how it must have been for the families in WW1 and WW11 seeing their wonderful sons in the prime of life sent to war.

My heart is breaking for the Ukrainian families who are experiencing this now.

I totally agree with you

My youngest ds is 16.5, and he and friends were talking about conscription today. Fucking terrifying

@rwalker

We just wouldn't tolerate it people wouldn't even wear a mask last year no chance of this happening

This. Not a chance of the public consenting to it.

@Abra1d1 Have you not read some of the other posts on this thread?

Have people forgotten just how terrifying the eighties were?

I'm confused as to why you think only boomers experienced the 80s?

We don't live in a time when anyone would be conscripted, no one would do it. I think this thread is a little dramatic

I don’t think that. I’m countering this particular point:

There is a certain irony to the boomer generation berating younger generations when they've lived through the longest period of stability and peace this country has probably ever experienced

Not a chance of the public consenting to it.

But the public won’t get a choice. The public doesn’t have to “consent”. Conscription is always mandatory. That’s the whole point.

I just can’t see it happening. As others have said war is likely to look different. I can’t imagine troops on the ground at all. I’d be much more worried about a major infrastructure hack. I also think people just wouldn’t do if. It’s one thing being told to stay at home but another being told to fight on nationalistic lines especially when the population is more multi-cultural.

Our DD is studying abroad. She phoned me earlier worrying about this - she has friends in Ukraine, Russia and Latvia, as well as others who are concerned and I suspect doesn't help. Wasn't happy with my reassurances, so has been in touch with DH tonight. Doesn't help, she's taken herself off for a few days away on her own and come across demonstrations against Russia. She's a worrier, very lucky to probably having the time of her life right now, so it's the last thing I want to bring her back down right now.

@Abra1d1 so you don't think boomers have lived through a relatively stable & peaceful period proportionally? Because of the Troubles & the War on Terror?

It's not my post fyi, I just replied to it!

It wouldn't work today.

What would they do with all the refusers? Throw them in jail?

I know I'd much rather go to jail than go to war.

Until it's boots on the ground, back to the wall, I think people are more likely to be 'approached' than conscripted. Happens in peacetime too.

I can't believe that in this day and age, this is actually being debated as if it could actually happen 🤦🏻‍♀️ It won't.

@Baystard

I can't imagine conscription unless the Russians were invading beyond Ukraine. I do sleep better at night knowing that Putin knows that we have Trident though.

Putin can take it! Many of us want rid of Trident. Biggest waste of money there ever was! Utterly useless.

I have to say, I didn't mean to start a fight!

And no, I can't imagine conscription would go ahead, in the form that it did. Life (and war) are very different now. I am just interested in the different views on how it possibly could be undertaken, particularly with the differing way that women form the official workforce now, and how the modern family may not be as it was traditionally.

@Frazzled2207

A lot of countries still do it but in many cases you can do civil instead of military service.

I disagree with forcing people to join the military but would broadly support some kind of compulsory civil/community OR military service. If done properly it could provide really useful life experience to all.

This would be a good compromise.

Send in the unemployed first?