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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

would your DS join up

258 replies

mariamari2 · 25/02/2022 22:51

Hypothetical but if you have a DS aged 16-25 would they join up in the event of the government requesting volunteers to go and fight in Ukraine. If they did would you try and stop them. I have hear stories about so many young men in Ukraine volunteering and it got me wondering what would young British men do?

OP posts:
CurlyTop1980 · 27/02/2022 09:59

My family is from a EU country which still has conscription for all males as soon as. I they finish education usually for 1-2 years
If the males have a University degree they are fast tracked to officer training.

Even if you are not born in the country you are still conquered a citizen and if you visit the country for longer then 3 months (at any one time) you have to conscript.

My husband, brother, all my brother in law and and nephews have an obligation to go and fight if anything happens in that country. They would go.

They would also bear arms for the UK/Germany (the countries they live in) ad this "war" in the Ukraine is about the preservation of Western Democracy and values. Its more then the Ukraine v Russia.

Sunsetzs · 27/02/2022 10:02

Boris didn't send me a birthday card so I've been crying myself to sleep

That's not what she said. Some people in this country have been fucked over by the government and their policies, and yeah even many veterans were fucked and the government is supposed to really care about them. Regardless of whether you feel that warrants not wanting to serve for the country, it's disingenuous to reduce the negative effects the government have had for some sections of society, to crying over no birthday cards from the PM.

sunnydays9 · 27/02/2022 10:05

Threads like this really piss me off

With everyone saying No. 🙄do you think your DSs would have a choice if they were of age and had to fight for their country?

There are real Ukrainian mothers out there today who would love to say No but can't and had to leave their DS & DH behind to fight. They are in this situation for real !
Yet here you all are saying you wouldn't leave your DS .. get out of your imaginary brain and if you really want to do something maybe donate to a charity helping the Ukrainians rather than come on threads like this and comment what you would or wouldn't do when you're not even in this mess for real.

felulageller · 27/02/2022 10:15

Not a chance in hell.

Sunsetzs · 27/02/2022 10:16

Are women without underage not made to stay behind and fight too? I'm sure some of them could do better than some men in their late 50s. Not sure why they aren't made to stay and fight too.

Sunsetzs · 27/02/2022 10:16

*women without underage kids

sunnydays9 · 27/02/2022 10:31

@felulageller

Not a chance in hell.
& that decision would be up to mummy ? Doubt it
alltheapples · 27/02/2022 12:14

@Sunsetzs Ukraine is still quite a traditional country so women are not being forced to stay behind. Maybe as well they simply do not have the bureaucratic capability to assess who has kids or dependent elderly parents and who does not.
But many Ukrainian women are choosing to stay behind and fight. It has been all over the news. The women who are teachers etc who have resources to flee, but are fighting.

alltheapples · 27/02/2022 12:14

@sunnydays9 yes if conscription was up to mums, hardly anyone ever would fight.

LoisWilkersonslastnerve · 27/02/2022 12:34

I don't even know where to start with this ridiculous thread. Ask a hypothetical question by all means op but the responses Confused I find it offensive to the people of Ukraine, people serving in the armed forces, including women that some hand wringing arse from the UK is worried that little Johnny might be conscripted. Get a grip.

Sailor2009 · 27/02/2022 12:35

My daughter is too young but as her dad and I are both armed forces (or state sanctioned murders as I believe we are now known Hmm) as much as I wouldn't want her to go if she was old enough and wanted to, I don't think we would have any real way to stop her.

Zazdar · 27/02/2022 12:39

yes if conscription was up to mums, hardly anyone ever would fight

Apart from professional and volunteer soldiers. They tend to do be rather better at it than conscript armies. The Falklands war is a good example of this.

sunnydays9 · 27/02/2022 12:44

@LoisWilkersonslastnerve

I don't even know where to start with this ridiculous thread. Ask a hypothetical question by all means op but the responses Confused I find it offensive to the people of Ukraine, people serving in the armed forces, including women that some hand wringing arse from the UK is worried that little Johnny might be conscripted. Get a grip.
This was my point as well . How offensive. Such amazing devoted mothers on this thread 🤮 Do they really think that the Ukrainian mothers had a say in wether their sons or husbands stay and fight .. if little Johnny would be of age .. he'd me made to stay & fight regardless of what mummy thinks
Etinoxaurus · 27/02/2022 13:47

@LoisWilkersonslastnerve

I don't even know where to start with this ridiculous thread. Ask a hypothetical question by all means op but the responses Confused I find it offensive to the people of Ukraine, people serving in the armed forces, including women that some hand wringing arse from the UK is worried that little Johnny might be conscripted. Get a grip.
I'd have agree with you but after Lynn Truss today Hmm
herehere22 · 27/02/2022 14:15

@Angrymum22

DS did history GCSE, I wasn’t aware of just how much he learnt and retained about the political history of the 20th century particularly the Cold War, until the Ukrainian situation started. I am confident that he wouldn’t entertain joining up to fight. He’s a critical thinker and doesn’t believe that war solves problems.
How ridiculous are you? So all the poor men & women fighting in Ukraine aren't critical thinkers? They don't have a choice you silly ** they have to defend their country regardless. No one cares what your precious child studied There are plenty of very smart & educated people in Ukraine fighting as we speak
granny24 · 27/02/2022 14:34

@XelaM

Ukrainian men are defending their country. They are fighting for their families' lives. If Britain was under direct attack, maybe the men here would fight too (albeit Boris & Co would be on the first private jet out Angry ).

But knowing many Ukrainians, they are a great a very brave nation.

Ukrainian women are fighting too.
HarrysChild · 27/02/2022 14:41

Speaking as a female who joined up straight from school (albeit more years ago than i care to remember now!) I am shocked at the casual sexism in your OP/thread title!

WalkingOnTheCracks · 27/02/2022 16:39

Just reading the heading, I thought, "Well, that thread's going to be feast of measured reason and happy accord."

Trainbear · 27/02/2022 17:26

[quote Latara]@SiobhanSharpe I believe Sweden is quickly introducing conscription as it's neutrality is being threatened by Putin.[/quote]
I thought Sweden had conscription? Perhaps they cancelled it, but are wise to consider it.
During Ww2 both Sweden and Ireland were neutral, but Ireland did about as much as it could to help the UK without joining in. They realised that if the UK was invaded the Nazis would so respect Irish neutrality. A number of Irishmen volunteered for the UK atemed forces, as did Americans before Pearl Harbor, as they wanted to fight Nazis.

HikingforScenery · 27/02/2022 17:35

I hope not!

Svara · 27/02/2022 17:38

@sunnydays9

Threads like this really piss me off

With everyone saying No. 🙄do you think your DSs would have a choice if they were of age and had to fight for their country?

There are real Ukrainian mothers out there today who would love to say No but can't and had to leave their DS & DH behind to fight. They are in this situation for real !
Yet here you all are saying you wouldn't leave your DS .. get out of your imaginary brain and if you really want to do something maybe donate to a charity helping the Ukrainians rather than come on threads like this and comment what you would or wouldn't do when you're not even in this mess for real.

Why should my young DS fight and not me, a fit and healthy 38 year old woman? I have lived more of my life, I have had a child and almost raised him, better that I die than him when his life has barely begun. If they were taking both of us then fair enough.
StrangeAddiction · 27/02/2022 17:41

Ds1 is joining the army anyway so yes he would fight at some point.

Am I happy? No definitely not! I didn't mind him joining while things were relatively peaceful, learning a trade and visiting the world for free but war is obviously on another level and at this point I'd rather he didn't join.

MadMadMadamMim · 27/02/2022 17:43

Of course not. He's a 17 year old boy who plays FIFA.

He would be utterly bemused at a government request for him to volunteer to head off to fight in the Ukraine.

herehere22 · 27/02/2022 17:58

@MadMadMadamMim

Of course not. He's a 17 year old boy who plays FIFA.

He would be utterly bemused at a government request for him to volunteer to head off to fight in the Ukraine.

Has anyone personally asked your precious to join ? No? Just be thankful you didn't have to leave your precious behind like some Ukrainian mothers had to what a stupid comment.
MadMadMadamMim · 27/02/2022 18:14

Has anyone personally asked your precious to join ? No? Just be thankful you didn't have to leave your precious behind like some Ukrainian mothers had to what a stupid comment.

I think you've missed the point of the OP in your self righteous indignation! The question was would your DS join up to fight in Ukraine if asked by the government? I was answering the OP. HTH.