would your DS join up

[mariamari2]

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?

Yes, it sounds incredibly arrogant to suggest that “Nerdy” should be spared, not “ Wasted”

Every mother’s son is equally valuable.

But that is exactly the point that @RobotValkyrie was making! Quote:

Given the way modern wars are fought (high tech equipment requiring more brains than brawls), it makes zero sense to send inexperienced, emotionally vulnerable youngsters to the battle front. Let them live

So why accuse her of being arrogant when she is making the same point as you?

www.dfa.ie/our-role-policies/international-priorities/peace-and-security/neutrality/
Ireland does indeed have an official policy of neutrality in alliances and conflicts, for those who asked. Much like Switzerland and Sweden.

I'm 45 yr old woman with epilepsy & Schizoaffective disorder. But I would be happy to join up if the UK was invaded.
When I was a young girl I thought about joining the army before I realised they don't take people with epilepsy. But they wouldn't exactly be fussy in an national emergency!!

My great gran Lily was one of the first female soldiers aged 21 in the WAAC sent to France in 1917 to support the male troops in Ww1.
My Nan Rita was an ARP messenger aged 15 during the Blitz, delivering messages on her bicycle between ARP posts during bombing raids.
My other Nan Dorothy drove buses during the Ww2 without a proper driving license.

And did you know that during 1940 there was actually a 'Mum's Army' of women who were housewives trained by soldiers in the Uk to fight should the Germans invade?

The job I envy at present though is that of war correspondent... I always secretly wanted to be the next Kate Adie but was too shy to get into journalism. However I wouldn't wish to end up like the late Marie Colvin, a brave lady.

@SiobhanSharpe I believe Sweden is quickly introducing conscription as it's neutrality is being threatened by Putin.

Mine are only 13 and 8 but I know them both well enough to know they would both be determined to go. I would try everything I could to convince them not to.

Latara -- I can recommend Kate Adey's autobiography if you like her. She had a long journey, strangling rabbits, local radio, Royal Correspondent, then cut her teeth in streets of Northern Ireland, not what you'd imagine as background to foreign war correspondent.

My eldest is in Brit Army. He will think strategically about Ukraine / containing Russia, not act with his heart. I don't think other DC are idealistic, wouldn't rush to defend another country.

@Gasfire

Well, if mumsnet is representative of the whole country, most of the dc would have asd, adhd, dyspraxia or anxiety, so wouldn't be eligible anyway.

Rest easy.

Well as it happens, I'm dyspraxic However this could be put to good use because no one would ever be able to anticipate what I was about to do. It has been said that if I'm playing darts the safest place to stand is right in front of the dart board. I also know how to make napalm and molotov cocktails (the first I've done the second only in theory) and have some small knowledge of deadly poisons so I suppose I may have a purpose. I've never actually USED that knowledge by the way though certainly been sorely tempted at times.

DD is 16 and appears to have a deep interest in biological warfare - in fact she's talking about joining the forces so she can develop her interest in biochemistry! I'm a bit scared of DD sometimes

DP is a crack shot and calm in a crisis so I fear he'd be in the front line taking people out but he's also a great cryptographer and linguist so perhaps he'd find himself elsewhere?

DS is 9 so guess he's out of the running.

@listsandbudgets. I have to know why you made napalm.

Nope, why would I allow my sons to go and fight for a country they've never been too? I wouldn't even allow them to fight this country. Its suicide dressed up as a patriotic act in my opinion.

I don't have a DS, but if our country was in the same situation I (mid 30s female) would be signing up too, at least because of my hobbies i know how to use a weapon. If they wouldn't let fight I'd find another way to help, like a lot of Ukrainians are at the moment.

@Worried1234567890

Nope, why would I allow my sons to go and fight for a country they've never been too? I wouldn't even allow them to fight this country. Its suicide dressed up as a patriotic act in my opinion.

Fighting for your country (in the face of an existential threat, were we faced with a similar situation to Ukraine) is courageous and heroic.

The men and women doing so now in Ukraine are heroes; showing superhuman fortitude and resolve.

Failing to defend your country when its very existence, people, and way of life are at threat is naked cowardice. Expecting others to defend yourself and your family while you do nothing is abominable.

Glad to see you're proud that you're raising your sons to be a pair of indolent cowards.

Failing to defend your country when its very existence, people, and way of life are at threat is cowardice

Depends on how you look at it and what you’re fighting for. I’d fight for a revolution in this country to get rid of the disgusting poverty and inequality in the country.

But I’m more inclined to agree with

Nope, why would I allow my sons to go and fight for a country they've never been too? I wouldn't even allow them to fight this country. Its suicide dressed up as a patriotic act in my opinion

This country needs a kick up it’s complacent arse. Why should my children fight to maintain the corrupt status quo in this country? Why should they fight after being saddled with student debt and shut wages. What would they be fighting for exactly?

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow

Failing to defend your country when its very existence, people, and way of life are at threat is cowardice

Depends on how you look at it and what you’re fighting for. I’d fight for a revolution in this country to get rid of the disgusting poverty and inequality in the country.

But I’m more inclined to agree with

Nope, why would I allow my sons to go and fight for a country they've never been too? I wouldn't even allow them to fight this country. Its suicide dressed up as a patriotic act in my opinion

This country needs a kick up it’s complacent arse. Why should my children fight to maintain the corrupt status quo in this country? Why should they fight after being saddled with student debt and shut wages. What would they be fighting for exactly?

Except we're not talking about a "revolution in this country". We're talking about an external aggressor as Ukraine is fighting against.

If - clearly we're not close to this happening - Russia or China went to war with this country and subjugated it, you'd long for a return to what we have now.

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow

Trust me, you'd get a very firm kick up your delusional arse if we faced a war against aj external aggressor like China or Russia. No, it wouldn't usher in the utopia you seem to believe is possible.

[quote CPL593H]@listsandbudgets. I have to know why you made napalm.[/quote]
If I told you, I'd have to kill you If someone was threatening my children and I had ingredients available I'd not hesitate.

I house shared with a very enthusiastic chemistry student when I was at university. Our kitchen was a really scary place

My son is in the military and he is not going anywhere yet.
If he is deployed he will go. That is what he signed up for.
Unless a NATO nation is attacked, then only assistance with aid and weapons will be given. (This is my assumption not his as I have not asked him.)

@yeahthat

My sons aren't being raised to be cowards, they just aren't going to become murderers or kill themselves for the sake of a country that doesn't give a flying fuck about them!

Glad to see your perfectly fine with your children become murderers for a country that doesn't even know their name let alone give a damn about them because even if they lived they'd be on the street battling PTSD with no help from the very country they vowed to 'protect'

@NoSleepTil

Mine’s already in the Air Force

Mine too.

Glad to see your perfectly fine with your children become murderers

This is so offensive to people who have loved ones in the forces.

@Worried1234567890

What a ridiculous idiot you are. Fighting a defensive war on behalf of your country is no more murder than fighting to defend yourself against someone trying to kill you.

[quote Yeahthat]@Worried1234567890

What a ridiculous idiot you are. Fighting a defensive war on behalf of your country is no more murder than fighting to defend yourself against someone trying to kill you.[/quote]
Absolutely.

@dearlybeloathed

I offer no apology for my opinion.. dress it up whatever way you want ALL soldiers in ALL forces across the globe are brainwashed murderers, killing each other (and innocent civilians including children) because their country have told them too. Pretty much the only profession you can have where you can kill someone with no consequences and be hailed a 'hero' for doing it.

War is ridiculous. I don't agree with it at all (nobody does)

If my kids wanted to be killers I'd feel like I failed in raising them.

What a ridiculous idiot you are

Sums it up well!

@DearlyBeloathed

Glad to see your perfectly fine with your children become murderers

This is so offensive to people who have loved ones in the forces.

And if by "murdering" they stopped for example children, old people, pregnant women, disabled people, being killed in cold blood or made slaves or put in concentration camps or raped or disfigured.....???

It's not black and white. I believe i could become a "murderer" if could stop things like that happening to people I love or my friends, neighbours, colleagues...