Is it normal 2 be irritated when people thank me for serving?

56% Normal
27 Comments

i went to afghanistan for a year. it was absolutely the worst year of my life. its the family stuff i had no control over and my infant daughter had two open heart surgeries. so when people say "thank you for your service" i wanna tell them what it cost me and what there thanks doesnt really do for me. but i fake a smile and respectfully say "thank you" whats worse is these people are genuinely appreciative of me and i dont wanna hear it. is that normal?

Voting Results
56% Normal
Based on 104 votes (58 yes)
Help us keep this site organized and clean. Thanks!
[ Report Post ]
Comments ( 27 )
  • DannyKanes
    11 years ago

    What would you rather hear?

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    5
    5
  • NeuroNeptunian
    11 years ago

    Like wero4 said, it's a common courtesy. Most of us back home know that nothing that the lot of us could see in our lifetime could compare to the experiences of war so what else are we supposed to say?

    I don't have the balls to risk getting my head blown off?
    I couldn't bear to leave my family behind?
    I don't want to die for a cause I don't believe in?

    It's all we can say, man. It's a common social courtesy and if I were you I'd just keep smiling. None of us know what is really going on in the head of a veteran. So we thank them and leave it at that.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    3
    3
  • kyanviado
    11 years ago

    You are doing a service that will makes their lives better in ways you probably don't know. They are being thankful that you are there. I guess you want them to tell you to fuck off then. Didn't think so

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    1
    1
      -
    • disthing
      11 years ago

      Not to be a pessimist, but a lot of ex-soldiers I know feel like their service didn't help a great deal in 'making lives better', certainly for the people back home.

      Perhaps sometimes a 'thank you' can seem odd, almost cruel, when the person being thanked feels like their main contribution was killing and having to watch people get blown to pieces.

      Comment Hidden ( show )
      0
      0
  • Avant-Garde
    11 years ago

    I don't blame you. It gets on my nerves when people do it and if I was a veteran, I'd have to fight myself not to get angry with them. Are you wearing clothes that give you away like your army suit or a hat that says veteran on it? Try to dress casually and see if things change.

    Good Luck!

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0
      -
    • robbieforgotpw
      10 years ago

      Thank you for serving me with a nice back rub

      Comment Hidden ( show )
      0
      0
        -
      • Avant-Garde
        10 years ago

        Back rub? At in the dark hours of the night? No.. I'm afraid that wasn't me... See, I was busy with doing nefarious hauntings in the opera house. That must have been another spectral... But the real question is who was it...

        *Strokes bread*

        Comment Hidden ( show )
        0
        0
          -
        • robbieforgotpw
          10 years ago

          I read that as strokes beard but I know you are all woman:/

          Comment Hidden ( show )
          0
          0
            -
          • Avant-Garde
            10 years ago

            OoH! Wait its "bread". Don't you think that bread deserves some loving too?

            *Fresh out of the oven*

            "Hold me, Touch me." says the bread.

            "Sure thing, Hot Stuff." says the chef.

            Comment Hidden ( show )
            0
            0
          • Avant-Garde
            10 years ago

            Fake beard.
            Imaginary beard.

            Relax, Roobie! There's nothing to get your bowels in a twist about.

            Comment Hidden ( show )
            0
            0
  • Aleks85
    11 years ago

    I can help you with that.

    You're an idiot for signing up and risking your life for the
    corrupt U.S. government starting undeclared and aggressive invasive wars.

    I hope that put your mind at ease, soldier.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    -1
    -1
      -
    • jondoerandom
      11 years ago

      No, sir.

      You're the idiot here.

      The guy speaks from his heart and shares something that bothers many of us, and the best you can do is insult him?

      Hope you're proud of yourself, asshole.

      Comment Hidden ( show )
      2
      2
        -
      • Aleks85
        11 years ago

        I am proud of myself. Proud that I never served this pathetic disgrace of a country in it's modern era.

        Thanks for caring.

        Comment Hidden ( show )
        -1
        -1
  • anti-hero
    11 years ago

    They are just trying to be nice, they don't know your life story. I did 2 tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. I know how bad it sucks and with your daughter's situation (hope she is okay btw) I know it sucks more. Just be as respectful as you can because they are being nice and showing appreciation. At least it's not like when the vets came home from Vietnam, that would be much worse. Which branch btw?

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0
  • dom180
    11 years ago

    Damn, I'm sorry about that. It's normal for someone in your position, I don't know how else you'd live with it. You should probably talk to someone about this. Not necessarily pay anyone, but talk to a close friend or family member about it. Hopefully they'll understand your pain and help you move on from your ordeal. That's all I can say. I would say "I feel your pain", but I hope I never have to feel your pain.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0
  • myownopinions
    11 years ago

    But what if that other person who thanked you was also in the service?

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0
  • thinkingaboutit
    11 years ago

    I think it's normal. You seem to resent civilians for having the freedom, so to say, to attend to their family crises.

    It also kind of annoys me when people say "thank you" because...it seems a little half ass that they are only thankful if they see a soldier. How are you supporting him when he's not standing in front of you, ya know what mean?

    But on the flip side, you weren't drafted. It kind of annoys when my brother, who came back from Afghanistan last August, is all like "YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT ITS LIKE...[explosive anger moment]", because he signed up for it. Against all reason [full scholarship at Maritime], he signed up for the Marines in a time of active war.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0
  • [Old Memory]
    11 years ago

    Have yoo ever thought about counselling? Sounds like yoo have had a really hard few years :( I hope yoor daughter is okay <3

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0
  • frankiestrange
    11 years ago

    How's your daughter? D:

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0
  • chicken471bologna
    11 years ago

    Would you rather they tell you to "Go fuck yourself!" Come on man what else do you expect them to say?

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0
  • wero4
    11 years ago

    It's completely normal but consider that most people don't know what to say to someone who's been overseas for military reasons, to say that is like a common courtesy.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0
  • [Old Memory]
    11 years ago

    you wasted your time and now your lashing out, you should have stayed with your little girl but thats your choice isnt it?

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0
      -
    • anti-hero
      11 years ago

      Not if he was already in before she was around. What's he gonna do go AWOL?

      Comment Hidden ( show )
      1
      1
        -
      • [Old Memory]
        11 years ago

        it sounds like he is regretting joining and he didnt find his service valuable, he must have been torn hearing news from home but people are proud of their countries service men and women

        Comment Hidden ( show )
        0
        0
          -
        • anti-hero
          11 years ago

          I am not agreeing with him. But I am a vet and I know you can't just leave. You can't leave no matter what.

          Comment Hidden ( show )
          0
          0
            -
          • [Old Memory]
            11 years ago

            oh my mistake i didnt know

            Comment Hidden ( show )
            0
            0
              -
            • anti-hero
              11 years ago

              It's cool.

              Comment Hidden ( show )
              0
              0