Why do non-military people think they can answer questions about the military????

Question

I surf every area of Yahoo Answers and you always see people answering questions about things they know nothing about. I'm sure it has something to do with points. However, this section seems to be one of the worst. Why does just anyone think they can answer questions about military stuff???? You always see "I read that" or "my friends says". If you don't actually know, why answer??

I'm talking about when people need real help or information, not opinions or hear-say. Viewing some of the answers proves my point.

In case you don't know it, everyone in the military is a tax payer too, Another Perspective. In a way, many of them pay their own salary. None of that is the point of my question.

Answer 1

Because civilians think that things that we took years to learn or learned as the result of expensive technical training are easily understood by people who only have political opinions.

You can tell who the civilians are simply by noticing who is giving really lame answers.

Answer 2

Well, I think many of the questions are asking for opinions not facts. If someone asks what the retirement plan is for someone enlisted for 15 years or so. I., being non-military, won't answer that question. But if someone asks why we're in Iraq, or something else I do have an opinion about that. Most people in the military are pro-military, pro-Bush, pro-killing women and children during wars and conflicts.

Hey, everyone is entitled to their opinion. I do have many friends that went into the military, and they do tell me stuff. And most say it isn't what they thought it would be. They also say the commericals you see are nothing like what it is really like, especially during conflict. They are not on Yahoo Answers so if they tell me something that I have to consider as fact, I will call it as such until it is proven to me that it is not.

Additionally my (and most Americans) tax dollars are going to support the military. $100 billion to destroy and rebuild a country that has many problems to fix at home? Seriously, maybe I can talk some sense into some pro-military people. They are killing women and children (even on accident) pretending like it should be ok since they are trying to make the country better. That country's fate is determined as ruined because we went over there. Sure, it was bad but it wasn't half as bad 4 years ago as it is today.

Answer 3

For Miketorse who answered this question with a lot of hatefulness, why are you so angry? This is a totally ligament question! I have seen answer after answer on here that is completely incorrect! Like the nice lady that was asking about free Military flights for her active duty son and his wife, and people who knew nothing about the military left postings such as There are no free flights, the military does nothing for their members and their spouses. Something that was completely wrong! They do offer us free flights, because we take them them all the time from our duty station in Italy, to go back to the States and visit. Or the person who was asking how many stateside military deaths happen a year, and someone told them over two thousand a year! Which again, totally wrong!!! There are other questions on here that have received misleading, and flat out lies for answers! So yes, if you're not ex-military, active duty now, or a military spouse ( And even then, we Military spouses and family members should be limited on what we answer ) or family member, don't answer unless you can back it up with proof! And by the way, the President is former military and I'm sure knows a hello of a lot more about the Military then you!!!
( Christi, who posted this question....It's a good one! )

Answer 4

Many Non Military people study the Military and are often more correct than some serving members

Ninefingers has No Idea what an IED is

Answer 5

well, technically, I am non military, but there are plenty of accurate correct answers I can give. Why? I have grown up around the military. Both of my parents, both grandfathers, several uncles and a Great Grandfather were in the military. My husband is currently AD Navy. Many of the questions asked are general questions that I have learned the answers too over the years just by sheer association. others take a 2 minute google search on an unclassified network. I know more about the Navy way of doing things so I tend to stick to answering Navy related issues, although sometimes the smae info applies across the board. But yes, you are correct, there are plenty of people who give erroneous or outdated information.

Answer 6

Consider the fact that a lot of the answers you receive are coming from 13 year old children out of school on summer vacation. They will answer with what ever they heard their folks saying over the dinner table. They think they are doing a good turn and gaining 2 points at the same time. They just go along after they hit submit and forget what they answered unless they receive a best answer to one of them. That is the only way they backtrack anything they do.

Answer 7

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belong to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again. Who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause. Who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."
- Theodore Roosevelt ("The Man in the Arena")


Don't begrudge the Civies the neat little feeling they get when they answer one of these questions.

Answer 8

So people are not in the service understood but some people just want to help others people questions get resolved.Yes some people are only worried about getting the point or whatever the heck you get.I am not like that.I just like helping people but you are kinda stressing the actual facts out but hey it never hurts anyone to give their opinion and thoughts.I know alot about miliutary being that i was raised and still am raised in the military.
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Answer 9

Why is it that only experts are qualified to answer questions? Did you know in the Roman Republic that all the generals were elected for one year of service and they were not professional military men? Some of Romes greatest generals were amatures. I get tired of experts..they all have all the answers but yet they too manage to screw things up all the time. Why can't a person who is self education make any contributions anymore? Some of our greatest advances were done by people who were not experts in that field at all. I agree that a lot of people are giving answers that are completely wrong but that does not mean we should only limit answers to people who are experts, in this forum and in general life. Experts tend to have very narrow views of their field and limit dialogue in such a way that only text book answers can be submitted. Im so tired of this.

Answer 10

The same reason that the U.S. is not run by the military. The military doesn't know it all they just follow orders. You can't tell me different. My family has been in the military including me for generations. We need all inputs to make this war machine work the best it can!