2006-12-07 10:32:50 · 10 answers · asked by sheila c 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
It's called that because the person was shot by their own side or "friends" accidentally. Also it just sounds better than "oops we killed one of our own"
2006-12-07 10:36:07 · answer #1 · answered by Bethe W 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was wondering the exact same thing a few days ago! You inspired to look it up on the internet. Quote follows (from Wikipedia):
Friendly fire (fratricide or non-hostile fire) is a term originally adopted by the United States military in reference to an attack on friendly forces by other friendly forces,[1] which may be deliberate (e.g. incorrectly identifying the target as the enemy), or accidental (e.g. missing the enemy and hitting "friendlies"). Friendly fire is contrasted with fire originating from enemy forces ("enemy fire"). In a friendly fire incident personnel may be killed, or material assets may be damaged or destroyed. Friendly fire is one kind of collateral damage.
The British military refers to these incidents as blue on blue,[2] which derives from military exercises where friendly forces are "blue" and enemy forces are "red".
In the Philippines, the military term for a friendly fire incident is a misencounter.[citation needed]
2006-12-07 10:38:24 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's friendly fire because they are your allies and not shooting at you, but at other people. They mean that you just hear the shots, but are not under attack.
2006-12-07 10:35:31 · answer #3 · answered by KayLyn 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's just a term used for when someone gets shot by someone on their side or "team". And yes, I agree, it isn't very friendly.
2006-12-07 10:35:18 · answer #4 · answered by monssterr 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's doublespeak. It's named that way just for that reason -- to make it sound better than it is. It's like how, instead of "firing" employees, a company will "downsize" or "lay off" or "realign". It's just an attempt to make it sound not so bad.
2006-12-07 10:35:25 · answer #5 · answered by . 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a euphemism. Meaning the guy who did it doesn't have to get shot by the rest of the platoon. Unless your name is Niedermeyer, of course.
2006-12-07 10:34:46 · answer #6 · answered by vanamont7 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know, like that joke about being allies with Americans is more likely to get you killed then being enemies... was a good one. Though I do not agree... ahem....
2006-12-07 11:18:45 · answer #7 · answered by floppity 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a euphemism.
Just like "we brung them freedom" nowadays means they were bombed, invaded, tortured, and forced into a civil war.
2006-12-07 11:06:53 · answer #8 · answered by Not Ecky Boy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cause the American government doesn't like the term - Stupid idiots shooting anything that moves...fire.
2006-12-07 10:36:03 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
we are meant to use it, not play with it
2006-12-07 10:35:45 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋