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-- Off topic: worrld powers and military strengh (https://volitionwatch.game-warden.com/vwbb/showthread.php?threadid=3285)

Ha ha ha. Thanks Xaphod_X. (Does little shooty hand sign the Shooter McGavin is always doing in 'Happy Gilmore').

Hi NegspectahDek. I'm IH8Babylon5, and yes, <chuckles> I've read the incredible 'Starship Troopers' by Robert. A. Heinlein.

</cheesyness>

This book is brilliant, and scarily ahead of its time (it was written in 1958).

The points NegspectahDek made about how the troops actually want to be troops is a good one. I'd also like to add that the command structure is also one to be admired.

Firstly, in order to become an Officer, you have to have been a troop first. They don't let you take responsibility of a load of people if you haven't had any experience of what it's like to *be* one of those people yourself.

Secondly, in order to become a Skymarshell (the equivalent of the C in C) you have to have achieved the highest rank in both the MI *and* the Navy.

It's just the idea of putting someone who actually knows what they're doing in command of the troops seems like such a logical idea, but today, in order to become an Officer, you go to Officers School (?!?!). How they expect people to be prepared for actual combat, I don't know (a good example of what could happen can be seen in 'Aliens' when Hicks breaks down once the Aliens start attacking the Marines).

I'm not going to pretend to be an expert about army type stuff. My brain is limited enough as it is. I'm not exactly sure what Officers School does to prepare its students, but I can't imagine anything they could teach that would give someone the same experience they could get out on the battlefield.

Heinlein's book described a government and social structure that was logical and could work. He pointed out the flaws in our world *today*, (remember, he wrote it in '58. The guys a genius) and how they ended up almost destroying the world.

I would definnitely have to agree with NegspectahDek. I would feel safer having 1 troop from Starship Troopers, rather than 1,000 troops of today... Although that is possibly because that 1 troop in Starship Troopers is wearing several tons of Powered Armour... But in a better example, I'd rather have 1 platoon of MI troopers (including armour), than an entire Army, Navy *and* Airforce lead by todays leaders.

I reccomend Starship troopers to all you people that like reading up on Military stuff. It's a really interesting book that focuses more on how they fight rather than when they fight.

LCF

quote:

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Originally posted by iH8babylon5
How they expect people to be prepared for actual combat, I don't know (a good example of what could happen can be seen in 'Aliens' when Hicks breaks down once the Aliens start attacking the Marines).

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non coms never break down

PLEASE B5 discutions

Topic to be closed

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eng Horatiu Popovici

I'd keep it open.. last time a topic like this was closed someone started another one straight away. At least this way the off topic chat stays in a thread with OFF TOPIC written on it.

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Forgive my stupidity.
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The Fish Institution
http://www.fishinstitution.com

I was gonna suggest you transfer the thread to the off topic section of you're board. Then I noticed this is one of many boards and you probably don't get the opportunity to make an off topic board seperate of your main one. Therefore it might be an idea to keep this one open, and any others that may crop up in the future, as long as they have 'off topic' in nice big shiny letters in the title of the thread, and as long as there are only a couple around at one time. That would give everyone in this community a chance to talk 2 eachother about stuff other than the mod (no offence intended about the mod. It's just that there doesn't seem to be a wealth of information available for people to reference conversations to...)

Which brings me to... Is there a website for the mod yet?

LCF