Unemployed, again.

[TheWedge]

I know selfishlessness is a good quality to have, but am I to weak minded? Will I be looked down apon if I didn't stand up for myself against a n*b in my troop if I get to the 32 week training?

Dude, times have changed. I start week 3 on 8th Jan and nobody has been bullied in our troop, yet. There was a couple of fights between two fellas but they made up and are now friends. I would not stand for bullying in the troop and would report it straight away to the training team, they would enjoy dishing out corrective PT to the culprit!

On the other extreme, just because you are a Marine does not mean you have to be a nasty bastard. I pride myself on being as good a man as I can, and being as understanding, polite and honest as I can, but if the task absolutely requires it, like any other normal man, I can unleash unrestrained brutality if I feel my life or my corps is threatened. There are two sides to every man, and knowing how and when to use each side is the difference between being perceived as an an ar*ehole or a decent bloke (i.e. a Marine.).

Just because somebody comes across as a good bloke does not mean we should underestimate them, I bet many people have paid dearly for making this mistake. I was out in Norwich this weekend and some nobber was about 2 seconds from getting smashed up by me, I was waiting outside a club for a mate and this fella got kicked out of a club and was gobbing off the bouncers, after spitting in a birds face and headbutting a passing student the switch flicked in my head, I ran across the road and tried to get to him before the police did but they beat me to him. The bouncers were encouraging me to fill him in, but the police had the fella and would not let me near him, what a shame!

We had been warned by the training team to behave when we are out as we represent the corps, but I am sure that after seeing what I saw any of the team would have made a stand against this nobber had they the chance.

[mfat_man]

Good post Wedge.

I'm not a violent person either, but sometimes you have to stand up in what you believe in, that is what makes you who you are.

[Jt.]

Stinky, I don't want to sound like an arsehole but you need to change your attitude. Not sticking up for yourself may be misinterpreted as being a coward - lets face it, no one want to fight alongside a coward do they?

Rubbish. Never confuse kindness with weakness! Alot of people make that mistake.

Im quite a composed guy myself, i'll usually stick my neck out for a stranger to help them out, but if its to help them out when they're doing something that goes against my morals as a person then i wont. I'll always stand by my mates and family through anything, no matter what it is.

But, like most on here, theres a line that you don't cross. Im patient and i am always willing to negotiate but theres just a line you dont cross, basically thats when it hits you or they are just taking the piss - thats when i'll stand my ground all the way, even if it means chinning em, however many fo them there are.

I am glad i've grown up the way i am. I know i had a good upbringing, my dad was quite strict but i have always known which lines i could kind of bend and which ones i couldn't or shouldn't otherwise i would have got a good slap, or if need be, a bloody belt!! Mmmaaaannnn that used to hurt! But im glad my parents raised me right with good values and made sure i got a proper education, my dad was the first to get me into full contact karate when i was a boy so i could learn how to defend myself, i can't tel you how many times that has come in handy when i was a kid! Then rugby, ju-jitsu and boxing, its all worth doing and im glad i have done and continue to do so.

Stinky, just because you're nice to people its not weakness at all. Let me ask you this, would you help an elderly person across the street if they needed help? While maintaining your own self pride despite what others around you might be thinking, whoever they are?! Could you do that? And if need be, ignore what others might throw verbally at you afterwards? I tell you, i've seen it before, because i was the person helping the old man.

You should just forget about those bullies, they're nothing - absolutely nothing and they always will be. Never let them have an effect on your life and if they try to - bite their heads off!

I agree totally.

[Stinky]

I didn't find argos to back actully but I wouldn't do it again. To much tills and packing bags. Good luck if you do try but I do think they are pritty full everywhere. Also I would never buy anything there, everything gets knocked about alot, often people climb up the shelfs, the shelf breaks and everything on it falls off and hits the ground, people leave things on the ground, its gets kicked about a little from people walking past and then put on the wrong shelf which means it then takes longer to find and you wait a while for a damaged item . This of course is not the same with everything there. Surly (I can't spell tonight) you should ask for a little of the money if you keep things quiet, and then tell on them .

[Sully]

Selfishness is never a good thing Stinky - check out the Commando ethos mantra that's drummed into you at CTC. As a bootneck you'll have the confidence and poise to let things go - it's a good feeling. That said you'll also probably enjoy a bit of 'sport' now and again - consenting adults, no hard feelings and all that.

[Chas]

Stinky,

Size is immaterial. I was the smallest in my squad and weighed in at
just under ten stones. I was quiet and unassuming but would always hold
my ground with my peers. There was no bullying. However an altercation
in the heads with our right marker resulted in me having to hit him. There
was surprise and consternation all round. Thereafter no one tried it on
with me. The training team became quite interested and enquired from
others what had transpired and judged me to have acted correctly.
Now the point is this- stand up for yourself- don't start fights- act
decently and by your demeanour and bearing deter others from aggression
towards you. (Foxtrot-Golf knows me, has visited my home seen the phots
and the presentation dagger. He can vouch that I am far from a huge and
rugged individual).
Finally choose the right oppo and stand by him through thick and thin and if
you achieve rank never be sarcastic or condescending to others for loyalty
works both ways.
Let your presence, bearing and general demeanour count.

[Sully]

choose the right oppo and stand by him through thick and thin

That's probably the best bit of advice on this site