"Thank You For Your Service"

Thanks for watching, y'all.

[@ramshaka]

Yeah, if I recollect correctly it was around about post 9/11 war in Afghanistan where the whole thing became a political hot button/fad, largely lead by the war hawks as a propaganda tool. Not saying anything about it, one way or the other, just saying that's where I think the hyper 'SUPPORT THE TROOPS' thing really took off. Now, I'm not a veteran of any of it, but I can certainly imagine how 'thank you for -whatever-' constantly coming from randos any time you're in public gets to be downright annoying. Good buddy of mine likes to say; "Keep your thank yous, and show me some titties". So yeah, he's fun to party with this time of year. Any who, thank you for your KZbin service :) (Yeah, I'd HATE any kind of fame or notoriety, like that out in the daily grind.)

[@rorschach8585]

I served 1993-1997. The first time I heard this phrase said to me was during tech school in 1993 at a country bar in Wichita Falls, Texas. It didn't create a pukey feeling in my gut back then, but yeah, after 2001, it just got cringier and cringier to hear for all the reasons you stated.

[@bluguitar89]

I was in ROTC while I was in college from 2008-2012. Hadn't even contracted and I heard it ALL THE TIME anytime I was in uniform on campus. I'd be in line at the dining hall for breakfast after PT without so much as a unit patch and I'd hear it. I was just a college kid playing soldier and it was like people just HAD to say it, like saying "bless you" after you sneeze. It felt weird af at the time, and is even weirder now looking back on it since I never actually even entered the service. It's like a weird genuflection of our civic religion post-9/11

[@SapperGentleman]

"Our civic religion post-9/11" sums it up perfectly.

[@gregorybaxter7907]

People like a simple, convenient phrase to allow them to express some sort of appreciation when actually having a conversation would be too complicated and awkward for them and, likely, for the vets. I appreciate your take on this because, as hard as it is for some of you folks to hear it, I find it weird to say it too. It's like, on some instinctive level, I knew it sounded too shallow...too cookie cutter...to convey anything sincere. I'd rather say nothing than say the equivalent of "gesundheit".

[@MarkiusFox]

In the time since I was in ('05-'11), I heard it a lot and experienced three general types. The ones that are just going through the motions, the ones that are nationalist in their feelings and beliefs, and ones who are genuine. The ones that are going through the motions are the cringe types that have made me dislike the phrase, but they're mostly harmless. The genuine ones are rare, and will likely be interested in hearing a little about your service; they can be annoying, but some are nice. The nationalistic ones scare me; they are likely the ones that will say things about nuking other nations or sending the troops in for whatever minor geopolitical squabbles, but for whatever reason, they never had the constitution to volunteer for the job themselves. My typical response when I hear it is "It was only/just a job" and I won't go into further detail about being in Artillery. The reply back to their TYFYS is what will catch them off-guard because it's the beginning and end of the conversation for them, it might make them think "Why did I say that?" and then they will reach for the closest thing in their mind, which is likely their raw feelings on the matter. A better phrase might be "Welcome home", or like you said, just a simple "Thank you".

[@SapperGentleman]

That's a solid breakdown!

[@eriklambert3809]

I almost didn't watch this because of the title 😂. 94-2011. I have zero stickers on my car. Zero clothing pointing out military service. And people will walk up and say it, shake my hand and then ask if my wheelchair happened over there smh. Or even better if it happened in the "sandbox". Nope, I slipped in the tube while having a 3 some with my wife and her bf Jody 😂😂. Not 1 word during or after Kosovo. I also notice how many of us are roughly the same age😂

[@SapperGentleman]

This entire comment is 11/10. 🤣

[@slacker7918]

LMAO, that’s the best comment/come back I’ve heard.

[@parsecboy4954]

I was in for peak "support the troops hysteria" (04 through 07), and I can't stand it. There's a healthy dose of impostor syndrome (I was a fobbit in Iraq), it's hard to respond to (um, thanks?), and a fair bit of resentment at people thinking that's all they need to say and everything is hunky dory. On the other hand, when I was flying back to Iraq after my 2-week R&R, some dude in an airport restaurant bought my meal, so I guess we're square?

[@sectorseven07]

To me I kindly accept their thanks and move on, in the back of my mind of course there's a bunch of reactions. There's everything you mentioned for sure, but then there's also just the feeling like it's an empty gesture at this point. I'd rather get an "Oh hell yeah!" than a thank me for my service.

[@tinkertalksguns7289]

Yeah, I was in the Army. I went some places and did some shit. Some of that shit was dangerous. I didn't do it because I was a patriot and I sure as hell wasn't a hero. I was a testosterone-poisoned idiot that didn't know what to do with himself after high school. If I accidentally did arguably useful stuff for my nation well, that's great. These days I just accept the term as well meaning, keep the cringe inside and and say thank you.

[@SapperGentleman]

Big same.

[@thenucas]

this is something people say to feel good about themselves. "I support the troops". it has nothing to do with whoever they're saying it to, whether they realize it or not. so cringe.

[@BobKenge]

Good to hear that point of view.