Location: Teenage Survival

Discussion: Child soldiers?

Category: Discussion Forum / General Discussion

Report thread
Watch thread
Share this

1 2 3 4 5 | Next > Last

steamlen	Child soldiers? Jul 27 2010, 3:21 AM EDT What are your opinions on this post Z-day? Post reply 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you find this valuable? Do you? Keyword tags: teenage survival
Carnack	1. RE: Child soldiers? Jul 27 2010, 3:24 AM EDT "What are your opinions on this post Z-day?" "Child" is subjective. From the second they are old enough to do something they will be expected at certain times to do it. Post reply 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you find this valuable? Do you?
mudroll	2. RE: Child soldiers? Jul 27 2010, 7:35 AM EDT If they can shoot properly and kill zombies I'll let them. If they don't want to I'm not going to force them into it. Once they're around 15 or 16 though I'd expect them to be able to defend camp. Basically when they become a "teenager". However if they can do it before that age and they're willing sure. Post reply 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you find this valuable? Do you?
Comrade_47	3. RE: Child soldiers? Aug 2 2010, 3:44 AM EDT \| Post edited: Aug 2 2010, 3:44 AM EDT I agree with Mudroll. As soon as they're able to perform a necessary task (guard duty, for instance), they'll be damn well expected to, in the same way you'd expect your children to clear a table after meals or mow the lawn. If they "don't wanna", then tough luck for them. The way the world works (pre-Z day and post), children will do the necessary and reasonable things parents/authority figures tell them to do. And post Z day, when people's lives will hinge on it, I think it's perfectly reasonable to have older children and teenagers (providing they are capable) do 'dirty work'. Post reply Do you find this valuable?
Eritsukukun	4. RE: Child soldiers? Aug 2 2010, 4:31 PM EDT \| Post edited: Aug 2 2010, 4:31 PM EDT I would hesitate to let children participate in zombie killings until they are 18. Letting a 7 year old brutally murder humanoid figures might screw up their development. There will be plenty of work to do at base so it wont be necessary really. and children should be guarded like a natural resource anyway. they are the people who will help you if you have the fortune/misery of getting old. Post reply 2 out of 2 found this valuable. Do you find this valuable? Do you?
Comrade_47	5. RE: Child soldiers? Aug 3 2010, 12:25 AM EDT "I would hesitate to let children participate in zombie killings until they are 18. Letting a 7 year old brutally murder humanoid figures might screw up their development." A lot of things are going to screw kids up. It IS the zombie apocalypse, after all. Loved ones will be dying, kids will always have to look over their shoulders for the undead, things that can and do screw up grown men. How much more will killing human figures add to it? Would it be the straw that breaks the camel's break, or will all of the other emotional traumas they'll endure make them cold enough to not be bothered (as much)? Post reply Do you find this valuable?
ItsMrManCub	6. RE: Child soldiers? Aug 3 2010, 12:36 AM EDT "A lot of things are going to screw kids up. It IS the zombie apocalypse, after all. Loved ones will be dying, kids will always have to look over their shoulders for the undead, things that can and do screw up grown men. How much more will killing human figures add to it? Would it be the straw that breaks the camel's break, or will all of the other emotional traumas they'll endure make them cold enough to not be bothered (as much)?" I gotta agree with this! So many things will be different after the apocalypse and they will be everyday occurances. Things that right now would greatly effect the human psyche. However, when subjected to something long enough it becomes normal. Post apoc it will be a normal part of life to smash zed heads. Its almost like evolution, those both adult and children that cannot handle the mental trauma will more than likely not make it anyways. Post reply Do you find this valuable?
Carnack	7. RE: Child soldiers? Aug 3 2010, 2:05 AM EDT \| Post edited: Aug 3 2010, 2:05 AM EDT "I gotta agree with this! So many things will be different after the apocalypse and they will be everyday occurances. Things that right now would greatly effect the human psyche. However, when subjected to something long enough it becomes normal. Post apoc it will be a normal part of life to smash zed heads. Its almost like evolution, those both adult and children that cannot handle the mental trauma will more than likely not make it anyways." Some people just won't have the taste to do it. Having someone who is unwilling to kill won't be a big loss. So long as they are willing to help in other ways. Post reply Do you find this valuable?
ItsMrManCub	8. RE: Child soldiers? Aug 3 2010, 2:33 AM EDT \| Post edited: Aug 3 2010, 2:33 AM EDT "Some people just won't have the taste to do it. Having someone who is unwilling to kill won't be a big loss. So long as they are willing to help in other ways." Unless it comes own to everyone having to fight. Whats that saying the Marines have about every Marine being a what first? A rifleman? Otherwise what if your the only "willing" person in your group to fight? Trying to defend a group alone would not yield very good odds right? I get what your saying 100%, but depending on the severity of the circumstances everybody COULD be expected to fight. Post reply Do you find this valuable?
Carnack	9. RE: Child soldiers? Aug 3 2010, 2:42 AM EDT \| Post edited: Aug 3 2010, 2:43 AM EDT "Unless it comes own to everyone having to fight. Whats that saying the Marines have about every Marine being a what first? A rifleman? Otherwise what if your the only "willing" person in your group to fight? Trying to defend a group alone would not yield very good odds right? I get what your saying 100%, but depending on the severity of the circumstances everybody COULD be expected to fight. " A soldier unwilling to fight is a dead body. A dead body is a waste. You send unwilling soldiers to fight and you'll get dead bodies in return. If I was the only willing person to fight I would leave. Just that simple. I'm not saying that everybody would get an easy pass but if I have someone who has no skills and is unwilling to fight but willing to learn something else to help out then I'm not that unreasonable. Being a warrior is 95% mental. If you have someone who just can't develop that mentality then you just use them in other ways. Post reply Do you find this valuable?
ItsMrManCub	10. RE: Child soldiers? Aug 3 2010, 3:01 AM EDT \| Post edited: Aug 3 2010, 3:01 AM EDT "A soldier unwilling to fight is a dead body. A dead body is a waste. You send unwilling soldiers to fight and you'll get dead bodies in return. If I was the only willing person to fight I would leave. Just that simple. I'm not saying that everybody would get an easy pass but if I have someone who has no skills and is unwilling to fight but willing to learn something else to help out then I'm not that unreasonable. Being a warrior is 95% mental. If you have someone who just can't develop that mentality then you just use them in other ways. " I totally agree with using a person in a way that suits them best, but that would be more achievable in a colony based setting. How would they be able to make it there in the first place though? I just see those affected going into shock and not even being able to defend themselves. Like a deer in headlights kinda situation... Post reply Do you find this valuable?
Carnack	11. RE: Child soldiers? Aug 3 2010, 3:06 AM EDT \| Post edited: Aug 3 2010, 3:06 AM EDT "I totally agree with using a person in a way that suits them best, but that would be more achievable in a colony based setting. How would they be able to make it there in the first place though? I just see those affected going into shock and not even being able to defend themselves. Like a deer in headlights kinda situation..." Mental strength is not just exhibited in being able to kill. I'd say the docs who hover over someone's open chest for hours on end with steady hands are pretty strong mentally. Some will survive by killing the threat. Other will survive by avoiding the threat. Post reply Do you find this valuable?
ItsMrManCub	12. RE: Child soldiers? Aug 3 2010, 3:12 AM EDT \| Post edited: Aug 3 2010, 3:12 AM EDT "Mental strength is not just exhibited in being able to kill. I'd say the docs who hover over someone's open chest for hours on end with steady hands are pretty strong mentally. Some will survive by killing the threat. Other will survive by avoiding the threat." Im not talking about survival tactics. Eagerness to fight can be just as bad as being relunctant to fight. My only point is that those who cannot comprehend whats going on around them will already be dead. My whole point was that the kids in discussion will already be used to dealing with death and the undead. Post reply Do you find this valuable?
Carnack	13. RE: Child soldiers? Aug 3 2010, 3:29 AM EDT \| Post edited: Aug 3 2010, 3:29 AM EDT "Im not talking about survival tactics. Eagerness to fight can be just as bad as being relunctant to fight. My only point is that those who cannot comprehend whats going on around them will already be dead. My whole point was that the kids in discussion will already be used to dealing with death and the undead." I thought the OP was wether we were willing to use them? Absolutely they should learn basics. Yes marksmenship, hand/hand, and bladecraft should be taught as basic curriculum but then the soldiers should get more focus. It like anything else must be a choice otherwise you lose a free-thinker who can be just as valuable in another non-combat role. Just because they are raised in the environment doesn't really translate to the mindset. Personality plays a role. Post reply Do you find this valuable?
Eritsukukun	14. RE: Child soldiers? Aug 3 2010, 4:06 AM EDT \| Post edited: Aug 3 2010, 4:06 AM EDT The thing I had with shooting humanoid figures is that they might not see the difference between a real human and a zombie on a emotional level. The most dangerous thing you can have in a camp is an armed child with little or no respect for human life. Adults wont be as effected as their adult brains have all the tools to deal with it (that does not mean they will tough. but they are infinitely better equipped for it.) And children are not good soldiers. This might come as a surprise but children are not the best decision makers. Post reply Do you find this valuable?
Carnack	15. RE: Child soldiers? Aug 3 2010, 4:21 AM EDT \| Post edited: Aug 3 2010, 4:21 AM EDT "The thing I had with shooting humanoid figures is that they might not see the difference between a real human and a zombie on a emotional level. The most dangerous thing you can have in a camp is an armed child with little or no respect for human life. Adults wont be as effected as their adult brains have all the tools to deal with it (that does not mean they will tough. but they are infinitely better equipped for it.) And children are not good soldiers. This might come as a surprise but children are not the best decision makers." Making decisions is irrelevent. "You! Brat! Cover that wall. If anything comes over it make sure it doesn't get to us!" No decisions required. Post reply Do you find this valuable?
Eritsukukun	16. RE: Child soldiers? Aug 3 2010, 4:29 AM EDT \| Post edited: Aug 3 2010, 4:29 AM EDT "Making decisions is irrelevent. "You! Brat! Cover that wall. If anything comes over it make sure it doesn't get to us!" No decisions required." heres the thing. How young are we talking? because when you say child I imagine a 7 year old. Post reply Do you find this valuable?
Carnack	17. RE: Child soldiers? Aug 3 2010, 5:12 AM EDT \| Post edited: Aug 3 2010, 5:12 AM EDT "heres the thing. How young are we talking? because when you say child I imagine a 7 year old. " I imagine under 12. Post reply Do you find this valuable?
timberrattler	18. RE: Child soldiers? Aug 3 2010, 10:10 AM EDT I see a child in an apprenticeship role. Shadowing an adult, being an extra set of eyes, carrying extra ammo, carrying an extra rifle or shotgun for his master to use when needed, cleaning firearms, gathering firewood and in general learning from the adult everything he (or she) needs to know to become a productive member of the survival community. This is the hands on way of learning that we've forgotten how to implement in modern day society. Knights had squires. Survivors should have ammo monkeys. Post reply 5 out of 5 found this valuable. Do you find this valuable? Do you?
zhunterd	19. RE: Child soldiers? Aug 3 2010, 10:28 AM EDT \| Post edited: Aug 3 2010, 10:32 AM EDT Throughout history, it has been shown that children, in a crisis, non-civilized environment, become some of the most dangerous combatants. They do not have enough life experience to balance decisions with, and tend to become very violent in combat situations. See the use of child soldiers in Africa now, to see how brutal they can be. Child soldiers in Africa commit many of the atrocities in the wars there. The orphaned children in Romania now, have been known to be extremely brutal/ruthless in day to day life. That being said, I would tend to use children as soon as they are able, to help secure the area, and defend against any zed threat. Post reply 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you find this valuable? Do you?

1 2 3 4 5 | Next > Last

Safe sex/abstinence during post Z Day	Teenagers and firearms	Teenage Survival
Teens and Weapons.	kids forging weapons	Post Z-Day Schooling
This plan doesn't apply to my specific situation.	other helpful things	Come Z-day...

Location: Teenage Survival

Discussion: Child soldiers?

Related Content