WaltOHara | 05 Dec 2012 11:38 a.m. PST |
I stumbled upon some very interesting "modern" versions of the Green Army Men of my youth on the interwebs recently. Not sure if its been discussed here already. Check out "PTSD Army men" here: link Not sure if these are real or the creator was going for some level of social commentary. Maybe they're just 3D models. Walt |
Who asked this joker | 05 Dec 2012 12:00 p.m. PST |
Social commentary to be sure. I wrestle with the idea of having my son play with modern soldiers. I have less of a problem with him playing with more archaic soldiers. |
Col Durnford | 05 Dec 2012 1:40 p.m. PST |
"War is not a game – don't buy war toys". I have a few buttons like that. |
morrigan | 05 Dec 2012 2:05 p.m. PST |
Guess I do get the wrong idea. I think their creator sucks. |
epturner | 05 Dec 2012 2:16 p.m. PST |
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WaltOHara | 05 Dec 2012 2:17 p.m. PST |
Because of the content? Or the quality of the item? I'm not sure if we're looking at rendered 3D models or actual plastic here. |
WaltOHara | 05 Dec 2012 3:22 p.m. PST |
Thanks for the link, Ditto, I got this as a passalong and didn't know where it originated from. |
morrigan | 05 Dec 2012 3:31 p.m. PST |
Because of the content. I don't care how nicely made they are. |
CPBelt | 05 Dec 2012 3:43 p.m. PST |
As a decent human being with morals and ethics, I find these figures revolting and would think most of society would agree. Apparently, the sculptor lacks the same morals and ethics that we value. I feel sad for him. |
Dn Jackson | 05 Dec 2012 5:11 p.m. PST |
Having gone through a bout of PTSD and having friends who have done so as well, I could find figures poking fun at the condition amusing. These are not. Typical of the anti-war, peace at any cost, left. I find them revolting. |
Deadmen tell lies | 05 Dec 2012 5:12 p.m. PST |
Ya! I am with CP on this, they are in bad taste. |
Shagnasty | 05 Dec 2012 5:21 p.m. PST |
Yet another vote for revolting and appalling. |
MAD MIKE | 05 Dec 2012 7:08 p.m. PST |
Poor taste-certainly, but as an art project designed to draw attention to the suffering of combat veterans with PTSD definitely an effective use of familiar images in a thought provoking way. Seems these are universally condemned here, but do a search in the message boards for "casualty markers" as I have just done to see how nicely painted dead and wounded soldiers are quite acceptable for playing games. |
SECURITY MINISTER CRITTER | 05 Dec 2012 7:43 p.m. PST |
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skinkmasterreturns | 05 Dec 2012 7:56 p.m. PST |
A long time ago I was a victim in a robbery when I worked for Mcdonalds.A guy jumped out of the bushes at 5am and held me at gunpoint.A week later,I was going in to work at 6am.I got out of my car,and as I did so,a customer got out of his car.I ran a half mile down the street.So I did suffer from a mild case of PTSD.While I did serve in the military,I never saw anything like combat.So,having experienced a mild case of it,I cannot imagine what the suffering is like for combat veterans with it.I find these figures to be very disrespectful. |
Sgt Slag | 05 Dec 2012 7:57 p.m. PST |
A guy holding a rifle to the underside of his chin, obviously about to blow his head off? I don't find this redeemable in any way, shape, or form -- art designed to evoke such images, and situations, is revolting, to me. They appear to be profiting from the suffering of US soldiers. I find that disgusting, to put it politely. First Amendment to the US Constitution guarantees freedom of speech, but I also have the freedom to share my vomitous reaction to it. I sincerely hope they get a great deal of negative feedback, and zero sales. With regards to casualty markers, that is an entirely different matter. Casualty markers are not designed to show anything, but the wounded on a battlefield. This is profiteering from the suffering of others. By the way, the majority of gamers that I know, and have played with over the past 20+ years, even at conventions, do not bother with casualty markers. They really do not add to the game, or simulation, of war. We all know the horrors, but we are not attempting to portray that aspect. Anyone who did so, at great length, would impress me as someone who enjoyed an aspect that I would not -- I doubt I would finish the game. YMMV. |
WeeSparky | 05 Dec 2012 9:01 p.m. PST |
Not enough poses and they are the wrong scale. The GW pricing doesn't help either. |
WaltOHara | 05 Dec 2012 9:07 p.m. PST |
Fair points. I don't think it's particularly tasteful either, but I do think the artist was actually making a point, rather than try to make fun, or disrespect soldiers that come back from war damaged. The little plastic soldiers are "disgusting", perhaps, but let's be brutally honest. The suicide rate in the military is at an all time high. Don't take my word for it, you all know the truth-- I did the coordination for our command for the Army's recent suicide prevention training stand-down and it's staggering. That's MORE distasteful than any plastic army man, in my book. Young men coming back from war damaged and in need of help that a lot of them don't get might be a worse problem than these bits of plastic. I think the creator is trying to make a point about the glamor warfare has for boys .. and it starts early. LIke with plastic army men, and G.I. Joe lunch boxes, and Combat on TV growing up. I played Army with my friends growing up, and we never saw that other side of a war. I think that's what the artist was trying to point out. Is she profiting? I doubt it-- I don't anyone who would pay 2,000 pounds for four plastic soldiers. Anyway
just to close with I apologize if anyone was offended. I was mystified about it, myself. |
jpattern2 | 05 Dec 2012 9:52 p.m. PST |
I think the artist accomplished his or her goal. I also think these were posted here on TMP two or three years ago, to similar comments. I don't find them offensive, I find them, and the situations they represent, incredibly tragic. I have an uncle (Vietnam) and a neighbor (Iraq) who suffer – and suffer is the right word for it – from PTSD. They are part of the reason my wife and I give so much to US veterans' groups every year. |
jpattern2 | 05 Dec 2012 10:11 p.m. PST |
Further, I wish I had the money to send a set of these to every politician who ever supported going to war, or voted to fund big, fat defense contracts in their states or districts, and wore yellow-ribbon pins to "support the troops," but then chose not to fund necessary equipment and programs for troops, veterans, and their families. Hell, yeah, it makes me angry. |
trailape | 05 Dec 2012 10:38 p.m. PST |
I guess they'll call it art. IMHO they suck. |
Fisherking | 19 Dec 2012 8:11 a.m. PST |
Suicide is at an all time high in the military but that begs the question as to whether it's something about military life that's changed or something about our society in general that's changed making those who serve more susceptible to the mental challenges (horrors) of service. I don't know the answer to this but I have my suspicions. Personally I see these pieces as created by a hack artist more interested in shocking and publicity than examination of a theme. |