"Changing Attitudes" Topic

Wargamers today are often reluctant to enter periods if they are "too soon" – whether that means the Vietnam War or the War in Afghanistan.

I was surprised to read, therefore, that toy soldier manufacturers in the 19th and early 20th centuries would rush to bring out new releases to cover the latest wars as they happened – and this was so that boys could 'play war'!

Manufacturers would even show their politics by which nations or factions they produced (or would have to change their views if 'their side' lost!).

But we are more enlightened today.

I'm not sure that's true of wargaming. It does seem to be the case for toy soldiers. There were no army men in anything more recent than WW2 gear when I was a boy in the 1960s, e.g.

"But we are more enlightened today".

Thanks for the laugh, Ray…….

Back then wars were seen as heroic conflicts. Today's wars( since Korea) are mostly guerilla wars. Nothing epic,heroic or anything like that that. I find it hard to see it very entertaining to refight a suicide car bomb strike or an IED explosion.

My experience has not been consistent with the initial statement int he first post. Mostly, it has been the opposite.

I think the Toy Soldier playing aspect of growing up has changed and does not occur on the level it did back in the earlier 20th century.

Wargame figures are available for most current armies and let's not forget the Battle of Hue was 50 years ago. The younger gamers will have a different perspective on what's current.

I'll be 69 in December. I have a long standing interest in post WWII conflicts, having spent most of the Vietnam war era in school, I have tried to game it more than once. I am considering doing so again with the new Gringo 40 figures.

I'm 33, and an OEF vet, and I'm thrilled to have a 20mm version of myself and my buddies in the collection. Granted, I was into miniatures long before I enlisted, but I've never had any issues with feeling something was "too real".

And I would "strongly" and vehemently disagree with anyone that claimed a lack of heroism and valor on today's battlefields.

The 19th and early 20th century was a time of mass conscription so every young man would be expected to spend some time in the military. Along with militias the military was much more of a familiar presence in everyday family life than it is now… at least in Canada.

@raylev3
But we are more enlightened today.

Does that mean our kids have far less historical background and/or education than most of us did?

I believe the idea is that war ITSELF is no longer considered 'Glorious'.

@Glengarry5: Wait, what? There was mass conscription in Canada in the 1800's? For what? (I am asking seriously, I had not heard of this)

Well, that is true. But let us not forget that most, if not all of us, I saw what the average age of a TMPer is, were the offspring of parents who lived through or were directly involved in WWII.

Video games (the current "toy" definition) of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were released soon after it started – nothing has changed.

Gisbygeo, you may have read that incorrectly. I think the ,"….at least in Canada" part applies to the second sentence, and not the first.

Hope that it is ok to answer for Glengarry5

Back in the "70s we tried to game Viet Nam, but the rules sucked and the players kept wanting to form square.

Dynaman8789, put a finger on it right there. The current generation is not growing up with miniature or toy soldiers so much. They are however engaging in martial conflict play,through video games. Specificity multi player online first person shooters, quite a few which cover current and recent military conflicts. I am a vet of the first gulf war and although I don't game it, I am not disturbed that other do.