Is it OK to ask a veteran if they killed somebody?

It's the one question you're not supposed to ask. Do you ask it? I personally do after kinda gauging whether or not to.

I don't see a problem with it and in my experience, I've not had one veteran not talk about it.

NO. And why would you want to anyway other than puerile curiosity?

No, never ask.

Ask. Who cares, they are old.cheese_game619

I would assume that they did but never ask.

Although recently I have been asking my Grandpa such things since I'd hate for him to die without my knowing about his career.

Though the last time he deferred and told me about the time he drank the Queen's gin and tonic instead which wasn't really the same thing but still interesting to hear.

I wouldn't.

Depends on how well you know them, I guess.

why would you want to know, seems kinda sick to me, what is the follow up to the first question? how much blood was there? did it make you feel good? wanna do it again?

there are some things healthy people avoid, things likeusing enhanced interrogation methods onanimals and seeking to experience killing.

No. Definitely not.

That's a very bad subject.

Generally no.

but i did when i was much much younger with my Grandpa who was a Korean war vet. got some interesting war stories he had.

who wants to be pointman with a flashlight collecting dogtags of comrades while the Chinese horde is watching the same hill in the middle of the night? (i'd be ****** scared...)

the only time ive ever asked somebody was when i turned 18 and discovered my dad is in fact a vietnam marine vet. beyond that no i try to avoid that question. once it accidentally slipped out talking to a guild mate on vent and while he wasnt offended needed to go take a break to regain his composure.

No.

Now, it IS ok to ask a veteran if they were killed BY anyone. That is perfectly alright, IMHO. :D

I guess if it would satisfy your curiosity.

No, I asked my grandpa all about WW2 but I never asked him that. He brought it up. He said he came close many times but he never had to kill anyone.

Now, it IS ok to ask a veteran if they were killed BY anyone. That is perfectly alright, IMHO. :D

Frame_Dragger

[QUOTE="Frame_Dragger"]

Now, it IS ok to ask a veteran if they were killed BY anyone. That is perfectly alright, IMHO. :D

surrealnumber5

Ouija or medium?

No don't ask. They've already got plenty of sad and disturbing images of war in their minds so asking them would only make them sad. At least that's what I think.

It depends. All of them didnt entirely have any pleasant experiences in the war, (if they were in a war) and some don't really like sharing that with other people, it depends on the person and if they are comfortable talking about. I respect our Veterans and i would just feel REALLY rude walking up to one of them and asking them if they've ever killed anyone just out of the blue. :S IMHO it's a question you should ask at the right time,

Hmmmm...

...The answer is still "no". :roll:

[QUOTE="cheese_game619"]Ask. Who cares, they are old.
MushroomWig

Ask them too.

My friend's Grandpa fought in Korea and we asked him a bunch of questions. To put it lightly, he avoids people of Asian descent. He was grumpy before we asked him and he was grumpy after we asked him, but he was somewhat enthusastic when he told us stories. I think because he was trying to scare us.

No. The only veteran I've really talked to about their war experiences was my grandfather. He served in the Navy on a Destroyer Escort during World War II. And since his role on the ship was mechanical rather than combat I think it's a pretty safe assumption that he never killed anyone. I did once date a girl who's father was a Vietnam veteran. He never, and I mean never, spoke of his experiences in that war save for one thing: that the first person he ever had to kill was a 5-6 year-old boy. He didn't say this in a proud or boastful way, but more in a "war is s***" way.

IMO,It's one of those questions where YOU don't ask it, but if it comes up in conversation (eg. they bring it up), then it is fine to continue. Then again, different people will react in different ways when asked that question depending on experiences etc.