Re:A brief history of battlefield boozing
by boomboomsubban on Friday November 10, 2017 @03:43PM
(#15672821)
It's strange that it doesn't mention alcohol's ability to lower inhibitions. Getting over people's natural reluctance to kill has been a serious issue for gun based combat, and alcohol is a cheap way to help with that. It's downturn is likely the lack of the draft and the military using people that already have lower inhibitions on the front lines.
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Re:A brief history of battlefield boozing
by potta_coffee on Friday November 10, 2017 @04:24PM
(#15673177)
Modern training techniques and technology also have a lot to do with lowered inhibitions to killing, at least as far as I understand after reading Grossman's "On Killing".
I found that book interesting, but AFAICT it is has a pretty terrible reputation among historians. Mostly for relying heavily on the work of SLA Marshall, who appears to have skewed or outright invented much of his evidence.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S.L.A._Marshall#Controversy_af...
Re:A brief history of battlefield boozing
by ryanx435 on Friday November 10, 2017 @09:07PM
(#15674597)
It's in the Marine corps reading list, so it can't have too bad of a reputation
Re:A brief history of battlefield boozing
by dTal on Saturday November 11, 2017 @08:25AM
(#15676258)
Although Marines are known for the possession of many qualities, literary acumen is not among them.
Re:A brief history of battlefield boozing
by potta_coffee on Sunday November 12, 2017 @08:04PM
(#15683518)
They have a pretty extensive reading list, all NCOs and Officers are required to read from the list as part of the criteria for career advancement.