It's a hard thing,
@hodge.
Even completely in stealth-mode, you still get outed on a fairly regular basis. Although how regular depends on a few factors. Usually by other vets, though. But when in public? Other people hear. Shrug. Sometimes that goes badly. Not usually, though. Most people are pretty decent. There's just far too many idiots in the world. Well meaning, or otherwise.
Even stealth mode can be gutting... It's the same kind of feeling as not having a single picture of my son at hand. Like you're ashamed of the person you love best in the whole damn world. :(:mad::devilish::cry: When that's the last thing you are. Brings on all kinds of shame in and of itself. Turns having to deal with idiots triggering you, into : passing someone wearing something, or a rack of clothes, or bumper sticker... and your eyes burning with tears/shame/fury getting kicked into a lousy place because you're too damn weak to deal with an idiot?
What kind of Marine are you? Ugh.
It's a no-win, really.
Open & deal with no rate assholes, or stealth & hate yourself for it.
I personally chose it in the beginning, mostly (or at least in part) because I was getting into too many fights. Instead of walking away, like Rocky did (& I do now) -which is way f*cking harder to do than to unleash on someone. Anyone went after
my Marine Corps back when? I'd knock em flat on their ass or out cold. That i don't have a stack of assault charges on my name in a minor miracle. I was never good with the 1 liner responses some of my mates used to bypass fights, back during my first tailspin. I was pretty much spoiling for one, all the time, the first several years. I had no leash, no self control, at all. Even now, some f*cking moron takes a shot at me or at
my Corps, and it's hard as hell to keep my temper in check & not lose my bearing. Lol. Teflon, Teflon, Teflon! Like water off a duck's back. C'mon breeeeeathe. :rolleyes:
It's a bizarre thing. No one walks up to me in a restaurant and asks me if I've been raped or for all the gory details, or gets mad & calls me a liar & throws a fit if I won't tell them. Or stops me in the bookstore, or the gas station, or in line at the DMV. But people do that to service members all the time.
