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PaperclipPerfector  6d ago (text post)   3228 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for September 6, 2026

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.

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The USS Lincoln is currently in Thailand after 9 months at sea. My small question on this is whether Thailand just made logistical sense to stop in or is this basically Hegseth deciding to dump 5k sailors in Thailand and its world renowned red-light district and therefore sort of culture war. I don’t think I could see a Dem administration doing the same thing because it’s basically asking for “toxic masculinity” behavior.

I am curious what the total party tab would be. 5k sailors with all their pay saved up for 9 months. $4k average spend sound right? Or $20 million. I guess burning man is going on right now but if I was choosing a party right now I think I’d go with Thailand and 5k soldiers who haven’t been off a boat for 9 months as the more lit party to attend.

5k soldiers who haven’t been off a boat for 9 months

I hate to be that guy, but I see "soldiers" is getting replicated down-thread. Technically, U.S. Navy personnel are sailors. There is a special type of derangement that can only be created by confining 20-something men to a box for months on end. Thus, the Village People:

In the Navy [is] where can you find pleasure.

Some might have an objection to calling an aircraft carrier a boat rather than a ship. But I would guess "I'm on a Boat" has played many thousands of times aboard the Lincoln, so who am I to object?

I did use sailor a few times too. One issue with the use sailor is it does not have specificity that they are fighting men. Soldier is specifically fighting men.

I probably would have considered sailor as a type of soldier but sailor can also refer to people who are not fighting men.

Yeah, I thought your initial usage was fine. I mostly wasn't sure everyone reading the thread below would realize the technical distinction. I guess maybe "serviceman" doesn't give land-army vibes? I thought the nautical aspect of the ship being full of seamen was important to the point you were making.

Do people really say "sailor" in a modern context to refer to a merchant mariner?

Yes when I hear "sailor" I imagine it can mean a sailor in the military or someone who sails on any kind of vessel. I like watching "maritime" videos on youtube and people who aren't in the military use "sailor" all the time generically

Apologies for referring to Navy sailors as soldiers in my comment below, and thanks for the correction. Actually it felt weird as I was typing "soldier" but I thought that was because a close relative was in the Navy and thinking of him as a sailor makes sense in my brain but calling him a soldier in my brain felt weird. Apparently my instinct was correct.

I thought it included people outside of the navy.

When I Google it the definition I get is navy, commercial, and even recreational. So I believe it’s not limited to just military person.

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