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Wow...Computer Geeks kicked out of the military..

[url]http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=internetNews&storyID=5858764&section=news[/url]

[quote] HELSINKI (Reuters) - A number of Finnish conscripts have been excused their full term of military service because they are addicted to the Internet, the Finnish Defence Forces says.

Doctors have found the young men miss their computers too much to cope with their compulsory six months in the forces.

"For people who play (Internet) games all night and don't have any friends, don't have any hobbies, to come into the army is a very big shock," said Commander-Captain Jyrki Kivela at the military conscription unit on Tuesday.

"Some of (the conscripts) go to the doctor and say they can't stay. Sometimes, the doctors have said they have an Internet addiction," Kivela said.

There are no official figures for the Internet addict dropout rate.

"They get sent home for three years and after that they have to come back and we ask if they are OK ... they will have had time to grow up," Kivela said.

Finland called up 26,500 men in 2003, nine percent of whom were relieved of duty for medical reasons.

However, the Internet drop-outs have not dented national pride in "sisu", a Finnish quality of being tough and resilient.

"We are very proud of our Finnish men. Eight-two percent of all Finnish men manage their whole military service," Kivela said.[/quote]

:eek:

Comments

  • PhiPhi <font color=#FF0000>C</font><font color=#FF9900>o</font><font color=#FFFF00>l</font><font color=#00F
    I saw the [URL=http://slashdot.org/articles/04/08/04/005243.shtml?tid=133&tid=95]slashdot[/URL] on the article. Heeheeheeheehee :D

  • Captain,SimmondsCaptain,Simmonds Trainee trainee
    Thank god we dont have Conscription in canada, or never will again
  • E.TE.T Quote-o-matic
    [quote]"For people who play (Internet) games all night and don't have any friends, don't have any hobbies, to come into the army is a very big shock"[/quote]
    No, no, no!
    Seeing Air Force (or maybe "paramilitary flying club") bustle after going real Army... that's shock!

    And I really don't understand all this bustle around this, are they going to get breakfast delivered to bed soon?
    Now they have free time starting from first day.

    I had free time to go to shower first time on fifth day... somehow skin started to feel little "sticky". :D
    Before that maximum lenght of free time had been from one minute to under ten minutes because there was little "unscheduled" stuff. (dust is most common stuff in world, I can guarantee that)
    And it's really nice to have even two showers per fifty head.
  • Lord RefaLord Refa Creepy, but in a good way
    pfft. Wankers, the lot of the losers.

    I sure as hell would've preferred being home, jerking off and just being depressed and playing games, but still did my 6 months there. :p
  • C_MonC_Mon A Genuine Sucker
    wee, I'm going to do my 6 months the next year.
  • CurZCurZ Resident Hippy
    I still fail to see the point in conscription in a country like Finland. Wasting a rather signifigant portion of young people's lives for nothing (granted, some have nothing better to do).
  • I can understand why Israel does it, but Finland? :confused:
  • E.TE.T Quote-o-matic
    [QUOTE][i]Originally posted by the_exile [/i]
    [B]I can understand why Israel does it, but Finland? :confused: [/B][/QUOTE]"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
  • Damn Russkies on the rise again?:confused:
  • BigglesBiggles <font color=#AAFFAA>The Man Without a Face</font>
    Eternal vigilence!
  • [QUOTE][i]Originally posted by E.T [/i]
    [B]"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." [/B][/QUOTE]Funny how that phrase always seems to be used to promote vigilance, and not the end of war. :)
  • E.TE.T Quote-o-matic
    [QUOTE][i]Originally posted by the_exile [/i]
    [B]Damn Russkies on the rise again?:confused: [/B][/QUOTE]
    Political situation in there is that you can't tell what comes out of it. Especially when people are still full of their communistic propaganda shit.
    (like that Finland started Winter war and that Karelie belonged to them)
  • E.TE.T Quote-o-matic
    [QUOTE][i]Originally posted by the_exile [/i]
    [B]Funny how that phrase always seems to be used to promote vigilance, and not the end of war. :) [/B][/QUOTE]
    [url]http://www.lysator.liu.se/nordic/scn/faq43.html[/url]
  • An ex-SquidAn ex-Squid Elite Ranger
    Given the history between Russia and Finland and the current situation, I can't blame the Finns for having a conscript military force, nor am I surprised by that. If I had Russia as a neighbor right now, I know I'd be somewhat concerned myself.
  • I think I picked the wrong person to argue Finnish politics with. :D

    *waves the white flag*
  • SanfamSanfam I like clocks.
    Wow, a whole two posts and you're down. :D
  • Data CrystalData Crystal Pencil Artist
    [QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Lord Refa [/i]
    [B]pfft. Wankers, the lot of the losers.

    I sure as hell would've preferred being home, jerking off and just being depressed and playing games, but still did my 6 months there. :p [/B][/QUOTE]

    pfft. Wankers, the lot of the losers.

    I sure as hell would've preferred being home, jerking off and just being depressed and playing games, but still did my12 months there. :D
  • The best thing about military service is when you get the hell away from that place and know that you don`t have to go there ever again!
  • [QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Sanfam [/i]
    [B]Wow, a whole two posts and you're down. :D [/B][/QUOTE]I had just noticed his "Location." :D
  • Lord RefaLord Refa Creepy, but in a good way
    [QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Data Crystal [/i]
    [B]pfft. Wankers, the lot of the losers.

    I sure as hell would've preferred being home, jerking off and just being depressed and playing games, but still did my12 months there. :D [/B][/QUOTE]

    Yer a nutter sirree. aye aye. Heeeeeeeeeerrrrrrr Alikersantti! eller.. Kersantti?
  • NorlionNorlion Earthforce Officer
    Wow I always take books to the field. That makes up for time otherwise spent on the computer. Still, I know there is computer withdrawl, but think after six months how much better the technology will be and how much cooler the games will be. As far as I know most Coalition troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have Internet access.
  • [QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Norlion [/i]
    [B]Wow I always take books to the field. That makes up for time otherwise spent on the computer. Still, I know there is computer withdrawl, but think after six months how much better the technology will be and how much cooler the games will be. As far as I know most Coalition troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have Internet access. [/B][/QUOTE]It's still a rough transition, going from 16/7 internet access to... not. :p
  • Data CrystalData Crystal Pencil Artist
    Yes, a nutter, Refa. But a >> only. :D
  • TyvarTyvar Next best thing to a St. Bernard
    [QUOTE][i]Originally posted by the_exile [/i]
    [B]Funny how that phrase always seems to be used to promote vigilance, and not the end of war. :) [/B][/QUOTE]


    Perhaps because only the dead have seen the end of war?

    Humanity hasnt changed in the past 10,000 years, and only fools think it has.

    This is important to keep in mind, primarily because every time you think it has, somebody goes and proves you wrong, and usually manages to rack up quite a body count while doing it.
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