LOCNAR69: all you cell phone fags are slaves to being "hip"--about 1% of people NEED a cell phone--most are just annoying posers that want to look like they have important job--do a few things for those of us SMART enough not to need to be hip and trendy--

Or perhaps, because I happen to get to work when my girlfriend is supposed to get up to go to work, I find it convenient to use one to call her and wake her up in a nice way.

Note, by the way, that I usually keep it in 'vibrate' mode. And it's just a phone. Mostly 'cuz I don't have a use for other 'features'.

But yeah. I may not *need* it, per se--but it makes my girlfriend happy, and if I get stuck somewhere, I've got a means of getting help.

/End threadjack.

MWeather: Immaculate_Misconception IMHO it dishonors those who actualy fought to defend our rights to equate what we did in Somalia, Bosnia and Iraq with the likes of Normandy, Guadalcanal and Midway.

How was stopping the Germans in WWII any different than Bosnia or Somalia? I admit the scale is different.

Guadacanal is a different matter, the Japanese clearly had it coming.

I won't disagree regarding Iraq, we never should have been there. Regardless though, even those of us who served there existed to defend the rights of Americans.

LandOfChocolate: I really despise the attitude that if you don't serve, you're somehow less of a person.

Why? It's true.

I have sprint, best rate plans available for my locality. I travel extensively outside of the U.S. When I leave for extended periods of time, I put my phone on a "vacation plan". Costs $5/month, a simple phone call turns it back on when i return (although, I do have to agree to a new 2-year hitch). This soldier should have been able to do the same.

The other alternative is to just cancel the farking thing. $175 fee and he would have been ahead of the game after 3 months.

/I do think the decent thing for sprint to do would be to cancel it for him, free of charge.
//provided it's really in his name

muninsfire,
Naw, I love FARK. Its a great getaway from work, which is slow today. Plus I actually enjoy other peoples thoughts on subjects-to get an overall feel of a topic. FARK is the pulse of america, with an international flavoring.

Bacon sounds like a winner, will bring the bread and 'maters...you can meet my wife and sister-actually they are one in the same...its an inbred thing-you wouldnt understand. LOL!

Muninsfire

"When's the last time you had to call India for some customer service? They're not going to give you to a supervisor if they can avoid it--it makes them look bad."

All the time and yes they will.

"The fact remains that Sprint is doing something unethical."

Looking to cell phone corporations for ethics? Look, the dude is an idiot as all the former posts pointed out. They'll cancel your cell contract. He got a bad rep and gave up. That makes him the moron and now a whiner.

"The fact also remains that you're a tool. Macho boy, if you think you're better than he is, take his place, won't you?"

That's nice. I'm not better than this dude... just smarter. If I wanted a job making $8/hr to waste time and eat sand I'd apply for one. I prefer my current gig. And aren't you tough with your internet insults and all?

MDGiest
Yes, 100% true, they are better. They fight for their country when asked. They don't just sit down and let others do it for them.

Granted, they do an important job. But it's no more important than the jobs of police officers, firemen, teachers, doctors, etc.

j z: Why? It's true. [ Re: not serving making one less of a person ].

I wouldn't say that, exactly. I'd say that serving makes one more of a citizen. It's semantics, sure...but semantics mean a lot.

Not everybody is suited for combat--whether in mindset, in physical capabilities, or in philosophy. If one serves one's country, then they are doing something that sets an example for others, and should be commended for it--but considering that the vast majority of people are not in the military, I'd hesitate to call a majority of the population 'less' than some other portion.

Angel of Death
"We're going to disagree on this, but if you showed me two people, X and Y, where X stays at home in comfort while Y (by his own choice!) risks his hide for X's way of life, I'd say X is the smart one.

If I'm eating cheeseburgers while watching TV in my comfy recliner, and you're in a war-torn Third World country getting shot at to protect my right to eat cheeseburgers and watch TV in my comfy recliner, I'd say I picked the sweeter deal.

Call me a coward, but at least I'm alive. And these cheeseburgers are delicious."

LandofChocolate
Doesn't sound grateful at all to me. Sounds like he is saying anyone who serves is stupid for doing so. Everyone is not cut out to serve and are not lesser people due to that, but chastizing others for defending this country is a slap in the face to everyone who has ever served. That is why he is a disgrace...and yes he has every right to his opinion and I have every right to my opinion that he is a disgrace.

Tourney3p0: Do you realize what you just said?

Fully. Yes, I put many things in my life on hold when joining the military. I know this, knew it then, it was not a surprise. However, I don't subscribe to the "put everything on hold" line of thought some do. I could go on, but muninsfire said it way better than I could, so I'll let him do the talking:

muninsfire: The fact is that people in the military, whether or not they joined voluntarily or not, have no idea where they'll be shipped, or when.

Also, from TFA: "Federal law allows for soldiers called to active duty to get out of a lease on a house, apartment or car within 30 days"

By your logic, a soldier would have to forfeit having off-base housing, a leased car, or a cellphone for the duration of their tenure, when they could be possibly called to active duty.

Also, any soldier who left the army, and was put on the inactive list, but had the possibility of being recalled, would also have to forfeit these activities.

I find it reasonable that, in these cases, arrangements could be made to assist these people.

Why penalize someone who has chosen to dedicate a portion of their life towards the defence of the country? They're performing a public service, much like a firefighter or a police officer.

Note, by the way, that I do not support the current administration, nor do I support the ridiculous 'wars' we seem to be involved in. I do, however, support recognizing that people who are civic-minded enough to work [ whether deluded or not, let's not judge ] for the public good ought not be penalized for doing so.

We've got a volunteer army. Let's keep it that way.

/what he said

j z: Why? It's true.


Explain.

Can you imagine if everyone wanted to be in the military? The system just doesn't work that way.

True, the SSCRA is an older legislation, BUT just within the last few years it was revamped. Signed in 2003, it's the SCRA (servicemember's civil relief act). Most of the law is unchanged, but it does cover a few things such as any interest over 6% must be forgiven, auto leases, rental leases , court cases.

And yes, Sprint will put a contract on hold while a service member is deployed, suspending payments. Just beware than when you re-active the acct, the calling plan, any discounts (even something simple like fre PCS to PCS calling) and the whole contract will start over from scratch. If you had 3 months left on the contract, and you suspend the acct, when it is restarted after the deployment Sprint sets it as a one year contract. They do not tell you this in advance, nor when the suspension is removed. We learned this the hard way when hubby returned from a 7 month deployment, and his first bill was one month prorated, a full month, plus he went over his minutes since he didn't have the free PCS to PCS. Lots of haggling with Sprint dropped the bill from $200 to $100 but they wouldn't go lower than that.



I think he just has to get a letter from the command stating that he is under orders. It's worth a try, though when hubby's leave was cancelled during a move a few years ago, American wouldn't wave the $100 fee to change his flight. Now, if he doesn't mind making several and escalating the complaint he should be able to get the ticket refunded or changed without fee. Good luck to him.

Yossarian22: Bacon sounds like a winner, will bring the bread and 'maters...you can meet my wife and sister-actually they are one in the same...its an inbred thing-you wouldnt understand. LOL!

Will she bring the lettuce? Let's get some BLT things going.

JohnBigBootay: Looking to cell phone corporations for ethics? Look, the dude is an idiot as all the former posts pointed out. They'll cancel your cell contract. He got a bad rep and gave up. That makes him the moron and now a whiner.

RTFA: it's not a "one-call give up" situation. It's constant calling. And yes, I look to corporations for ethics all the time, considering as every single business program in the goddamn country requires an ethics class as a prerequisite for a degree--but have yet to find them.

That's nice. I'm not better than this dude... just smarter. If I wanted a job making $8/hr to waste time and eat sand I'd apply for one. I prefer my current gig. And aren't you tough with your internet insults and all?

If you truly thought you were more suited, then you would be over there defending the country instead of him. Why do you hate America?

This thread...it really boils down to...

Are professionals, who choose a profession where they perform a public good (soldiers, firemen, policemen) heroic, or nine to fivers like the rest of us?

I respect soldiers who feel they are defending this country (though i feel they are not doing it any good) and I respect the fireman who died in 911 (though I feel most of them would not have entered that building if they knew it was about to collapse). I do think soldiers should have some special privledges when it comes to getting out of contracts, but only because we would have no soldiers to fight if they didn't have these assurances. And while I appreciate what cops do for us, most of the time, discounts and such (such as my girlfriend's pizzeria) are basically bribery and/or extortion.

subsailor: I could go on, but muninsfire said it way better than I could, so I'll let him do the talking:

Cheers! It's always encouraging when I know that my words have been regarded as useful.

Immaculate_Misconception: How was stopping the Germans in WWII any different than Bosnia or Somalia? I admit the scale is different.


The Germans were bent on world domination, their allies the Japanese attacked us at pearl harbor. Their submarines attacked our shipping all along the Atlantic coast. What did the Bosnians and Somalians do to us?

Regardless though, even those of us who served there existed to defend the rights of Americans.

Yes, but they aren't defending the rights of Americans. Why they exist is irrelevant.

MWeather: Yes, but they aren't defending the rights of Americans. Why they exist is irrelevant.

I'm going to have to disagree with you there. The reason for their existence--to defend the country--is relevant. Whether the missions that their commander in cheif--the president--has sent them on conform to that purpose is questionable, but their purpose is the same.

muninsfire: Cheers!

Beer is on me, mate!

I have nothing but respect for our soldiers risking their lives in the military. However, this guy is an


You wouldn't go to a car dealership, finance a car, and expect to be allowed to renig on the contract just because you got shipped overseas, you just continue paying when you get back.

Signing a cell phone contract is basically a carefully worded way to finance the subsidy on the cell phone equipment you receieved from the company for discounted price/free. If he didn't want a two-year obligation, he should have ponied up the additional $150 (Sprint's "new activation discount") and paid full price for the phone he got. If you cancel, you SHOULD be liable to pay back the subsidy.

subsailor

Another reason McDonald's is better than a submarine:
food isn't stamped "rejected by the U.S. prison system". I think you and my hubby may have been at the same command for a short time. Pre 9/11.


And this in my previous post was a reply to H31N0US, but I goofed and deleted his name after the preview.
I think he just has to get a letter from the command stating that he is under orders. It's worth a try, though when hubby's leave was cancelled during a move a few years ago, American wouldn't wave the $100 fee to change his flight. Now, if he doesn't mind making several and escalating the complaint he should be able to get the ticket refunded or changed without fee. Good luck to him.

muninsfire: The reason for their existence--to defend the country--is relevant.

Not when discussing the Iraqi war.

Whether the missions that their commander in cheif--the president--has sent them on conform to that purpose is questionable, but their purpose is the same.

Their purpose is to follow orders. Their orders in Iraq have nothing to do with defending me.

LandOfChocolate: Can you imagine if everyone wanted to be in the military? The system just doesn't work that way.

I strongly believe that everyone who is physically able to serve in the military should be required to do so. Since that isn't the way things work I think that those who choose to serve are indeed better than the rest and deserve special considerations not afforded to the general public.

MWeather: Their orders in Iraq have nothing to do with defending me.

You aren't listening:

Their purpose, as stated in the goddamn farking Constutition of the United States, is to defend the country. If the Commander in Cheif has sent them to do something other than that, that is the fault of the motherfarking Commander in Cheif--NOT a change in the purpose of the military.

j z: I strongly believe that everyone who is physically able to serve in the military should be required to do so. Since that isn't the way things work I think that those who choose to serve are indeed better than the rest and deserve special considerations not afforded to the general public.


You didn't answer my original question. Why do you think everyyone should be required to serve in the military and why do you think those that do are better than those that don't?

Action Replay Nick: So the line of reasoning goes: people in the military should recieve special treatment because they are better than people not in the military.

All people should be paid $100k per year, no matter what job.
The gov't should provide a house for everyone.
It's the only fair thing to do.
meh.

j z: I strongly believe that everyone who is physically able to serve in the military should be required to do so.

Going to have to disagree with you--part of the differentiation between the US and other countries is that we've made the decision to have a volunteer force--not a conscripted one. I regard that as important, personally.

muninsfire: Their purpose, as stated in the goddamn farking Constutition of the United States, is to defend the country.

If the Commander in Cheif has sent them to do something other than that, that is the fault of the motherfarking Commander in Cheif--NOT a change in the purpose of the military.

The military's purpose is whatever they are being used for. If I use a hammer to beat someone's skull in it is no longer a tool used for driving nails into wood, it is a weapon.

LandOfChocolate:

Actually I answered the second part of your question. They are better because they chose to serve. Why should it be required? Because you're living in the county and should contribute to its defense.

muninsfire

"RTFA: it's not a "one-call give up" situation. It's constant calling."

Why don't you RTFA? The multiple calls were by his mother, not him. He's in his twenties. Time to stop being a momma's boy and take care of his own obligations.

"If you truly thought you were more suited, then you would be over there defending the country instead of him. Why do you hate America?"

America is a wonderful place and I'll be the first guy with a gun when the Iraqis get to my neighborhood. However, they haven't attacked us and they weren't about to. If they played any role at all in 9/11 it was dwarfed by the contributions of the Saudis and the Syrians. fark you and your ilk for intimating that citizens who don't agree with our government's foreign policy don't love their country. I respect anyone who is called to serve thir country - for instandce your Vietnam veterans - horrible idea that did no good, but whatever, many of the soldiers had no choice and I thank them for their sacrifice. This all volunteer army is just wasting time and money. You aren't serving for me OR my elected officials. They CHOSE to go. They get a paycheck for their service, don't look for anything else from me. I don't support it and I ain't thanking anyone for going.

I'd love to stay and continue this but I need to get to work. I'm sure that this thread is on its way to becoming a flame war about Iraq so I'm kind of happy to be leaving.

setsail: I think you and my hubby may have been at the same command for a short time. Pre 9/11.

Could be :) Gmail in profile

j z: Actually I answered the second part of your question. They are better because they chose to serve. Why should it be required? Because you're living in the county and should contribute to its defense.


So if I'm a programmer for Lockheed Martin working on Missile Systems, does that count?

My son is active duty Army. One of the things that gets done predeployment is to give the soldiers the necessary paperwork to cancel leases, cellphones, etcetera, without penalty. The boy got the paperwork, and was able to cancel his contract, no questions asked. I would be willing to bet that the either the soldier dropped the ball, or the people in his unit responsible for managing the deployment did so.

you know...i hated cingular until i tried to cancel my service with them. then they started waiving fees left and right. i actually fell in love with the lady i was talking to. she used the phrase "tinfoil underpants." i have forgotten what she was talking about at the time.

MWeather: The military's purpose is whatever they are being used for. If I use a hammer to beat someone's skull in it is no longer a tool used for driving nails into wood, it is a weapon.

Article I, Section 8 [ Congressional powers: ]

To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;

States the purpose right there: Execution of the laws of the Union, suppresion of insurrection, and repulsion of invasions.

This is the Constitutionally stated purpose of the military, just as the intended purpose of a hammer is to drive nails. If it is being used inappropriately, that is the fault of the user--the Commander in Cheif--for using it wrongly.

muninsfire: Article I, Section 8 [ Congressional powers: ]

To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;

States the purpose right there: Execution of the laws of the Union, suppresion of insurrection, and repulsion of invasions.

This is the Constitutionally stated purpose of the military, just as the intended purpose of a hammer is to drive nails. If it is being used inappropriately, that is the fault of the user--the Commander in Cheif--for using it wrongly.


The documentation that came with my hammer says it's used for hammering nails into wood.

MWeather - And opening bottles....don't forget that.

Feel the need to comment on the we're better or not angle. I've been noticing an anti-military feeling here lately. Granted we are engaged in a coupla conflicts that seem pointless to some people, but not to us & some of the stupid things some of us do makes the rest of us look bad...but. It is a pleasure to serve, as an officer in a duty where there is a big shortage of trained personnel, I'm treated real well & paid pretty well. The enlisted have it the tuffest. Low pay, long hours, young families, away from home in a Godforsaken country for the 1st time in their lives, uncomfortable living conditions, risk of life & limb....not once have I seen anyone of them complain. This young guys know what they are doing is dangerous, they well know what they signed up for. Re: the perks & freebies, we don't do this for that but it's major gratifying when some old codger veteran picks up your bar bill & thanks you for your service even thought he had it tuffer. It's nice when your nieghbors put your trashcans away because you had to leave in the middle of the night & forgot. It's nice when they call after they see a dark sedan in your driveway & they know you are deployed. It's cool when your kids teachers email to keep you up to date on your kid's progress in school or if they seem worried when you are deployed & they don't know where Daddy is. It's nice when you walk thru an airport & 20 people in civilian clothes salute while you pass. It's nice when people see your base sticker on the windscreen & help your wife load groceries in the van & tell here they are praying for the troops. It's nice when your attend a fallen comrade's funeral & half the city turn out to pay their respects. Well, I could go on, but don't know if it's because I live in the city where there is a huge master jet base with the largest naval base in the world next door, but I feel appreciated pretty much everyday by the American people. Some Farkers not so much today. Buzzy.

We actually get a lot of discounts, but companies are very hush hush about it for obvious reasons. You have to ask for a military discount. They aren't going to advertise something like that.

all you cell phone fags are slaves to being "hip"--about 1% of people NEED a cell phone--most are just annoying posers that want to look like they have important job--do a few things for those of us SMART enough not to need to be hip and trendy--

Well, my cell phone is my primary phone. I have no land line in my house, by choice of my roommate and I. Why pay an extra $50 for a landline when I can just use my cell all the time?

FLYNAVY: Feel the need to comment on the we're better or not angle. I've been noticing an anti-military feeling here lately. Granted we are engaged in a coupla conflicts that seem pointless to some people, but not to us & some of the stupid things some of us do makes the rest of us look bad...but. It is a pleasure to serve, as an officer in a duty where there is a big shortage of trained personnel, I'm treated real well & paid pretty well. The enlisted have it the tuffest. Low pay, long hours, young families, away from home in a Godforsaken country for the 1st time in their lives, uncomfortable living conditions, risk of life & limb....not once have I seen anyone of them complain. This young guys know what they are doing is dangerous, they well know what they signed up for. Re: the perks & freebies, we don't do this for that but it's major gratifying when some old codger veteran picks up your bar bill & thanks you for your service even thought he had it tuffer. It's nice when your nieghbors put your trashcans away because you had to leave in the middle of the night & forgot. It's nice when they call after they see a dark sedan in your driveway & they know you are deployed. It's cool when your kids teachers email to keep you up to date on your kid's progress in school or if they seem worried when you are deployed & they don't know where Daddy is. It's nice when you walk thru an airport & 20 people in civilian clothes salute while you pass. It's nice when people see your base sticker on the windscreen & help your wife load groceries in the van & tell here they are praying for the troops. It's nice when your attend a fallen comrade's funeral & half the city turn out to pay their respects. Well, I could go on, but don't know if it's because I live in the city where there is a huge master jet base with the largest naval base in the world next door, but I feel appreciated pretty much everyday by the American people. Some Farkers not so much today. Buzzy.


Perhaps they would appreciate you more if you used whitespace?

Kidding! :P

Seriously though, I agree that those serving in the military should be afforded some perks and allowances not afforded to those of us who are not. I do not however subscribe to the theory that just because you have served in the military, you are better than those who aren't.

Does the army fireman deserve more respect than your local fireman? Jag lawyer vs county prosecutor? Both are serving their "country", just at different levels.

Why doesn't he just cancle and pay the early termination penalty, all these cell contracts have ways out.

That's messed up -

Sprint has been like this for years. Cingular - same garbage.

Our troops have protections that should be respected. These guys put their necks on the line while the stuffed-shirts @ sprint are sitting back here (obviously) reaping up Gov't dollars on comm contracts here, and there too. (obviously)

My opinion: The Feds should bar Sprint and its subsidiaries from Fed Gov't contracting :) You want to screw our troops over? No problem - see ya!

/beatdown ... hardcore.

Honestly, just because this guy is in the military shouldn't
give him special treatment, whether or not he's defending
our rights or interests.

Firemen save lives and property. Policemen protect rights,
property and save lives daily. Teachers watch over our
young and largely shape our future. None of these noble
professions get any special treatment, are underpaid and
only on occasion even acknowledged.

You do it because you want to, for the personal satisfaction and out of a sense of duty.

Not because you expect everyone to put you on a pedistal
and give you breaks in a contract you signed.

If this guy should have been given a break its not because
he's a soldier but because he's a citizen with rights like
the rest of us.

/Sprint's services still suck and their reps are idiots

brynthian - None of those professions can get transferred overseas at the drop of a hat without having the option of changing jobs, either.

Without reading the thread, here is my experience.

Spring allowed me to suspend service on my phone while I was deployed to Iraq. When I returned, I reactivated it. No problems. An added bonus was that my deactivation time still counted towards my contract, and I was able to get a new phone because my contract had "expired".

Of course, their service sucks here in Buffalo, and I now with Verizon.

Sprint will put a phone on military hold. The annoying issue with that is if the service member is only gone for a few months when they reactivate service they will be given a full one year contract. My husband currently has the never ending contract thanks to this loophole.

Telecoms suck.

What's new.