Confused... (Plot premise)

I resisted watching this movie for years because of the same reason: that it would show that a woman could pass SEAL training, which of course is total nonsense. However, I did finally get up the courage to watch some of it about a year ago. Apparently, it's not full-blown SEAL training, but some kind of half-assed training for support personnel, or some BS like that. From what I remember of it, it still sucked, which is a shame because I like Ridley Scott as a director.

Given the obvious physical differences between men and women, I'd say that it's highly unlikely that a woman could finish SEAL training - but it certainly ISN'T impossible.

Most MEN couldn't finish SEAL training.

But geez - get over yourselves. It's just a freakin' movie.

It is the generalization that kills your arguement. Maybe most women would not be able to handle the course seen in the movie or in SEAL training. I'll agree with that. Does that mean, then, that NO woman should be able to join? There are women out there that can break your spine with the flick of a pinky. There are men out there who can't lift a newborn baby. Generally speaking, men are stronger physically than women, but no army can afford to simply go by the general facts. "An army of one" -- one person can make a difference; that one woman who can actually complete the training should be allowed to because, like O'Neill, she might be the one to save an important man. And then her presence is a good thing.

In the area of emotional stability, men are stronger in war. Women have get those crippling emotions ten times more quickly than men do. While men can blow up a building despite soldiers (enemy, of course) being in there, a women might hesitate for a fraction of a second and cause utter destruction. Then again, you have the women who would burn you as soon as look at you.

Lastly, (this was not in your argument, but is relevant) I agree that O'Neill would be brutally used should her troop be captured. At one point or another, the enemy would get the brilliant idea to abuse the woman to make the men talk. Then you have to fear about whether the woman will tell the men not to talk (like O'Neill did), won't say anything at all, or will actually ask that the men talk so she could be rescued. Of course, that is a problem that can be [not easily] overcome. It needs to come from a deep-seated trust between teammates. Just like the Master Chief said about drowning, the teammates need to keep their presence of mind when seeing their friend beaten. It will go against everything they have ever learned, but they will have to allow her to be beaten. It all depends on the person; there is no saying that a man would not talk to stop another man from being beaten. I rather like the idea of the Master Chief to expose the recruits to these kinds of situations so that they can keep their heads when the situation actually occurs. They distrusted him enough that they were wary of him and actually believed that he would hurt O'Neill just as an enemy would; it was almost exactly like the real situation.

The point of this whole post is that women are capable of what men are capable of doing. Some women can do what some men can do; some men cannot do what other men can, so on, so forth. It is absurd and, yes, ignorant to think that there is not a woman in the world who can compete against a man in any sport (or anything else) and not win. The beauty of the human race is that we are all different and no stereotype can hold up against that.

I'm sure the idea of a women who is able to beat you up offends your masculine sensibilities, but believe me, they do exist. As a general rule, women are tough, or not tough. And a tough woman is generally tougher than a tough man, because she has more to prove. I don't just mean physical strength, also the mental strength not to give in. There are plenty of women in the world who would be capable of surviving SEAL training, and your calm assumption that we are all weaklings is downright offensive. I know one girl myself who I am certain could handle any physical training inflicted upon her. She's planning to become a PT instructor in the Army, which is a tough as you can get without being in any of the special forces (SAS, SBS, etc). You are exactly the kind of person I hope never has kids, because any sons you will teach to become as sexist and obnoxious as yourself, and any daughters will be brought up believing themselves incapable of doing anything other than marry a rich man to be successful in life.


I'm anespeptic, frasmotic, even compunctuous to have caused you such pericumbobulations...

Since most men are sure that a woman couldn't complete the training, why not let them try? Your point will either be proven, or we will finally see that some women might be able to do it. I don't see the harm in trying and it will end this argument. I have no problem with women doing what has been considered a male job, such as SEAL or firefigher if, and this is a big if, they can pass the phyiscal part without special assistance! I don't care if I'm in a burning building if it's a guy or girl saving me, as long as they have the muscle to do it! I've seen women who can out benchpress guys, so if they physically can do it, who cares. And yes sometimes women might be more emotional, but so are some guys. I've also met emotionally cold women and over emotional guys (straight ones too). So instead of all this supposition lets just do it and if they wash out, they're out, if they make it, give them a chance.

What the *beep* is the internet??

The job of the SEALs is to kill people and break things. They have no time to be a proving ground for social themes. Certainly we all know a female who can do things the average man cannot do, but there is no room in the SEALs for even the "average" man.

I'm aware that it's just a movie. There's no need to remind me.

Honestly, it doesn't matter whether or not you can complete the course. Just like O'Neill says in the film, she wants to have the choice. The men who sign up are allowed to try, and quit if they can't cut it, why shouldn't a woman be allowed. I believe there ARE women who could cut it. Of course they should be given the choice.