Shack. My callsign is less than complementary, but IDGAF. I can think of other terms, though, that if they'd tried to hang them on me, I'd have been legitimately go-to-the-IG pissed off. As much as we bust on each other (and should), we all know there are lines. I mean, you wouldn't give a non-white aviator a racial slur as their callsign, or a misogynistic one to a female aviator, because that'd be obviously fucked up and wrong. So it's not "are there lines?" It's "where are the lines and how do we not cross them?" Beyond the obvious demographic things, all of us have our own life stories that give us other buttons that are best left unpressed. As an example, I remember being an FNG, remembering something obvious in a conversation, and doing the "finger gun to the head" gesture that in casual conversation usually just means "I'm a dumbass." A senior JO pulled me aside and said "dude, don't do that around here, because LCDR X lost a brother to suicide." Felt like a complete tool, but at least then I knew.I am fully in the camp of telling someone to harden up, but I am also in favor of the "dont be an asshole" mentality for those giving callsigns.
And none of that requires three admirals/generals to draft a policy except to cover their asses and look like they’re “doing something”.Shack. My callsign is less than complementary, but IDGAF. I can think of other terms, though, that if they'd tried to hang them on me, I'd have been legitimately go-to-the-IG pissed off. As much as we bust on each other (and should), we all know there are lines. I mean, you wouldn't give a non-white aviator a racial slur as their callsign, or a misogynistic one to a female aviator, because that'd be obviously fucked up and wrong. So it's not "are there lines?" It's "where are the lines and how do we not cross them?" Beyond the obvious demographic things, all of us have our own life stories that give us other buttons that are best left unpressed. As an example, I remember being an FNG, remembering something obvious in a conversation, and doing the "finger gun to the head" gesture that in casual conversation usually just means "I'm a dumbass." A senior JO pulled me aside and said "dude, don't do that around here, because LCDR X lost a brother to suicide." Felt like a complete tool, but at least then I knew.
TL;DR, you should know your audience enough to know what's just tweaking them versus what would legitimately have them feeling harassed. Going from the former to the latter isn't "aviation culture," it's "abusing the culture to just be an asshole."
Could you possibly explain a little more where the line is for you between “I’m not super pumped about my callsign but oh well” and “I am so fired up about my callsign that I’m going to call the IG”?Shack. My callsign is less than complementary, but IDGAF. I can think of other terms, though, that if they'd tried to hang them on me, I'd have been legitimately go-to-the-IG pissed off.
Why go there first and not try to solve things at the lowest possible level?
These aren't binary options. And I absolutely don't encourage blindsiding folks by going to the IG first. What I meant to emphasize with that point is whether we're talking about the usual EO issues (blatant racism, misogyny, etc.) or things like my former squadronmate's history of family suicide, there are things for each person in any unit that are off-limits for mockery or callsigns, because they are beyond the pale for that person.Could you possibly explain a little more where the line is for you between “I’m not super pumped about my callsign but oh well” and “I am so fired up about my callsign that I’m going to call the IG”?
I think part of the problem with the current culture is the shoot first ask questions later sort of mentality that seems to be so prevalent. Why go there first and not try to solve things at the lowest possible level?
Dibs on TK421!This is going to get to the point where we don't even call each other by our actual names anymore. I made up a nametag years ago in Kadena that had "CTG 72.2.7.1" as a joke to point out that the command didn't give a shit about people, we were just crew positions on a flight sked. A little before its time but looks like that's what we are trending towards.
Rabbi Michael Panitz explained that Zilberman's call sign - Abrek - has multiple meanings, although the buddies who bestowed it on him were certainly invoking the name of a Soviet space monkey sent into orbit before manned spaceflight.
Go back and read the article in the first post of this thread. This started because a couple shitty pilots played the race card when they washed out.Because now the burden is on the person employed in a "Harden up/don't be a pussy" career path to alienate themselves in their command by "being a pussy" and complaining about their callsign (I don't feel like thread diving, but didn't this start because a black aviator got a racist callsign?). Easier to just say, "Hey, don't give your black squadronmate a callsign after a mentally challenged black guy."
Yes, I see the slippery slope problem that threatens tradition ("Now anyone can just be soft about any callsign they don't like!"), but in practice, I doubt many people are going to complain about their callsigns (see earlier argument).
But hey, these weren't my traditions, so defending them is less important to me than toeing certain lines that fuck with racism/sexism/etc. Maybe something dear to me now will change in 20 years and I'll wonder what's wrong with the kids these days.
Quick edit and tl;dr: I agree with the overall intent, but I don't like that CNAF has to draft this shitty regulation up to codify the idea. But hey, this is the Navy...