I'm sure everyone has noticed that military types either friend or foe hide their faces behind a mask. I wonder why is it so - is it to hide identification or is it to hide emotion or even make the aggressor feel dispassionate behind the mask ? There must be an advantage.
Anyone have any clues?
Good Luck.
Cloak said
03:05 PM Feb 15, 2015
So they can't be identified.
If they are identified their families and colleagues are potentially under threat.
NeilandRaine said
04:01 PM Feb 15, 2015
Apart from repercussions against family of those identified you must remember the middle east is very dry, very dusty and very hot. Last thing I would want to do in a fire fight is worry about getting a mouth full of dust
SnowT said
04:16 PM Feb 15, 2015
one reason for the masks and such is to make sure that there can never be a bounty on their head's..
- During Vietnam , one of the American snipers started to wear a white chicken feather in his booney hat and it came to the stage that a reward of many, many[Can't remember the exact amount] bounty was put on his head and anyone that was caught with him..
The Sniper was Carlos Hath****..
So the wearing of mask's is to help preserve their lives and that of their families..
Juergen
moamajohn said
06:59 PM Feb 15, 2015
Denis , From an aussie point of view regarding our Military folk I can,t understand why the hell your even asking ?? ERRR security ?
hako said
09:59 PM Feb 15, 2015
Re Aussies - from what I've seen, only the SAS have faces blurred when on TV and others are not. Also this was not the fashion in previous wars so why the fashion now. I don't remember seeing Monty with a mask.
I have a feeling it has a deeper psychological message probably of power to the one with the gun. When the tactical response teams are used as in the recent Sydney attack they all wear masks - if it was to hide their identity it would not amount to much as all one needs to do to find out who works in tactical response teams would need to do is trace the number plates of vehicles parked at their base etc.
SnowT said
12:09 AM Feb 16, 2015
With today's day and age and the fact that the IS is willing to kill Soldiers for the shock factor.. it is the job of the media to protect the troops..
juergen
Ontos45 said
11:27 AM Feb 16, 2015
hako wrote:
Re Aussies - from what I've seen, only the SAS have faces blurred when on TV and others are not. Also this was not the fashion in previous wars so why the fashion now. I don't remember seeing Monty with a mask. I have a feeling it has a deeper psychological message probably of power to the one with the gun. When the tactical response teams are used as in the recent Sydney attack they all wear masks - if it was to hide their identity it would not amount to much as all one needs to do to find out who works in tactical response teams would need to do is trace the number plates of vehicles parked at their base etc.
I don't remember TV being around when Monty was alive and active. TV and the ability to transmit photos via portable satellite phones puts the faces of these active duty chaps in lounge rooms the same day. There are mongrels out there that would just love to extract revenge on the trooper and or family. It's a lot different on the sharp end mate than sitting in a lounge chair trying to Analise the motives of men and women that are putting their lives on the line for us.
03_Troopy said
12:35 PM Feb 16, 2015
hako wrote:
Re Aussies - from what I've seen, only the SAS have faces blurred when on TV and others are not. Also this was not the fashion in previous wars so why the fashion now. I don't remember seeing Monty with a mask. I have a feeling it has a deeper psychological message probably of power to the one with the gun. When the tactical response teams are used as in the recent Sydney attack they all wear masks - if it was to hide their identity it would not amount to much as all one needs to do to find out who works in tactical response teams would need to do is trace the number plates of vehicles parked at their base etc.
When I was over at Clark AFB in the Philippines in the late 80's, we were given instructions not to wear uniforms off base, and to try and not look like the yanks while we were over there, due to the threat of terrorist activity at the time. We were billeted off base, and had to travel to and fro to work in civvies, and our bus was inspected inside and underneath each time we went through the barricaded and sand bagged gate. Apparently they'd had an attack by communists rebels who rolled up with automatic weapons and shot the place up, a couple of weeks before we were there.
As for not looking like yanks, that was pretty easy.. they always had really short hair and tiny little moustaches as opposed to our scruffy lot with hair down to our collars and droopy moustaches. The WOD on our trip used to get pretty frustrated, and if he ever said anything about our looks, we just told him we were following orders. hehe.
hako said
12:46 PM Feb 16, 2015
OK - I've done a bit of deeper digging and found some psycho stuff which indicated there is an advantage to wearing a mask. Also re Monty - they had newsreels in WW2 and within a week you could watch it at the newsreel theatre in Australia and identify the troops if you wanted to harm their relatives.
So how might this relate to superheroes (and supervillains) who wear masks? In addition to the utility of the maskit hides the "real" identity to of mask-wearerit can have some interesting psychological effects on the wearer. We can hypothesize that wearing a maskand being less self-awaremight confer a variety of advantages. If you're less self-aware, then you might: Feel less pain Feel less angry, sad, etc. Be more aware of what is going on around you (because of being less aware of what's going on inside of you). This could be a very good thing to have happen during combat. And when fighting, you'll also be flooded with adrenaline, which will narrow your attention and further heighten your awareness of what's happening around them.
The down side, though, is that by being less self-aware, you're also more likely to have your anger, frustration, and aggressive impulses get out of control while you're fighting (and so you might inadvertently kill your enemy). For superheroes worried about not crossing the linenot being more violent than they need to be to apprehend the villainwearing a mask can make it harder to monitor that line.
Speaking of villains, wearing a mask--being anonymousmakes people more likely to break rules. (Think back to the kids wearing masks, who took more candy). This might advantage mask-wearing villains.
03_Troopy said
12:52 PM Feb 16, 2015
hako wrote:
OK - I've done a bit of deeper digging and found some psycho stuff which indicated there is an advantage to wearing a mask. Also re Monty - they had newsreels in WW2 and within a week you could watch it at the newsreel theatre in Australia and identify the troops if you wanted to harm their relatives.
So how might this relate to superheroes (and supervillains) who wear masks? In addition to the utility of the maskit hides the "real" identity to of mask-wearerit can have some interesting psychological effects on the wearer. We can hypothesize that wearing a maskand being less self-awaremight confer a variety of advantages. If you're less self-aware, then you might: Feel less pain Feel less angry, sad, etc. Be more aware of what is going on around you (because of being less aware of what's going on inside of you). This could be a very good thing to have happen during combat. And when fighting, you'll also be flooded with adrenaline, which will narrow your attention and further heighten your awareness of what's happening around them.
The down side, though, is that by being less self-aware, you're also more likely to have your anger, frustration, and aggressive impulses get out of control while you're fighting (and so you might inadvertently kill your enemy). For superheroes worried about not crossing the linenot being more violent than they need to be to apprehend the villainwearing a mask can make it harder to monitor that line.
Speaking of villains, wearing a mask--being anonymousmakes people more likely to break rules. (Think back to the kids wearing masks, who took more candy). This might advantage mask-wearing villains.
That may well be a consequence of wearing a mask, but it's not the reason they wear masks.. As for the bad guys wearing masks, it's so that when they eventually do get their *rses kicked, they stand a better chance of blending back in to the rest of the population to escape retribution.
Ontos45 said
01:35 PM Feb 16, 2015
03_Troopy wrote:
hako wrote:
OK - I've done a bit of deeper digging and found some psycho stuff which indicated there is an advantage to wearing a mask. Also re Monty - they had newsreels in WW2 and within a week you could watch it at the newsreel theatre in Australia and identify the troops if you wanted to harm their relatives.
So how might this relate to superheroes (and supervillains) who wear masks? In addition to the utility of the maskit hides the "real" identity to of mask-wearerit can have some interesting psychological effects on the wearer. We can hypothesize that wearing a maskand being less self-awaremight confer a variety of advantages. If you're less self-aware, then you might: Feel less pain Feel less angry, sad, etc. Be more aware of what is going on around you (because of being less aware of what's going on inside of you). This could be a very good thing to have happen during combat. And when fighting, you'll also be flooded with adrenaline, which will narrow your attention and further heighten your awareness of what's happening around them.
The down side, though, is that by being less self-aware, you're also more likely to have your anger, frustration, and aggressive impulses get out of control while you're fighting (and so you might inadvertently kill your enemy). For superheroes worried about not crossing the linenot being more violent than they need to be to apprehend the villainwearing a mask can make it harder to monitor that line.
Speaking of villains, wearing a mask--being anonymousmakes people more likely to break rules. (Think back to the kids wearing masks, who took more candy). This might advantage mask-wearing villains.
That may well be a consequence of wearing a mask, but it's not the reason they wear masks.. As for the bad guys wearing masks, it's so that when they eventually do get their *rses kicked, they stand a better chance of blending back in to the rest of the population to escape retribution.
snippet 1; Also re Monty - they had newsreels in WW2 and within a week you could watch it at the newsreel theatre in Australia and identify the troops if you wanted to harm their relatives.
Within a week! Daily now, even in real time via internet satellite TV from anywhere in the world, that is what IS utilises.
snippet 2; (and so you might inadvertently kill your enemy).
The whole idea is to kill your enemy and you don't need a "super hero mask" to do that.
Not sure whether your asking for knowledge or stirring the pot or a peacenik. There are a lot of ex-service people on here who did their bit and may take umbrage if they feel you are knocking them and their deeds.
hako said
05:00 PM Feb 16, 2015
Sorry if I've upset anybody - I like to question and really I think some are reading a different interpretation into my questions - we are allowed to ask why is this so - and this is the "I Digress" forum.
I can see this thread going way off tangent so I'm quitting it.
I'll watch my P's and Q's next time.
Regards
ps...I also defend others rights to say what they like.
03_Troopy said
11:02 AM Feb 17, 2015
hako wrote:
Sorry if I've upset anybody - I like to question and really I think some are reading a different interpretation into my questions - we are allowed to ask why is this so - and this is the "I Digress" forum. I can see this thread going way off tangent so I'm quitting it. I'll watch my P's and Q's next time. Regards ps...I also defend others rights to say what they like.
You have every right to ask a question... At least you got some answers that might enlighten you a little..
And now you know, so don't you feel better for asking now?
Ontos45 said
11:41 AM Feb 17, 2015
Seek wisdom, not knowledge. Knowledge is of the past, Wisdom is of the future.
(Native American quote)
hako said
08:17 AM Feb 18, 2015
I said I was quitting this thread but I feel I cannot without further explanation - what really bugged me was the suggestion that I was "stirring the pot or a peacenik". I come from a military family with the old man in the trenches from 1917 to 1919 joining at age 17 and then moved to the newly formed RAAF in 1923 where he served till he was 55.
As for me I've spent 10 years working with the army during which time I received a letters of commendation both from the base commander and the Minister for Defence. Also spent over 10 years working with the RAAF. So I certainly am not a peacenik and as for stirring the pot I thought that was a bit strange....what pot....isn't it best to know your enemy who always wear masks.
Finally I do not feel better for having asked the question because it was never really answered except in a knee-jerk fashion followed by innuendo.
Regards
DMaxer said
11:08 AM Feb 18, 2015
My aunty was in the army for nearly twenty years and she never wore a mask. Um hang on, sorry, that was the Salvation Army, that is a bit different!
hako said
12:13 PM Feb 18, 2015
DMaxer wrote:
My aunty was in the army for nearly twenty years and she never wore a mask. Um hang on, sorry, that was the Salvation Army, that is a bit different!
Yup - my old man had no time for religion except for the Salvoes who were the only ones in the trenches alongside them.
Regards
03_Troopy said
03:19 PM Feb 18, 2015
You were given perfectly logical reasons why they wear masks, did you follow the link I posted? ..
hako said
05:01 PM Feb 18, 2015
Thanks Troopy and yes I did go to the link supplied which talks of our soldiers fearing retribution to their families back home. But that is just a recent local happening and does not answer my question which asked if there was an tactical advantage to wearing a mask. Nobody answered that question simply stating that it was to avoid identification and that's it...end of story...happy now? But it's not the end of the story which I've discovered by looking deeper into the wearing of masks by aggressors and it has more to do with camouflage, deception and terror of the unknown - the Russians call it maskirovka meaning camouflage. Read about why the IS wear masks and it sure ain't about avoiding identification or robbing banks. So sorry fellas, the logical reasons supplied are just a minor part of the story. I never expected the bad karma however. I've learn't quite a bit from this thread, learn't a bit about different forms of aggression too.
Regards
Ontos45 said
01:43 PM Feb 19, 2015
Your like a dog with a bone hako and IMHO a caravan/motorhome/travel forum is not a place for a physiology discussion on the military when a simple search on Google would provide a better answer and more appropriate forums.
These are but two that I found simply by entering "physiology of military wearing masks".
I did not feel I was being aggressive, mealy pointing out a fact, take as you will.
I really think this thread has done it's dash when other threads showing a controversial theme are closed arbitrarily.
hako said
02:25 PM Feb 19, 2015
Thanks Peter, they look interesting especially projectmanhunt link which looks at the whole caboodle from younger eyes that possibly see war as attractive - lets face it, us oldies now are mere spectators.
Regards
NeilandRaine said
08:50 PM Feb 19, 2015
hako wrote:
Thanks Troopy and yes I did go to the link supplied which talks of our soldiers fearing retribution to their families back home. But that is just a recent local happening and does not answer my question which asked if there was an tactical advantage to wearing a mask. Nobody answered that question simply stating that it was to avoid identification and that's it...end of story...happy now? But it's not the end of the story which I've discovered by looking deeper into the wearing of masks by aggressors and it has more to do with camouflage, deception and terror of the unknown - the Russians call it maskirovka meaning camouflage. Read about why the IS wear masks and it sure ain't about avoiding identification or robbing banks. So sorry fellas, the logical reasons supplied are just a minor part of the story. I never expected the bad karma however. I've learn't quite a bit from this thread, learn't a bit about different forms of aggression too.
Regards
I did post this early in the thread "Apart from repercussions against family of those identified you must remember the middle east is very dry, very dusty and very hot. Last thing I would want to do in a fire fight is worry about getting a mouth full of dust " Not getting a face full of dust in a fire fight is a tactical advantage. I think the lesson was learnt in Vietnam. War is now a daily news event and any anonaminiity is not a bad thing
hako said
11:58 PM Feb 19, 2015
Thanks Neil - what prompted me to start this thread was seeing the IS or ISIS or whatever on the news and immediately being drawn to the ever present mask/balaclava they wore - this gave me an uneasy feeling every time I saw the mask which I now interpret as part of the reason they wear it. That gives them a tactical advantage over me but once I understood why they wear it and understand the psychological reasons behind the wearing, I can say "ah, that's why they wear it' it loses it's threat."
Regards
johnq said
02:07 AM Feb 20, 2015
On the psychology of masks..
The Black Bra and Mask (as told by a woman)
I had lunch with two of my unmarried friends. One is engaged, one is a mistress and I have been married for 20+ years.
We were chatting about our relationships and decided to amaze our men by greeting them at the door wearing a black bra, stiletto heels and a mask over our eyes. We agreed to meet in a few days to exchange notes.
Here's how it all went.
My engaged friend:
The other night when my boyfriend came over he found me with a black leather bodice, tall stilettos and a mask. He saw me and said, "You are the woman of my dreams. I love you". Then we made passionate love all night long.
The mistress:
Me too! The other night I met my lover at his office and I was wearing a raincoat, under it only the black bra, heels and Mask over my eyes. When I opened the raincoat he didn't say a word, but he started to tremble and we had wild sex all night.
Then I had to share my story:
When my husband came home I was wearing the black bra,
Black stockings, stilettos and a mask over my eyes.
When he came in the door he took one look and said,
"What's for dinner, Zorro?"
hako said
09:31 AM Feb 20, 2015
John - I like it. Wonder what he had for dinner, probably dough and dynamite.
Regards
I'm sure everyone has noticed that military types either friend or foe hide their faces behind a mask. I wonder why is it so - is it to hide identification or is it to hide emotion or even make the aggressor feel dispassionate behind the mask ? There must be an advantage.
Anyone have any clues?
Good Luck.
If they are identified their families and colleagues are potentially under threat.
- During Vietnam , one of the American snipers started to wear a white chicken feather in his booney hat and it came to the stage that a reward of many, many[Can't remember the exact amount] bounty was put on his head and anyone that was caught with him..
The Sniper was Carlos Hath****..
So the wearing of mask's is to help preserve their lives and that of their families..
Juergen
I have a feeling it has a deeper psychological message probably of power to the one with the gun. When the tactical response teams are used as in the recent Sydney attack they all wear masks - if it was to hide their identity it would not amount to much as all one needs to do to find out who works in tactical response teams would need to do is trace the number plates of vehicles parked at their base etc.
juergen
I don't remember TV being around when Monty was alive and active. TV and the ability to transmit photos via portable satellite phones puts the faces of these active duty chaps in lounge rooms the same day. There are mongrels out there that would just love to extract revenge on the trooper and or family. It's a lot different on the sharp end mate than sitting in a lounge chair trying to Analise the motives of men and women that are putting their lives on the line for us.
A good article to read here.
When I was over at Clark AFB in the Philippines in the late 80's, we were given instructions not to wear uniforms off base, and to try and not look like the yanks while we were over there, due to the threat of terrorist activity at the time. We were billeted off base, and had to travel to and fro to work in civvies, and our bus was inspected inside and underneath each time we went through the barricaded and sand bagged gate. Apparently they'd had an attack by communists rebels who rolled up with automatic weapons and shot the place up, a couple of weeks before we were there.
As for not looking like yanks, that was pretty easy.. they always had really short hair and tiny little moustaches as opposed to our scruffy lot with hair down to our collars and droopy moustaches. The WOD on our trip used to get pretty frustrated, and if he ever said anything about our looks, we just told him we were following orders. hehe.
OK - I've done a bit of deeper digging and found some psycho stuff which indicated there is an advantage to wearing a mask. Also re Monty - they had newsreels in WW2 and within a week you could watch it at the newsreel theatre in Australia and identify the troops if you wanted to harm their relatives.
Taken from http://psychablog.blogspot.com.au/2009/10/liberation-of-anonymity-part-ii.html
So how might this relate to superheroes (and supervillains) who wear masks? In addition to the utility of the maskit hides the "real" identity to of mask-wearerit can have some interesting psychological effects on the wearer. We can hypothesize that wearing a maskand being less self-awaremight confer a variety of advantages. If you're less self-aware, then you might:
Feel less pain
Feel less angry, sad, etc.
Be more aware of what is going on around you (because of being less aware of what's going on inside of you). This could be a very good thing to have happen during combat. And when fighting, you'll also be flooded with adrenaline, which will narrow your attention and further heighten your awareness of what's happening around them.
The down side, though, is that by being less self-aware, you're also more likely to have your anger, frustration, and aggressive impulses get out of control while you're fighting (and so you might inadvertently kill your enemy). For superheroes worried about not crossing the linenot being more violent than they need to be to apprehend the villainwearing a mask can make it harder to monitor that line.
Speaking of villains, wearing a mask--being anonymousmakes people more likely to break rules. (Think back to the kids wearing masks, who took more candy). This might advantage mask-wearing villains.
That may well be a consequence of wearing a mask, but it's not the reason they wear masks.. As for the bad guys wearing masks, it's so that when they eventually do get their *rses kicked, they stand a better chance of blending back in to the rest of the population to escape retribution.
snippet 1; Also re Monty - they had newsreels in WW2 and within a week you could watch it at the newsreel theatre in Australia and identify the troops if you wanted to harm their relatives.
Within a week! Daily now, even in real time via internet satellite TV from anywhere in the world, that is what IS utilises.
snippet 2; (and so you might inadvertently kill your enemy).
The whole idea is to kill your enemy and you don't need a "super hero mask" to do that.
Not sure whether your asking for knowledge or stirring the pot or a peacenik. There are a lot of ex-service people on here who did their bit and may take umbrage if they feel you are knocking them and their deeds.
I can see this thread going way off tangent so I'm quitting it.
I'll watch my P's and Q's next time.
Regards
ps...I also defend others rights to say what they like.
You have every right to ask a question... At least you got some answers that might enlighten you a little..
And now you know, so don't you feel better for asking now?
Seek wisdom, not knowledge. Knowledge is of the past, Wisdom is of the future.
(Native American quote)
As for me I've spent 10 years working with the army during which time I received a letters of commendation both from the base commander and the Minister for Defence. Also spent over 10 years working with the RAAF. So I certainly am not a peacenik and as for stirring the pot I thought that was a bit strange....what pot....isn't it best to know your enemy who always wear masks.
Finally I do not feel better for having asked the question because it was never really answered except in a knee-jerk fashion followed by innuendo.
Regards
My aunty was in the army for nearly twenty years and she never wore a mask. Um hang on, sorry, that was the Salvation Army, that is a bit different!
Yup - my old man had no time for religion except for the Salvoes who were the only ones in the trenches alongside them.
Regards
You were given perfectly logical reasons why they wear masks, did you follow the link I posted? ..
Thanks Troopy and yes I did go to the link supplied which talks of our soldiers fearing retribution to their families back home.
that it was to avoid identification and that's it...end of story...happy now? But it's not the end of the story which I've discovered by looking deeper into the wearing of masks by aggressors and it has more to do with camouflage, deception and terror of the unknown - the Russians call it maskirovka meaning camouflage. Read about why the IS wear masks and it sure ain't about avoiding identification or robbing banks.
But that is just a recent local happening and does not answer my question which asked if there was an tactical advantage to wearing a mask. Nobody answered that question simply stating
So sorry fellas, the logical reasons supplied are just a minor part of the story. I never expected the bad karma however.
I've learn't quite a bit from this thread, learn't a bit about different forms of aggression too.
Regards
Your like a dog with a bone hako and IMHO a caravan/motorhome/travel forum is not a place for a physiology discussion on the military when a simple search on Google would provide a better answer and more appropriate forums.
http://www.projectmanhunt.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=12887
https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20140304160153AAwY5SH
These are but two that I found simply by entering "physiology of military wearing masks".
I did not feel I was being aggressive, mealy pointing out a fact, take as you will.
I really think this thread has done it's dash when other threads showing a controversial theme are closed arbitrarily.
Regards
I did post this early in the thread "Apart from repercussions against family of those identified you must remember the middle east is very dry, very dusty and very hot. Last thing I would want to do in a fire fight is worry about getting a mouth full of dust " Not getting a face full of dust in a fire fight is a tactical advantage. I think the lesson was learnt in Vietnam. War is now a daily news event and any anonaminiity is not a bad thing
Regards
The Black Bra and Mask (as told by a woman)
I had lunch with two of my unmarried friends. One is engaged, one is a mistress and I have been married for 20+ years.
We were chatting about our relationships and decided to amaze our men by greeting them at the door wearing a black bra, stiletto heels and a mask over our eyes. We agreed to meet in a few days to exchange notes.
Here's how it all went.
My engaged friend:
The other night when my boyfriend came over he found me with a black leather bodice, tall stilettos and a mask. He saw me and said, "You are the woman of my dreams. I love you". Then we made passionate love all night long.
The mistress:
Me too! The other night I met my lover at his office and I was wearing a raincoat, under it only the black bra, heels and Mask over my eyes. When I opened the raincoat he didn't say a word, but he started to tremble and we had wild sex all night.
Then I had to share my story:
When my husband came home I was wearing the black bra,
Black stockings, stilettos and a mask over my eyes.
When he came in the door he took one look and said,
"What's for dinner, Zorro?"
Regards