I wonder how drone operators manage life after electronics? They go from a 3 dimensional electronic view where they are killing actual humans. How do they feel when they take the goggles off, or switch the power off. After having just had complete control over life and death – for an actual electronic human on their screen.
I guess it would be no different to a soldier on the battlefield, who has the same control at the end of the tip of his rifle.
Nobody ever knew, I was able to contain it. But I had such a difficult upbringing that it left me a bit morbid as a young man, 20ish. I quietly dealt with the death of everybody around me and in my family. It took me about ten years to shake, but I emerged feeling a lot better about looking forward to a wholesome life. Being morbid helped me leave some things behind, but not nearly enough.
We will never know how the drone operators will feel. It is too personal, they will never discuss it. Not the men anyway, toughing it out is part of our DNA. Silent wonders of the world who never cry out.
Do you think they will come home and continue their love of video games?
Anyway – I just wanted you all to know that somebody cares. That you are being thought of as more than a tool.
Somehow, someway I felt that important to say.