Store Page
Gone Home
All Discussions Screenshots Artwork Broadcasts Videos News Guides Reviews

Gone Home

Store Page
View Stats:
Global Achievements
Gone Home > General Discussions > Topic Details
Jovial Juice 22 Apr, 2022 @ 11:15am
Why does Lonni wanna join the military?
My biggest gripe about the story of this game is that half of the main conflict (Lonnie leaving) literally doesn't work or make sense. The game even acknowledges this somewhat in the entry "Getting Lonnie" where Sam says that join the military basically defies who Lonnie is as a person, but just because they acknowledge it, doesn't make any better. Lonnie is punk and queer, two things absolutely antithetical to the ARMY, especially back in the 90s. What, she just wants to to betray everything she stands for and leave the only person who cares about her just... because??? I would MAYBE understand it if she said something like "I need money for tuition" or maybe if her dad was making her go, that would at least be SOMETHING. That's not the case though, and because of that, the main conflict literally doesn't work because there's no character motivation for her to be doing what she's doing. She could simply NOT go and everything would be better because of it, and that's what ends up happening anyway.
< >
Showing 1-15 of 19 comments
zaphodikus 22 Apr, 2022 @ 1:23pm 
I, played this so long ago, that I got the impression the character wanted to join the military as a way of creating order and discipline in their lives. I got the impression she wanted to leave her old self behind.
I early on got the feeling in this game of a person with a very messed up life, and eventually completed it in confusion, and non the wiser, but this week I just happen to have an epiphany about those people I have know who are messed up, they don't have boring "straight-guy" life like I do, and I changed my mind this week. The people who are a bit weird, are actually stronger than the rest of us, because they learn to cope with much more pain than we do.

Bugger, why am I blathering, but this is just my recollection of the game from a year ago, coupled with an epiphany. Lately seeing so many "fragile" people who were scarred of covid but all got it anyway, by going someplace risky, and come out the other side just fine. Respect.
#1
Sphinx of Black Quartz 22 Apr, 2022 @ 1:36pm 
Originally posted by Jovial Juice:
My biggest gripe about the story of this game is that half of the main conflict (Lonnie leaving) literally doesn't work or make sense. The game even acknowledges this somewhat in the entry "Getting Lonnie" where Sam says that join the military basically defies who Lonnie is as a person, but just because they acknowledge it, doesn't make any better. Lonnie is punk and queer, two things absolutely antithetical to the ARMY, especially back in the 90s. What, she just wants to to betray everything she stands for and leave the only person who cares about her just... because??? I would MAYBE understand it if she said something like "I need money for tuition" or maybe if her dad was making her go, that would at least be SOMETHING. That's not the case though, and because of that, the main conflict literally doesn't work because there's no character motivation for her to be doing what she's doing. She could simply NOT go and everything would be better because of it, and that's what ends up happening anyway.

Hello. I served in the US Army, and if you thought there were no punks in the Army, you thought wrong. I was privileged to know a few soldiers cut from the same cloth as Lonnie. There are lots of queer people in uniform, too — that has been the case basically forever. Long enough that there are decades-old running jokes about it in queer circles. I served in the DADT era, but even when being gay was grounds for an immediate discharge, we were still there in the ranks.

People are messy and complicated, and our reasons for enlisting are often similarly messy and complicated. They're not always good reasons, either. Hell, in my experience, nobody who signs up has just one single reason for doing it. And yeah, some folks sign up because they're hoping the military will change them into what they think they should be... or because they're running from who they are.
#2
zaphodikus 22 Apr, 2022 @ 2:32pm 
Yep. My first gay person encounter was the infantry in South Africa, as conservative as they come in that place. Discharge was not an option for many, so the 2 blokes in our squad got placed in the admin unit. They still got some abuse, but they worked longer hours than the grunts, and that earned some respect. Must admit I never figured them out back then.

All I can hope for is to not be the enemy, to not be like the enemies Samima encounters in "A Normal Lost Phone."
#3
Jovial Juice 23 Apr, 2022 @ 6:05am 
Originally posted by Sphinx of Black Quartz:
Originally posted by Jovial Juice:
My biggest gripe about the story of this game is that half of the main conflict (Lonnie leaving) literally doesn't work or make sense. The game even acknowledges this somewhat in the entry "Getting Lonnie" where Sam says that join the military basically defies who Lonnie is as a person, but just because they acknowledge it, doesn't make any better. Lonnie is punk and queer, two things absolutely antithetical to the ARMY, especially back in the 90s. What, she just wants to to betray everything she stands for and leave the only person who cares about her just... because??? I would MAYBE understand it if she said something like "I need money for tuition" or maybe if her dad was making her go, that would at least be SOMETHING. That's not the case though, and because of that, the main conflict literally doesn't work because there's no character motivation for her to be doing what she's doing. She could simply NOT go and everything would be better because of it, and that's what ends up happening anyway.

Hello. I served in the US Army, and if you thought there were no punks in the Army, you thought wrong. I was privileged to know a few soldiers cut from the same cloth as Lonnie. There are lots of queer people in uniform, too — that has been the case basically forever. Long enough that there are decades-old running jokes about it in queer circles. I served in the DADT era, but even when being gay was grounds for an immediate discharge, we were still there in the ranks.

People are messy and complicated, and our reasons for enlisting are often similarly messy and complicated. They're not always good reasons, either. Hell, in my experience, nobody who signs up has just one single reason for doing it. And yeah, some folks sign up because they're hoping the military will change them into what they think they should be... or because they're running from who they are.
I never said there were no punks in the army, but generally, punks as a whole are VERY anti war and anti military and the ones who aren't are usually skinheads. I would be fine if they gave a messy reason for Lonnie enlisting, but they literally didn't give any reason at all. The military does not align whatsoever with Lonnie's identity, so pardon me if I expect there to be a better in game explanation than a shrug.
#4
zaphodikus 23 Apr, 2022 @ 9:51am 
Yes, they are often more anti war, but "punks" (probably a better word exists) are smarter than they let on, and will have their own valid motivations or external pressures which "straights" would not understand. I also never got the why on this, perhaps rebelling against someone, but we have no clues in the game as to why it is a rebellion act. So I had it very much left up in the air and expected a follow on story. I would definitely pay to play/read such a follow-on or a prequel.
Last edited by zaphodikus; 23 Apr, 2022 @ 9:52am
#5
Jovial Juice 23 Apr, 2022 @ 10:15am 
Originally posted by zaphodikus:
Yes, they are often more anti war, but "punks" (probably a better word exists) are smarter than they let on, and will have their own valid motivations or external pressures which "straights" would not understand. I also never got the why on this, perhaps rebelling against someone, but we have no clues in the game as to why it is a rebellion act. So I had it very much left up in the air and expected a follow on story. I would definitely pay to play/read such a follow-on or a prequel.
She's literally in a PUNK band. That's a term she would use to describe herself. I don't think there's any valid reason outside of purely needing to financially support yourself to join the military. Also, I am not straight, we don't have a magic secondary type of brain that operates in mysterious ways.
#6
zaphodikus 23 Apr, 2022 @ 11:42am 
I had forgot about the band link. I did not mean to say magic, I probably meant maturity. I have to say when I chatted with Joubert back in my days in Charlie company, he definitely had organizational and life skills a lot more sussed out than most of us. Wayne on the other hand had a lot of people who really liked him, pity about that Bedford truck. Wayne was the one person on the squad I really liked to be around.
#7
Ray Cornwall 28 May, 2022 @ 8:44pm 
In the game, you find a letter where she acknowledges that it's weird that she wants to join the army, but it's a reminder of her dad. Plus, she can't live with her mom and stepdad in Florida, because of their religious beliefs. So the army probably felt like an acceptable way out.

Is it a perfect part of the story? No, but it's more understandable when you see that note.
#8
zaphodikus 28 May, 2022 @ 11:38pm 
I did detect ^^ these ^^ conflicts too. Which from my personal experience I neatly compartmentalised to justify why I had two gays in Oscar company (It was not charlie I misremembered) in the army. It's very unusual, and in at least in Joubert case, it was a multi-factor situation with church and family. In my company, Charlie, we had 1 more, and I'm pretty sure there were others now that I know what I do. and that sucks. Mostly I wonder about the free will and the potential that is as I mentioned, a potential for positive, that we throw away or bury.

I still wonder why @Jovial_juice chose to be offended earlier, I guess when everyone is out to tread on you that happens. When I say "magic" I would never be talking about fairies and supernatural, rather about the power of a pure and beautiful/admirable thing. These are different for some people now that magic has become a TV channel I guess. Words matter, I chose mine, not yours in error.
#9
swim 13 Aug, 2022 @ 6:13pm 
Lonnie said that she was always surrounded by army stuff, and her dads army friends were like her family. She just always had that as a plan.
#10
RM1985 3 Jan, 2023 @ 2:50pm 
1. Lonnie enlisted herself into the army BEFORE she met Sam
2. Not sure, but didn't she say she HAS to go, because when you're enlisted, you can't go back??
3. She DIDN'T join the army in the end! She got off the bus!
#11
Sphinx of Black Quartz 19 Feb, 2023 @ 5:15pm 
Originally posted by LT Netjak:
Because stereotypes.

Care to unpack that a bit?
#12
zaphodikus 19 Feb, 2023 @ 11:36pm 
This graphical story is all about baggage unpacking to be fair :-) :civilwarsoldier:
#13
0JMachine 4 Jun, 2023 @ 5:20pm 
Lonnie wrote a letter about her reasoning in better detail. in the director's commentary it spells it out for you far more clearly. anyways it's in the dryer.

don't forget to grab and put the military beret back on the bike in the garage then throw the milk carton in the blue bin at the ceiling near the door to get a purple ball THEN bring that ball to sams room and throw it in the basket on the other side of the door for a special message that helps clear things up.
#14
zaphodikus 19 Aug, 2023 @ 8:04am 
How is that a stereotype, not everyone playing this game will be using information not in the game when they play. Loni is wanting to fit a role, I get the impression initially that she is forced to by circumstance, but later I'm feeling , just in the way the story unfolds, that it's entirely her choices in the finale.
#15
< >
Showing 1-15 of 19 comments
Per page: 1530 50

Gone Home > General Discussions > Topic Details
Date Posted: 22 Apr, 2022 @ 11:15am
Posts: 19

Discussions Rules and Guidelines