---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I did some embedded stuff. And if you are…"
description: "\"I did some embedded stuff. And if you are embedded, the only things you see are what the soldiers see, and if the people talk to you, they talk to you ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cc/yaroslav-trofimov-28338_differences_i-did-some-embedded-stuff-and-if-you-are_1861002.jpg"
---

#  I did some embedded stuff. And if you are embedded, the…

![“I did some embedded stuff. And if you are embedded, the only things you see are what the soldiers see, and if the people talk to you, they talk to you as if you are a soldier, because with your flak jacket and your helmet, they can't tell the difference between you and the soldier next to you, and…” quote by Yaroslav Trofimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cc/yaroslav-trofimov-28338_differences_i-did-some-embedded-stuff-and-if-you-are_1861002.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cc/yaroslav-trofimov-28338_differences_i-did-some-embedded-stuff-and-if-you-are_1861002.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cc/yaroslav-trofimov-28338_differences_i-did-some-embedded-stuff-and-if-you-are_1861002.jpg)

> “I did some embedded stuff. And if you are embedded, the only things you see are what the soldiers see, and if the people talk to you, they talk to you as if you are a soldier, because with your flak jacket and your helmet, they can't tell the difference between you and the soldier next to you, and they obviously won't tell you what they really think because they are afraid of you.”

[Yaroslav Trofimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yaroslav-trofimov/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Describes the alienating experience of being embedded with soldiers, where locals treat you as a combatant, limiting honest communication.

**In simple terms:** Being embedded creates a barrier to genuine dialogue.

Key Takeaway

Recognize how perceived roles shape interactions.

Themes

identity perception trust

Mood

cautious analytical

Type

observational critical

When to use this quote

- war reporting
- conflict zones
- humanitarian work
- media
- field research

Key Concepts

military immersion civilian relations psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- How does perceived identity affect honesty?
- What strategies can bridge this gap?

A Different Perspective

Assuming the role may cause locals to with truth, reducing information quality.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Soldier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soldier/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/)

## Related quotes

> [Chicken wings and fries, I'm in love with all the simple things. Little things, soldiers be around always bickering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-miller/chicken-wings-and-fries-i-m-in-love-with-all-the-simple-things-little/)

[Mac Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-miller/)

> [Whenever I look at pictures of horrific things that soldiers do or that have been done to soldiers I always feel sorry for everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gideon-raff/whenever-i-look-at-pictures-of-horrific-things-that-soldiers-do-or/)

[Gideon Raff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gideon-raff/)

> [A winkle is just a bogey with a crash helmet on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-miller/a-winkle-is-just-a-bogey-with-a-crash-helmet-on/)

Mick Miller

> [I listen to Helmet - and I love Helmet, they're a great band - but every song sounds the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-jones/i-listen-to-helmet-and-i-love-helmet-they-re-a-great-band-but-every/)

[Adam Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-jones/)

> [“PTSD: It's the big game. You're wearing a helmet and pads. You make the big play and jump up into the crowd for praise,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-randall-martin/ptsd-it-s-the-big-game-you-re-wearing-a-helmet-and-pads-you-make-the/)

[Peggy Randall-Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-randall-martin/)

> [There are individuals out there who use the body protection as a form of staying power to go on as long as possible. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viv-richards/there-are-individuals-out-there-who-use-the-body-protection-as-a-form/)

[Viv Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viv-richards/)

> [I've put on a helmet more times than I've buckled a seatbelt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraint-thomas/i-ve-put-on-a-helmet-more-times-than-i-ve-buckled-a-seatbelt/)

[Geraint Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraint-thomas/)

> [The problem is that the internet IS some kid in a basement with an opinion. The fact that David Bowie and Elton John told…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/page-hamilton/the-problem-is-that-the-internet-is-some-kid-in-a-basement-with-an/)

[Page Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/page-hamilton/)

> [Even wrestling, now, I wear the helmet all the time. I'm not going to make that mistake again ever in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gustafsson/even-wrestling-now-i-wear-the-helmet-all-the-time-i-m-not-going-to/)

[Alexander Gustafsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gustafsson/)

> [Every time I put my helmet on it's a challenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-haskins/every-time-i-put-my-helmet-on-it-s-a-challenge/)

[Dwayne Haskins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-haskins/)

> [It is madness to wear ladies' straw hats and velvet hats to church; we should all be wearing crash helmets. Ushers should issue life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/it-is-madness-to-wear-ladies-straw-hats-and-velvet-hats-to-church-we/)

[Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/)

> [A helmet is the most important part of any jockey's kit because of the number of falls you take, so I wouldn't want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-mccoy/a-helmet-is-the-most-important-part-of-any-jockey-s-kit-because-of/)

[Tony McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-mccoy/)

> [I guess Madden had seen everything with out group, and everybody else had seen everything. (After coming to practice field riding a horse and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-hendricks/i-guess-madden-had-seen-everything-with-out-group-and-everybody-else/)

Ted Hendricks

> [UN peacekeeping operations are now increasingly complex and multi-dimensional, going beyond monitoring a ceasefire to actually bringing failed States back to life, often after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/un-peacekeeping-operations-are-now-increasingly-complex-and-multi/)

[Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/)

> [In the middle of a play, I go crazy and don't realize what I'm doing. I'll snap back to reality and I realize, 'Hey,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-bosworth/in-the-middle-of-a-play-i-go-crazy-and-don-t-realize-what-i-m-doing-i/)

[Brian Bosworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-bosworth/)

## More by Yaroslav Trofimov

> [If you are an eighteen or nineteen-year-old with little education, as is often the case, and you're put in charge of many, many people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yaroslav-trofimov/if-you-are-an-eighteen-or-nineteen-year-old-with-little-education-as/)

[Yaroslav Trofimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yaroslav-trofimov/)

> [The American official was trying to talk about aid and development projects and finally a local tribal chief got up and said, "Even if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yaroslav-trofimov/the-american-official-was-trying-to-talk-about-aid-and-development/)

[Yaroslav Trofimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yaroslav-trofimov/)

> [Even if you look at Iran, those campaigners for human rights there, they don't want to have anything to do with America, because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yaroslav-trofimov/even-if-you-look-at-iran-those-campaigners-for-human-rights-there/)

[Yaroslav Trofimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yaroslav-trofimov/)

> [But in Afghanistan, the general rule was that since you were fighting the Taliban, which was not a lawful government force, the Geneva Conventions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yaroslav-trofimov/but-in-afghanistan-the-general-rule-was-that-since-you-were-fighting/)

[Yaroslav Trofimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yaroslav-trofimov/)

> [Now as to the behavior of the soldiers: occupations always corrupt the occupiers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yaroslav-trofimov/now-as-to-the-behavior-of-the-soldiers-occupations-always-corrupt-the/)

[Yaroslav Trofimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yaroslav-trofimov/)

> [I think the behavior of the troops has been a huge factor in the rise of the insurgency and in the rise of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yaroslav-trofimov/i-think-the-behavior-of-the-troops-has-been-a-huge-factor-in-the-rise/)

[Yaroslav Trofimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yaroslav-trofimov/)

> [In a country like Iraq with its culture of blood feuds - is that the more locals are killed, the more motivation there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yaroslav-trofimov/in-a-country-like-iraq-with-its-culture-of-blood-feuds-is-that-the/)

[Yaroslav Trofimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yaroslav-trofimov/)

> [In the occupation in Afghanistan, there are tragedies as well. It's not as bad as in Iraq because there are fewer American troops. But,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yaroslav-trofimov/in-the-occupation-in-afghanistan-there-are-tragedies-as-well-it-s-not/)

[Yaroslav Trofimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yaroslav-trofimov/)

> [ Because no matter how much money we spend there \[in Iraq\], as long as the people there see this money as... as assistance that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yaroslav-trofimov/because-no-matter-how-much-money-we-spend-there-in-iraq-as-long-as/)

[Yaroslav Trofimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yaroslav-trofimov/)

> [The other problem is that the priority of many soldiers in Iraq or Afghanistan is operational security: not getting killed. Now that is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yaroslav-trofimov/the-other-problem-is-that-the-priority-of-many-soldiers-in-iraq-or/)

[Yaroslav Trofimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yaroslav-trofimov/)

> [So our own actions sometimes have undermined our safety, in our efforts to fight terrorism. The only way this can work is if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yaroslav-trofimov/so-our-own-actions-sometimes-have-undermined-our-safety-in-our/)

[Yaroslav Trofimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yaroslav-trofimov/)

> [Even if you are a liberal in the Muslim world, when you see Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo, and you see all the other reports…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yaroslav-trofimov/even-if-you-are-a-liberal-in-the-muslim-world-when-you-see-abu-ghraib/)

[Yaroslav Trofimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yaroslav-trofimov/)

> [What I found most ironic is that the safest part for us as journalists was during the actual war. Back then, during that stage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yaroslav-trofimov/what-i-found-most-ironic-is-that-the-safest-part-for-us-as/)

[Yaroslav Trofimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yaroslav-trofimov/)

> [I think in Baghdad, any westerner, journalist or not, has a big dollar sign on his or her forehead. So, first and foremost, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yaroslav-trofimov/i-think-in-baghdad-any-westerner-journalist-or-not-has-a-big-dollar/)

[Yaroslav Trofimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yaroslav-trofimov/)

> [And if you look at the experience of Turkey, for example, where the modern Islamists are in power and are doing fine - this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yaroslav-trofimov/and-if-you-look-at-the-experience-of-turkey-for-example-where-the/)

[Yaroslav Trofimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yaroslav-trofimov/)

[Explore all 19 Yaroslav Trofimov quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yaroslav-trofimov/)

## More Differences quotes

> [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/)

[David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/)

> [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/)

[Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/)

> [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/)

[Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/)

> [If the media is sending girls the message that their value lies in their bodies, this can only leave them feeling disempowered and distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-siebel-newsom/if-the-media-is-sending-girls-the-message-that-their-value-lies-in/)

Jennifer Siebel Newsom

> [But I already saw no great difference between the psyche and spirituality. To amass knowledge without becoming wise is not my idea of progress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/but-i-already-saw-no-great-difference-between-the-psyche-and/)

[M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/)

> [There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party...and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat. Republicans are a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-only-one-party-in-the-united-states-the-property-party-and/)

[Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/)

> [Shortly after I turned 50, both Ted Turner and the AARP came into my life. The only difference? With AARP, there were benefits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/shortly-after-i-turned-50-both-ted-turner-and-the-aarp-came-into-my/)

[Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/)

> [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/)

[Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/)

> [The only regret I have in my career, is my managers wanted a big payday, and I wanted four or five more fights before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-cooney/the-only-regret-i-have-in-my-career-is-my-managers-wanted-a-big/)

[Gerry Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-cooney/)

> [There are those who open their hearts to others...who never think twice about giving of themselves. They are the wonderful warmhearted people who make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilda-radner/there-are-those-who-open-their-hearts-to-others-who-never-think-twice/)

[Gilda Radner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilda-radner/)

> [People forget that there is a big difference between coercion and persuasion. The idea that evangelism is coercive is nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/people-forget-that-there-is-a-big-difference-between-coercion-and/)

[Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/)

> [A human being can only absorb a small amount of the mystical kundalini, you can be exposed again and again to it, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/a-human-being-can-only-absorb-a-small-amount-of-the-mystical/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [One of the most basic principles for making and keeping peace within and between nations. . . is that in political, military, moral, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/one-of-the-most-basic-principles-for-making-and-keeping-peace-within/)

[Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/)

> [When the President starts talking about something, it makes a difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-schumer/when-the-president-starts-talking-about-something-it-makes-a/)

[Charles Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-schumer/)

> [In a world shaped and colored more and more by politicians, the nations meet politically, and hardly any other way to settle their differences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-priestley/in-a-world-shaped-and-colored-more-and-more-by-politicians-the/)

[J. B. Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-priestley/)

[Browse all 8,110 Differences quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I did some embedded stuff. And if you are embedded, the only things you see are what the soldiers see, and if the people talk to you, they talk to you as if you are a soldier, because with your flak jacket and your helmet, they can't tell the difference between you and the soldier next to you, and they obviously won't tell you what they really think because they are afraid of you.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Yaroslav Trofimov"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yaroslav-trofimov/i-did-some-embedded-stuff-and-if-you-are-embedded-the-only-things-you/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Differences"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yaroslav-trofimov/i-did-some-embedded-stuff-and-if-you-are-embedded-the-only-things-you/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cc/yaroslav-trofimov-28338_differences_i-did-some-embedded-stuff-and-if-you-are_1861002.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cc/yaroslav-trofimov-28338_differences_i-did-some-embedded-stuff-and-if-you-are_1861002.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cc/yaroslav-trofimov-28338_differences_i-did-some-embedded-stuff-and-if-you-are_1861002.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I did some embedded stuff. And if you are embedded, the only things you see are what the soldiers see, and…” — Yaroslav Trofimov",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Yaroslav Trofimov",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yaroslav-trofimov/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I did some embedded stuff. And...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yaroslav-trofimov/i-did-some-embedded-stuff-and-if-you-are-embedded-the-only-things-you/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yaroslav-trofimov/i-did-some-embedded-stuff-and-if-you-are-embedded-the-only-things-you/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
