[General] not hearing the aggression I'd like

[Dark_Fury]

Hello, everyone.

This dialogue is taken from an American military drama set in Iraq.
A group of marines was told to proceed through the city streets in spite of the fact that there were obvious signs of an ambush.

Group Leader: I think I just agreed to be ambushed.
Marine #1: Why don't we just shoot ourselves and save them the trouble?
Marine #2: Seriously, we are going to get jacked.
Group Leader: Frankly, gentlemen, I'm not hearing the aggression I'd like. Keep scanning.

What does the leader mean? That he wants to get a more angry reaction from his teammates?

Thank you in advance.

 

[Rover_KE]

Yes.

 

[Dark_Fury]

It still sounds a little bit unclear to me. One question - is "I'm not hearing the aggression I'd like." equal to "I'm not hearing the aggression I'd like to hear."?

 

[Rover_KE]

One question - is "I'm not hearing the aggression I'd like[no full stop here]" equal to "I'm not hearing the aggression I'd like to hear[no full stop here]"?

Yes.

 

[emsr2d2]

Yes.

[Cross-posted with Rover.]

 

[Dark_Fury]

I figured out what troubled me the most. The leader says he would like to hear stronger verbal aggression from his teammates at the prospect of their group being ambushed -- he thinks they accepted it too well. But in another context, could the phrase "I'm not hearing the aggression I'd like" imply hostility or physical aggression? For example, a team of American football players is about to take the field, their coach: "I'm not hearing the aggression I'd like! I want to see fierce roaring beasts, not members of a chess club!" Here by "I'm not hearing the aggression I'd like" the coach means to say he wants the players to show him how aggressive they are (that is, how angry and ready to fight they are). What do you think?

 

[Rover_KE]

I think you already nailed this in post #1 and should move on.

 

[Dark_Fury]

Rover, almost there!

I'm going to assume there's nothing wrong with my made-up example in my previous post -- a coach could really say something like that. But there's a difference in the meaning, isn't there? The leader in the story says his squadmates should've replied to the news with much more hostility. The coach in my example, on the other hand, says that his players should be more lively, angry, and ready to tear some heads off in the upcoming match. The same phrase, but different kinds of aggression, am I correct?

 

[Tdol]

I figured out what troubled me the most. The leader says he would like to hear stronger verbal aggression from his teammates at the prospect of their group being ambushed -- he thinks they accepted it too well. But in another context, could the phrase "I'm not hearing the aggression I'd like" imply hostility or physical aggression? For example, a team of American football players is about to take the field, their coach: "I'm not hearing the aggression I'd like! I want to see fierce roaring beasts, not members of a chess club!" Here by "I'm not hearing the aggression I'd like" the coach means to say he wants the players to show him how aggressive they are (that is, how angry and ready to fight they are). What do you think?

Yes, but in this case the first comment is defeatist and the second not much better. I'd rather have soldiers around me who wanted to fight.

 

[Dark_Fury]

Tdol, now I got confused. Can you state clearly what the group leader wants from his subordinates? In you own words, please.

 

[jutfrank]

I'm not hearing the aggression I'd like.

and

I'm not seeing the aggression I'd like.

are not exactly the same. Is this the distinction you're trying to make? Regardless, the group leader wants to be sure his group will act aggressively when the time comes for combat.

 

[Dark_Fury]

Oh my, I've posted my interpretation three times but no one said it was wrong! Were they so ambiguous?

What does the leader mean? That he wants to get a more angry reaction from his teammates?

The leader says he would like to hear stronger verbal aggression from his teammates at the prospect of their group being ambushed

The leader in the story says his squadmates should've replied to the news with much more hostility.

I thought the leader wanted to hear much more swearing from them. However, I sensed there was something wrong with it. That's why made up the example with football players. Now the line is much clearer to me. Thank you, jutfrank.

Now If you'll excuse me, I would like to understand the phrase better. I made up these examples, are they correct?
I'm not hearing the enthusiasm I'd like.
I'm not hearing the cheerfulness I'd like.
I'm not hearing the disappointment I'd like.

 

[Tdol]

Tdol, now I got confused. Can you state clearly what the group leader wants from his subordinates? In you own words, please.

He wants aggression. He doesn't want defeatism or weakness. He wants fighters and killers.